by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

WASHINGTON – The Miami Heat had a good idea what they were getting in shooting guard Ray Allen.

After all, they have matched up against the 10-time All-Star when he played for the Boston Celtics in the playoffs the three previous seasons, losing to the Celtics in 2010 and beating them in 2011 and 2012. They watched Allen, the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made and three-pointers attempted, make 49.5% of his threes in those series.

But they really didn’t know who and what they were getting until he got there and they were the beneficiaries of his shooting.

“I’ve always had the vision that it would it be great if he was on my team,” Heat forward LeBron James said. “Just that threat, the guy who spaces the floor and can make clutch shots no matter what part of the game, no matter what the situation is.”

Coming off the bench as a full-time reserve for the first time in his career, Allen is doing exactly what the Heat believed he could do when they pursued him free agency after winning last season’s championship: making shots at impressive rate – 51.6% from the field, 52.6% on three-pointers and 85.1% from the foul line for 13.3 points in 26.7 minutes per game.

Not bad for a 37-year-old shooting guard. Or, maybe you should say a 37-year-old shooting guard who is in better condition than guys 10 and 15 years younger.

“I feel great,” Allen said. “I’m just fortunate to still be playing. I look at it like that more than anything. Taking care of yourself puts you in a pretty good situation no matter where you end up. That’s how I feel fortunate.”

From the Boston Celtics to Miami, Allen has found his spot. Already, he has made three winning shots on three-pointers – against the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 3, the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 24 and the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday.

Not coincidentally, all three came on assists from James. As defenses focus and collapse on James, the league MVP and a gifted passer, he has an innate ability to find the open … [For more on Ray Allen giving Miami Heat just what they expected, click here.]