Allen's improved health coming at perfect time for C's

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BOSTONThe Boston Celtics are a different-looking team these days, and Ray Allen has a lot to do with that.

Allen is starting to move without the ball and raise up for shots - and knock them down - in a fashion that's similar to what we've seen from him in the past.

That ankle injury that hobbled him for weeks, Allen said, isn't nearly as bothersome anymore.

"Just going into the game, starting the game, having my legs underneath me is for me it's a huge deal now," said Allen, who had 16 points on 6-for-16 shooting from the field. "How I feel now is a lot different from how I start the game."

And with Allen getting healthier, that only makes the challenge awaiting the Miami Heat more difficult, as the series shifts back to Miami for a Game 5 matchup. The winner of that game will have a chance to closethe series in Boston in Game 6.

For Allen, the improved health has been nothing short of a miracle whenyou consider where he was at just a few short weeks ago.

"At my lowest point, I was ready to have surgery," Allen said. "I didn't think that I would get any better, because I was doing all the things I needed to do treatment-wise and just staying off of it. It didn't seem like it was going to get any better."

But it has improved to the point where it's not a question as to whether he'll play, but how long will Rivers stick with him and how effective will he be.

"It just progressively got better over time," Allen said. "We'll see how I deal with it once the season is over."

For Allen and the rest of the Celtics, they're hoping that day won't come anytime soon.

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