Rajon Rondo was the Best Player on the Floor
KGIt’s tough to say that anyone was better than Kevin Garnett last night. Dick Stockton actually had a running tally going of KG’s consecutive makes – the count ended after seven. But Rajon Rondo was even more spectacular, knocking down two open three’s to slice Cleveland’s 12-point second quarter lead in half, and then completely taking over the game on both sides of the floor after the intermission.
“He was the X-factor,” said LeBron James. “You know, 20 and 13 and just 1 turnover, it speaks a lot. Without Rondo tonight, it would’ve been a much tougher game for them to win. He was definitely the player of the game tonight.”
There’s no denying that Boston won last night’s game in the third quarter. That’s when they outscored Cleveland 29-17 and held King James to 2 points (1-4 FG) with 1 turnover and 2 assists. That’s also when Rondo took over every aspect of the game, jumping on the floor to deflect a steal into KG’s hands, and coming weak side to send a Delonte West lay-up to the frank man in the third row. In the third quarter alone, he finished with 6 points (3-4 FG), 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal and 1 rebound. Oh, and no turnovers.
“A lot of great efforts,” said Doc Rivers. “Rajon Rondo was fantastic tonight.”
Perhaps his biggest contribution were those three’s, not just because it helped to rally the troops, but because it’s something that he’s struggled with considerably over his career. During the regular season, Rondo was 5-19 from beyond the arc. In his first 11 playoff games, he’d only sunk two triples altogether. So when he doubled that last night alone, Celtics Nation knew something was going in their favor.
“Rondo’s threes were big for us,” said Kevin Garnett. “Obviously, when you get into an offensive flow, it is because you are playing pretty good defense. I think when we are playing in a nice flow defensively, man, our offense, it just rolls.”
And if that wasn’t enough Rondo became the first Celtic to have two consecutive 12-assist games in one playoff year since Danny Ainge did it in 1988 (Thanks, Elias Sports Bureau).
May 15th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Sam I Am says:
GO Celtics
May 15th, 2008 at 9:37 am
One Wing says:
That wasn’t the first time our beloved frank man got served up some roundball last night. He got his first course earlier in the evening around west 26th st. from a tall, pasty member of team Shox.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Big V says:
Barkley at the half said something to the extent of “Someone in the so-called Big Three needs to step up for the Celtics to win this game. And it can’t be Rajon Rondo.” Dead on with that one, Chuck……
May 15th, 2008 at 11:08 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
ray allen looks like a shell. He needs to retire, like 5 games ago. He is making Wally Szerbiak look like a ball player.
Doc needs to stick with Rondo and keep Sam on the shelf w ray ray.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Juanito says:
Rondo would be a great backup on most teams
May 15th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
doc says:
Rondo gonna have 3 pts and 3 assists next game.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
GEE...mute says:
Rondo is really nice for them. He should do really well as time goes on.
Sometimes I wonder if the substitutions between him and Sam or correct though. Seems they sub them in at the wrong times to me.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
word says:
fuck I wish Cassell wasn’t playing like shit, he should be killing it and it’s pissing me off’
Rondo is ill, he is quick, makes steals, shoots and passes decent, definitely top 5 point guards in the league imo, i’d put him above kidd and nash based on the last few months
May 15th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
CJ says:
Anybody see Lebron’s comments at the half? Something along the lines of “We can let Rondo hit 3s, if he’s getting off that means someone else isn’t and we’ll talke that.”
Whoops.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Diego says:
The Celts should be thrilled with Rondo. He is really coming through for them (and was the difference vs. the Hawks too–totally outplaying high-paid Bibby). Definitely the X factor–although top 5 point guards? Huh? Maybe these days there really is quite a dropoff after CP, Deron and Tony P., but I still don’t know if Rondo is up there with the old guys (Nash, Kidd, Billups, Baron, Andre Miller, etc.)–but he’s passed Bibby!
Kentucky fans must be wondering where the hell Rondo discovered his shot. Out of college, he was just an extremely quick cat with no shot.
May 15th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Big V says:
yo word,
are you insane, man? Rondo is better than Nash? In what lifetime? He’s doing well, no doubt, but he isn’t a quarter the player of nash or kidd when it comes down to it. The fact is that defenses pay so much attention to KG, PP, and Ray that Rondo finds himself barely single covered half the time. I like Rajon too, but what you’re saying is ludicrous, bro.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Celts Fan says:
I’m as big a Rondo fan as there is, and I really think he will be a top 5 pg some day down the line, but that day is not now and it’s not anytime in the immediate future. He played great last night, but he doesn’t play like that every night. There are at least 7 or 8 pgs I’d take over him without a question.
May 16th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Dave says:
Rondo was brilliant. He’s been growing throughout the season. One of the best fourth options in the league. Once his defense gets more consistent he’ll be the best defender at the point in the league which is likely only a matter of time. Rondo is a potential difference maker between teams like San An (if both teams get that far) that have no quality fourth option. He gives Boston a lot of advantages and balance.
He’s got a good matchup with Delonte, West is a weak defender and struggles with quick point guards. Rondo needs to exploit him especially with Pierce and Ray struggling with their scoring for most of this series.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Celts Fan says:
Yup. Rondo’s CEILING is Tony Parker with All-NBA defense. Remember, TP got benched for Speedy Claxton late in games in the ‘03 Finals, so you need to be patient with these young guys, cuz Mr. Longoria turned out pretty well!
May 16th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Todd says:
Rondo will be a better PG than any of the guys playing today, provided he stays healthy. He is already better than ANY of them when they were 21 (he turned 22 six weeks ago). He will come back next year (his 2nd) with a 3 point shot and NOBODY will stop him from setting everyone up on the C’s….