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With all the attention that the new "big three" of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce have received this season, the contributions of the Celtics role players have been largely overlooked. While it is obvious that Boston's stars make the wheels turn on their well oiled machine, every time I have seen the Celtics this season, I have been impressed by the progression and talent of Rajon Rondo.
I have watched Rondo slash into the lane and finish strong at the rim, out rebound power forwards on the offensive and defensive glass, harass opposing guards with his length and quickness on the defensive end, create for his teammates, take care of the ball and bring it up under pressure, and fake defenders out of their shoes with his nifty behind-the-back And-1 style fake pass that seems to create space no matter how often he tries it. But what impresses me most about his game is his basketball IQ and his attitude.
Rondo is a feisty competitor who always seems to rise to the challenge of guarding the elite point guards of the NBA. Though he still struggles somewhat with bigger, more physical guards like Deron Williams and Chauncey Billups, Rondo is among the top defensive point guards in the league. He seems to take it personally every time an elite point guard challenges him, and he has responded by containing or shutting down some of the best guards in the Association. If you don't believe me, find the tape of the second half of the recent Hornets v. Celtics game and witness it for yourself. Rondo shut Chris Paul down in the second half, holding him to 2 of 6 shooting and keeping him away from the basket and out of the lane for most of the second half. His defensive effort was one of the keys to the Celtics comeback in that game, and is just one example of how far he's come this year.
On offense, Rondo knows his role and has fit himself seamlessly into the styles of Garnett, Allen and Pierce. Rondo never seems to turn the ball over, and he has displayed the rare ability to consistently make the right decision and the smart play, whether it's a pass or finishing the play himself at the rim. While this seems like the standard play for any legitimate NBA point guard, very few actually do this on a regular basis. Add into this the pressure and expectations that come with being the starting point guard on a team with three all stars in a city that is passionate about sports, and Rondo's play becomes even more impressive. Rondo still has plenty of room for improvement, which is scary considering some of the games he's already had this year. Imagine if Rondo expands his range and becomes a reliable mid-range shooter or a servicable three point shooter. Then Rondo's arsenal will be complete and he'll be able to punish opposing defenses that leave him wide open away from the basket in order to double Pierce or Garnett. He's shown flashes of this shooting touch already, which leads me to believe that he has the ability to add that dimension of scoring to his game permanently in the near future. Add to this another 15 to 20 pounds of muscle on his lanky frame, and Rondo should be able to handle any point guard in the NBA on defense, and should provide him a much stronger base for the development of his offensive game. While the most exciting part of this season for the Boston Celtics has undoubtedly been the additions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, watching Rajon Rondo develop and mature this season is what's been exciting me this year.
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