Nine Reasons why #9 Needs to Stay a Celtic
1 – The Potential. Heads didn’t really start turning for Rajon until this past post season. What his newest fans, and critics, need to recognize is that Rondo is still on his way up and still has a couple seasons before he really steps into his prime. He has rapidly improved over his four seasons, and will continue to defy his skeptics just as he did en route to the 2008 finals series when so many said the Big Three were a threat, but that the Celtics would fall short without a better point guard. However, Rondo’s potential could not be really tapped into without
2 – The Hard Work. Every player in the NBA has some sort of valuable basketball talent. But what really separates the true stars from the “all-stars” is a player’s mindset and determination. Though both Allen Iverson and Rondo made the Eastern Conference all-star team this year, it is safe to say who any team would be more comfortable with running the point. Instead of complaining about practice, Rondo would rather be out on the court three hours before game time during the post season joining Ray for his extensive shooting routine before games, which brings to mind Rondo’s
3 – Improved Shot. The free throws will come… I promise. It is obviously a deterrent to your team’s ability to win when the opposing team can use their Hack-a-Shaq strategy on your point guard… but with the work Rondo puts in, he will eventually overcome his apparent fear of sinking free throws that he has. He shoots a higher percentage in foul line jumpers than actual foul shots, and we saw a much improved three point shot from him this season, which was non-existent from his game in the past. While shooting may never be the biggest threat in his arsenal, it will not continue to be his so-called "Achilles heel". He will continue to become even more of a scoring threat, largely due to his
1 – The Potential. Heads didn’t really start turning for Rajon until this past post season. What his newest fans, and critics, need to recognize is that Rondo is still on his way up and still has a couple seasons before he really steps into his prime. He has rapidly improved over his four seasons, and will continue to defy his skeptics just as he did en route to the 2008 finals series when so many said the Big Three were a threat, but that the Celtics would fall short without a better point guard. However, Rondo’s potential could not be really tapped into without
2 – The Hard Work. Every player in the NBA has some sort of valuable basketball talent. But what really separates the true stars from the “all-stars” is a player’s mindset and determination. Though both Allen Iverson and Rondo made the Eastern Conference all-star team this year, it is safe to say who any team would be more comfortable with running the point. Instead of complaining about practice, Rondo would rather be out on the court three hours before game time during the post season joining Ray for his extensive shooting routine before games, which brings to mind Rondo’s
3 – Improved Shot. The free throws will come… I promise. It is obviously a deterrent to your team’s ability to win when the opposing team can use their Hack-a-Shaq strategy on your point guard… but with the work Rondo puts in, he will eventually overcome his apparent fear of sinking free throws that he has. He shoots a higher percentage in foul line jumpers than actual foul shots, and we saw a much improved three point shot from him this season, which was non-existent from his game in the past. While shooting may never be the biggest threat in his arsenal, it will not continue to be his so-called "Achilles heel". He will continue to become even more of a scoring threat, largely due to his
4 – Explosiveness. Opposing point guards, you better not take your eyes off Rondo for a second or you may end up looking like Jason Williams. Rondo’s quickness and ability to explode to the hoop is amazing at times, and no player in the league has a first step as quick and dangerous as his. This explosiveness makes opposing players look bad, and he will show flashes of brilliance that often lead to a Celtics' point barrage. This explosiveness does not only show in his flashy cuts to the hoop, but also in his
5 – Incredible Passing. Whether it’s a behind the back scoop to KG as he cuts through the paint, or a quick kick out to find an open Ray Allen or Paul Pierce at the 3 point line, Rondo’s quickness is most dangerous when it comes to his ability to dish the rock. His ability to recognize mismatches and opportunities on the court enables him to throw perfect alley-oops passes as KG rolls off a defender or when TA would come flying in from the wing. This explosiveness and passing makes Rondo close to unstoppable on the fast break, and it will be a sight to see when he's running the break with Avery Bradley in the Celtics' future. However, it is not just his passing that makes Rondo
6 – "The Quarterback." He played quarterback in high school, and started being called that on the court during this past post season day-in and day-out by commentators. His "quarterbacking" is not just his ability to hit the right spot when he passes the ball, but his ability to read the defense. The way he throws alley-oops passes before KG has even rolled to the hoop is just like Tom Brady’s bullets to the center of the field before Welker has even made his cut. As with Brady, players around Rondo know they can trust their passer, and know without looking that the ball will be there the split second that they have enough space from their defender. Rondo’s basketball IQ and ability to predict is second to none, both on offense and on
7 – Defense. There’s nothing quite like watching Rondo intercept a pass in full stride going the other way as he blows past everyone for an uncontested lay-up. The tight, physical defense that the Celtics play works largely in part to Rondo’s ability to steal the ball. Whether it is by reading their eyes, their signs, or simply by outhustling a lazy ball handler, there is a reason that he led the NBA in steals this year. Rondo racks in points, assists, steals, and he
