Speaking of young and hungry, how about the point guard play in this series? Derrick Rose has already put his name in the same category as the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after scoring 36 and handing out 11 dimes in his playoff debut, and now Boston's Rajon Rondo is poised to climb to new heights and insert his name into an exclusive statistical pantheon of legendary pro-ballers. Through six games of this series, Rondo is averaging a triple-double (that's achieving double figures in three different statistical categories in a single game, points/assists/rebounds in this and most cases), contributing 21.5 points, 11.7 assists and 10 rebounds a game against the Bulls. Although he didn't shoot well in game six and had his last good look blocked by Rose in the closing seconds of triple overtime, this statistical achievement is truly bananas.
If Rondo does finish this playoff series averaging a triple-double, he'll be only one of two active players to do so (the other being Jason Kidd, who has done it twice) and become only the sixth player ever to accomplish such a feat. Even if Rondo gets his rebounds and doesn't record a single assist or a point tonight, he'll join Oscar Robertson, Fat Lever, Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double for a playoff series. To say that this is elite company is an understatement, considering this list contains arguably the two greatest point guards ever (Magic and the Big O) and three of the top ten all time players (the aforementioned guards and Wilt the Stilt)and, as much as it pains me to say this, the best active point guard in the game (and likely one of the ten or fifteen best ever) in Jason Kidd. Put simply, Rondo has been playing out of his mind for six straight games and has been the Celtics MVP, despite killer crunch time performances from Paul Pierce, vastly improved play from Glen Davis and 51 from Ray Allen in the last game.
Aside from the sheer jaw-dropping awesomeness of this statistical achievement, it makes me wonder just how good the Celtics can be in the coming seasons with Rondo playing this kind of take-no-prisoners nasty basketball that would make Isiah Thomas blush all the time. Two weeks ago, I would have told you that the Celtics' championship window was almost shut after the failed rehabilitation of Kevin Garnett's knee and the lack of bench behind Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, however now I believe that the celtics can continue to contend for titles as long as Rajon Rondo is their point guard and as long as the NBA's rules on hand checking don't change too much. I can see a bright future for the Celtics with Rondo at the center of it all, shouldering more of the load and lessening the responsibilities of Ray Allen, KG and Paul Pierce.
As Rondo matures and grows as a player and inevitably commands more attention and conformity to his style, I can easily see the Celtics becoming an unstoppable force of dribble drives, tough finishes and open perimeter shots for Boston's aging but still effective Big 3. Win or lose, this series has been huge for his development as a player and has shown everyone in the basketball world what this kid can do when the burden to succeed is on his small but strong shoulders. After the game tonight and into the offseason we'll explore this topic more, but for now I just thought I'd share this small nugget of wisdom with y'all.
By the way, do you think the Phoenix Suns are kicking themselves for shipping Rondo to the Celtics on draft night for Cleveland's 2007 first rounder in what was essentially a salary dump? I bet they are, though that pick was used to draft Rudy Fernandez, because they sold him to Portland for cash. Say it with me now, "D'oh!"
Win or lose I'll have more coming in the next couple of days about the Celtics, until then keep cheering for the Green & White!
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