Celtics relying on Rondo to revive hopes
BOSTON — The Boston Celtics’ Big Three has morphed into the Big One.
After a 44-point, 10-assist, eight-rebound effort in the Game 2 overtime loss to the Miami Heat, Rajon Rondo seems to be eclipsing forwards Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett and guard Ray Allen.
It is obvious that not only do they have trust in Rondo, 26, they also have no choice but to have trust.
Asked if Rondo’s playoff success came from the veterans, Allen said, “We feed off what he’s doing now.”
Still mercurial and enigmatic — the reason he always seems to land in Boston’s trade discussions — Rondo becomes the central theme as the Celtics return home for Game 3 today trailing the Heat 2-0.
“With all due respect to Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, Rondo has taken over as the real difference-maker for the Boston Celtics,” a team executive told USA TODAY Sports, requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the way to stifle Rondo’s unpredictability was to match it with unpredictability. Put different defenders on Rondo and don’t let him become too comfortable.
“He’s most dangerous when he’s getting in the paint, getting to the rim and obviously getting other people involved,” Spoelstra said. “But you also don’t want to give him free throw line warm-up jump shots. So it’s the balance that we’re going to try to have to figure out.”
When watching video, Celtics staffers sometimes are amazed by something Rondo did that went unnoticed during the game.
This game, they knew it as it unfolded. Everyone did.
“He is an extended version of a head coach, which is rare for a player who’s been in the league five, six years,” injured team- mate Jermaine O’Neal said.
“He’s definitely a floor general and definitely a guy you can just hand over the offense and let him run it.”
Spoelstra will keep using forward LeBron James and guards Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers on Rondo, none exclusively.
“He deserves the respect of multiple things. He’s that smart,” Spoelstra said.
After Game 2, no less than Hall of Fame point guard Magic Johnson, now an ESPN analyst, told his audience that Rondo’s performance was the greatest he had seen by a guard in the playoffs.
“Without his scoring (Wednesday), Boston doesn’t have a chance to win,” he said. “He is a tough competitor who has figured out that he can be one of the best players at his position in the league.”