8 – Rebounds like Jason Kidd... or better. While both guys are bigger triple-double threats than any other point guard, Rondo's rebounds come from his quickness, ability to read the ball, and explosiveness as his utilizes his energy and athleticism into the excelling in the one aspect of the game that point guards are so often excused from. These flashy flying rebounds he pulls down definitely put his body on the line, and he often pays the price when he goes up against guys more than twice his weight. But the boost it gives the Celtics when he outhustles opposing big men for offensive boards is vital to the Celtics' success. Rondo, like Pierce, needs to be a
9 – Career Celtic. All Rondo has done for the Celtics in his short career is get better, become a leader, defy critics, and win a championship (TWO if Perk had been healthy)... He made it clear from his rookie season that he can explode to the hoop, but looked nervous at times and missed lay-ups. When he started passing the ball instead, every time he'd beaten his man to the hoop, these mostly went to waste too when guys like Gomes would miss, or when the ball would bounce off an unaware Perk. To some he seemed inadequate, but Doc must have recognized how much better Rondo could be if he just had some better players around him. That is why they kept Rondo as the starting point guard when they shipped off half of the 06-07 team for Ray and KG, and Rondo seized the opportunity with hard work, constant hustling, and good teammates to silence critics and help lead the all-star veterans to a championship. Rondo will now continue to keep pouring in the points, and assists for the C's now that he's kicking the ball out to Ray Allen and not Allan Ray.
5 – Incredible Passing. Whether it’s a behind the back scoop to KG as he cuts through the paint, or a quick kick out to find an open Ray Allen or Paul Pierce at the 3 point line, Rondo’s quickness is most dangerous when it comes to his ability to dish the rock. His ability to recognize mismatches and opportunities on the court enables him to throw perfect alley-oops passes as KG rolls off a defender or when TA would come flying in from the wing. This explosiveness and passing makes Rondo close to unstoppable on the fast break, and it will be a sight to see when he's running the break with Avery Bradley in the Celtics' future. However, it is not just his passing that makes Rondo
6 – "The Quarterback." He played quarterback in high school, and started being called that on the court during this past post season day-in and day-out by commentators. His "quarterbacking" is not just his ability to hit the right spot when he passes the ball, but his ability to read the defense. The way he throws alley-oops passes before KG has even rolled to the hoop is just like Tom Brady’s bullets to the center of the field before Welker has even made his cut. As with Brady, players around Rondo know they can trust their passer, and know without looking that the ball will be there the split second that they have enough space from their defender. Rondo’s basketball IQ and ability to predict is second to none, both on offense and on
7 – Defense. There’s nothing quite like watching Rondo intercept a pass in full stride going the other way as he blows past everyone for an uncontested lay-up. The tight, physical defense that the Celtics play works largely in part to Rondo’s ability to steal the ball. Whether it is by reading their eyes, their signs, or simply by outhustling a lazy ball handler, there is a reason that he led the NBA in steals this year. Rondo racks in points, assists, steals, and he
8 – Rebounds like Jason Kidd... or better. While both guys are bigger triple-double threats than any other point guard, Rondo's rebounds come from his quickness, ability to read the ball, and explosiveness as his utilizes his energy and athleticism into the excelling in the one aspect of the game that point guards are so often excused from. These flashy flying rebounds he pulls down definitely put his body on the line, and he often pays the price when he goes up against guys more than twice his weight. But the boost it gives the Celtics when he outhustles opposing big men for offensive boards is vital to the Celtics' success. Rondo, like Pierce, needs to be a
9 – Career Celtic. All Rondo has done for the Celtics in his short career is get better, become a leader, defy critics, and win a championship (TWO if Perk had been healthy)... He made it clear from his rookie season that he can explode to the hoop, but looked nervous at times and missed lay-ups. When he started passing the ball instead, every time he'd beaten his man to the hoop, these mostly went to waste too when guys like Gomes would miss, or when the ball would bounce off an unaware Perk. To some he seemed inadequate, but Doc must have recognized how much better Rondo could be if he just had some better players around him. That is why they kept Rondo as the starting point guard when they shipped off half of the 06-07 team for Ray and KG, and Rondo seized the opportunity with hard work, constant hustling, and good teammates to silence critics and help lead the all-star veterans to a championship. Rondo will now continue to keep pouring in the points, and assists for the C's now that he's kicking the ball out to Ray Allen and not Allan Ray.
Scal - great post. Although he wasn't nearly as dominant in the finals Rondo was the main reason the Celts made it TO the finals. He's got the perfect skill set to complement what the rest of the team brings (and doesn't bring) to the table. Love watching him grow the last few years and he's going a lot further.
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