Allen: 'It's like a battle within myself'

MIAMI -- Ray Allen is fighting himself and the bone spurs in his ankle. After missing six of his seven shots and four of his seven free throws, he seemed to be searching for answers.

"I believe you guys know what I’m dealing with," Allen said. "There’s nothing really to talk about. It’s like a battle within myself that I have to try and win. You always talk, if it was the playoffs would you play? It’s the playoffs."

A career 89 percent free throw shooter, Allen is shooting just 60 percent from the free throw line this postseason.

"I’m just trying to find my balance the best way I know how," he said. "I feel good over it, I just don’t have a great rhythm right now."

Allen was the first player out of the locker room at halftime and spent several minutes on the court by himself shooting free throws.

Asked if his free throw problems were related to his ankle injury, Allen said, "It’s hard to say. I know I don’t have good timing right now. I know the shot feels fine. If it’s short I know I do have less lift on it. It’s just timing. It’s just rhythm. It’s just getting shots up."

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