Celtics Notebook

Rondo still is leading way

Third quarter his personal showcase

Kendrick Perkins blocks an attempt by Knicks little man Nate Robinson as Ray Allen watches. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff)

By Frank Dell'Apa

Globe Staff / December 22, 2008

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Rajon Rondo turned the third quarter into a layup drill during the Celtics' 124-105 win over the Knicks last night.

Rondo (26 points) led the team in scoring for the second time in four games - he scored 25 in a 100-91 victory over Utah last Monday - and took more shots from the floor (14) than Ray Allen (12 shots, 18 points), Paul Pierce (11 shots, 17 points), and Kevin Garnett (8 shots, 12 points).

"He is when Ray, Paul, and Kevin are on the floor," coach Doc Rivers said of Rondo's ability to take control of the game. "I don't lose sight of that.

"He's playing phenomenal, but there's a reason, too. No. 1, he's playing well. No. 2, it's very difficult to help off when you've got three guys on the floor that you can't leave, and then you've got another guy with the ball - it makes it difficult for you to help off of him."

Making connections

This marked the first time since Feb. 3 and 6 of 1991 the Celtics converted at least 50 field goals in consecutive games (they also converted 50 times in a 126-108 win over Chicago Friday).

The Celtics' defense set the tone early, but the Knicks outscored the Celtics, 37-26, in the second quarter. But the Knicks failed to convert from 3-point range in the final 15:09 of play and were 0 for 9 on fourth-quarter treys.

"Our guys had a great focus on it," Rivers said of the Celtics' perimeter defense. "They got beat off the dribble a couple times, that's fine, actually. But they made them put the ball back on the floor instead of taking spot-up threes, and that's what we're trying to do."

Davis in accident

Glen Davis missed the game recovering from a concussion and whiplash suffered in an auto accident on the Massachusettts Turnpike on the way to the game.

He was released from Brigham & Women's Hospital last night, according to director of press relations Jeff Twiss.

President of basketball operations Danny Ainge was with Davis at the hospital.

A better way?

Though the Celtics (26-2) have tied the franchise consecutive-win mark (18 games), Rivers said the team is seeking improvement.

"We have a long way to go - if we are this good at the end of the year I don't know if that's good enough, yet," he said. "For any team, the whole season, you try just to improve each game to the point where by the end of the season you think you are at your best. We have things we talk about that we need to work on all the time. Our bench is a focus, we have to be more consistent, cut down on turnovers, a long list of things I know as a group we are going to get better on.

"Our young guys . . . we are hoping they mature each game and get better. Just because you are winning games, people think when you say that stuff you are throwing stuff out there, but it's the truth, and I think that's the way our team feels, and that's probably the best part about our team.

"Last year, I thought we played pretty good in stretches, we started out the season in a pretty good flow. This year, it's like we are just slowly climbing. When the second unit is good, we have had some games when the starters haven't played well and the second unit has come in and won games for us, and games when we've had big leads and they've lost them. They have to be more consistent."

Perking up

Kendrick Perkins (12 points, 12 rebounds) outrebounded the Knicks, 5-4, in the opening quarter. Perkins is grabbing 14.3 rebounds per 48 minutes.

"The biggest trap for [Perkins] is that when you are having offensive success, then a lot of guys stop doing their regular jobs, and that's setting picks," Rivers said. "He's continued to do that, he understands the more picks he sets the more open Perk's going to be. He's kind of perfected that role."

Perkins also has been whistled for nine technical fouls.

"He's contained himself," Rivers said. "He's emotional and we already have Kevin, who's emotional every night, every second. Kevin's emotional, so he says something and gets away with it and the next guy who says something gets popped and, unfortunately, that's been Perk. He's trying to get better and he's done a pretty good job of it."

Hancock signing

Physical therapist Dave Hancock was recently hired by the Knicks after spending a year and a half with Garnett's favorite English soccer team, Chelsea FC.

Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.