Rondo making a case
Rajon Rondo made his case for the All-Star team tonight. Three times over.
Rondo recorded the first triple-double of his young NBA career tonight against the Indiana Pacers, stuffing the stat sheet with 16 points, 17 assists, and 13 rebounds. When he was done, the Celtics had a 114-96 win over a team that beat them a month earlier, and Rondo had his campaign slogan: Triple threat.
How good was Rondo? He almost recorded a triple-double in the first half (he was one rebound and two assists shy), and might have accomplished the feat had he not gone to the bench with a fat lip 90 seconds into the game.
"You thought last year he was good," said Paul Pierce. "He’s just getting better."
It's easy to see why Pierce likes his young point guard. Rondo recited from memory the number of shots each of the Big Three got tonight. His goal, he says, is to put Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett in the best position to score.
"Just keeping everyone happy," said Rondo. "I create a lot of shots, but they create their own shots. They're great scorers. They've been making a lot of them over their entire career."
The play on which Rondo earned the triple-double was a prime example of his skill set. At the 10:07 mark in the third quarter, Rondo rebounded the ball on the offensive end and found Garnett for a layup, giving Rondo his 10th rebound and 10th assist all in the same motion. It's that kind of freakish athleticism that had a teenage Celtics fan piercing the TD Banknorth with screams on Rondo's way into the tunnel after the game.
"I told him last game, the way he asserts himself at the beginning of the game, he has his defender back on his heels," said Allen. "When he does that, they have to guard him, and sometimes it takes two or three guys."
Rondo also had this triple-double way back in high school, at Oak Hill Academy. He said he had 6 or 7 of them in high school, and one while he was at Kentucky. The last Celtic to have a triple-double was Ryan Gomes. Gomes had 10 points, 10 assists, and 12 rebounds in a 110-108 win over visiting Charlotte on Nov. 8, 2006.
About that All-Star game. Rondo has per game averages of 9.8 points, 7.2 assists (6th in the NBA), 4.2 rebounds, and 2.16 steals (4th in the NBA) in just 30 minutes of play per game. More importantly, he's the point guard of the conference's best team, which has to count for something.
Last year's Eastern Conference All-Star guards were Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, Chauncey Billups, Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, and Joe Johnson. Wade is a lock this season, and Allen and Johnson should be. But Hamilton's numbers (16.1 points per game. 41 percent shooting) are down this season, and Billups and Kidd are gone to the Western conference. Allen Iverson is back in Detroit, and he'll make the team for sure, but the net result of all of this suggests there are at least two guard spots in the East up for grabs.
It wouldn't be a shock if Rondo snagged one of them, especially considering guys like Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson, Devin Harris, and Mo Williams are his competition on this year's ballot.
Allen (31 points, 11-of-18 shooting) had his highest scoring output of the season Wednesday night, but he deflected all praise of his own play and credited it to Rondo.
“I’m not guessing what he’s doing," Allen said of Rondo. "I know where he’s going with the ball on most of the plays, and I know where I need to be...It seems that Rondo and I go hand in hand."
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Maybe, but who really cares. He's a consumate team player and those guys rarely get into the All Star game without big numbers. I hope every Celtic gets snubbed and every Laker makes the team. It will serve as the needed fuel to stoke the midseason fire.
RONDO FOR ALL-STAR!
I don't think this is such a big deal, if the starters had to play for more than 30 minutes a game, he could have had 10 or 12 triple doubles last year. This team is so good, the starters stats are kind of meaningless. Although a triple-double in the first half? Amazing.
I'm a huge Rondo fan, but putting Devin Harris in an also-ran category with Mo Williams and Jameer Nelson seems a bit ridiculous. The guy is averaging almost 25 points and 6 dimes a game. Teams are keying on him, and he a combined 81 points in two nights not that long ago. No brainer, there.
RESPONSE FROM GARY DZEN: Point well taken. Devin Harris (24.8 points, 6 assists per game) is going to garner serious All-Star consideration, but Harris lacks Rondo's steal and rebound numbers, and Rondo seems to have the edge defensively. Also, Harris's inclusion in the game would not necessarily prevent Rondo's inclusion.
hold on fellas. the all star game will officially complete last year's achievements by allowing fans to show love for one last time. when it's done, they're gonna be even more motivated because they LIKE standing in the LIGHT..that's what this is all about anyway, right? when the moment arrives, do you go towards the lights or shy away? don't worry. the basics is what we do really, really well.
and the two spots will be filled by Harris and Rose......
Its time to call them the Big 4! When Rondo is being aggressive on both ends of the floor the Celtics are unstoppable. He can take risks on defense because of KG and Kendrick protecting the rim. On offense his only weakness (lack of an outside shot) never becomes relevant because of Ray, Paul, and Eddie's ability to knock it down. he can penetrate any defense. He will be the transitional player when the Big 3 are retiring he will be in his prime.
Forget stats (Although last night's were VERY impressive) and just look at how Rondo is playing. By Rondo driving the ball to the hoop and being a threat to finish at the rim, the Celtics are getting anything they want on offense. Isn't THAT the point guards job?
There is absolutely no question Rondo is ascending to All Star caliber play at point guard. He absolutely torched AI in the last game against Detroit, so why should AI be considered a stronger All Star candidate than Rondo...other than name recognition from the fans? On the court, right now, Rondo is one of the top 5 PGs in the entire league.
Rondo's coming into his own. Be sure to vote for him at NBA.com. I do have to agree with the commenter above about Devin Harris-he definitely should be an all-star too.
I hear people chanting the big 3!!!!, but little do they know...about a big 4!!!
This team is simply the best in the league and time will tell; come December 25, the Celtics will beat the Lakers in L.A again!
Rondo has built his consistency to a whole new level, and if he stays healthy...he's gonna be bad news for teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detriot Pistons. Right now, Rondo requires two defenders (double_teaming) and that opens the floor for Ray, Paul, and Garnett!!!
Banner 18 in the works babe...:)
During his rookie season, I said Rondo would be an All-Star one day. I don't know if it will be this season, but I haven't seen anything to change my mind.
Rondo will get to all-star game soon enough. right now he needs to keep progressing, gain confidence and continue to be aggressive.
One triple double is not going to make him an all star. Where is Peter May when you need him?
Hope Boston is ready for the Blazers tonight. Your about to face the youngest, most talented team in the NBA. GO BLAZERS!!!
Like BLAZERFAN67 mentioned, the Blazers are a pretty hot & young team right now. I hope the C's don't sleep on them. I just hope that the C's play with high intensity every game, which I know is hard to do, but very possible.
I am not a Rajon Rondo fan , However the kid is #2 in steals, fourth in rebounds, 4th in assist and he has an average of ten points a game on a team that he shares one ball with 3 All Stars. to top it all off , he averages the less minutes on the floor than all of the other all star gaurd hopefulls, not to mention he is the point gaurd of the best team going into the all star break. let me take that back, I am a RAJON RONDO FAN !!!!!
WOW !! he flirted with another triple double last night , he's better than anyone expected with plenty room to grow . If he doesn't make the all star team this year it really doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it , look at ( Ray Allen ) last year.
http:/www.straitpinkie .com/sports/vote-rajon-rondo-for-nba-all-star-2009 /
I am writing for a website called straitpinkie.com covering UK basketball, and we are sort of trying to become the unofficial center for Rajon Rondo's case for being included in the All Star Game this season. If you have a minute, take a look at the article and once you're fully convinced, click on over and Vote for Rajon!!!
This is what I've been waiting for! Louisville, KY in the house. We haven't had an all-star since Allan Houston.
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