Source: nationofblue.com
Rajon Rondo is powering the Boston Celtics again. Held out for 6 games with lingering injuries (hamstring, ankle sprain, plantar fasciitis), Rondo returned on Sunday to help Boston cruise past the Toronto Raptors 93-79 in Canada. Though his performance was anything but stellar (4 points, 8 assists, 5 turnovers in 33 minutes), the calming influence of Rondo makes this Celtics team go.
Another night, another win with Rondo back in the starting lineup. Monday’s victim was the Minnesota Timberwolves. Though a hard fought battle that came down to the wire, the Celtics eeked out a 96-93 victory, despite the monster 12 point, 24 rebound performance from Kevin Love. Rajon Rondo did his playmaking thing with 6 points and 16 assists in nearly 35 minutes of action. Paul Pierce apparently had forgotten that Rondo was back. In the first half, Pierce was passing up shots to try to get other players involved. Doc Rivers had to remind Pierce that Rondo was back.
Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were huge for the Celtics when Rondo was out. Pierce transitioned to playmaker and Ray Allen put more of the offense on his shoulder. Kevin Garnett was a beast, but his injury prompted Rivers to bring back Rondo — ready or not. Rajon Rondo still leads the league in assists and is showing his MVP-type value to Boston. With Rondo (and a healthy Garnett), few teams if any are better than Boston. Sans Rondo, Boston is a team that struggles at times to create a flowing offense. Nate Robinson has done his best, but he is simply not the same point guard as Rajon.
Little Nate Robinson may only stand 5 foot 7 inches, but he saved the city of Boston from a humiliating loss.
Nate Robinson scored 13 points in 8 minutes of the first half as the Boston Celtics eliminated the Orlando Magic in the pivotal game six of the Eastern Conference Finals. The former New York Knickerbocker energized the aging Celtics off the bench, scoring in bunches. The veterans, most notably Paul Pierce, followed suit and bombed the Orlando Magic who failed on their attempt to become the only team in NBA history to win a 7-game series after going down 3-0.
Instant offense is exactly what is expected of Nate Robinson. Like Jamal Crawford in Atlanta or Vinny Johnson of the Pistons years back, Nate is there to do one thing: score. Tonight, on the biggest stage of his career, Nate delivered. The Celtics had all the pressure on them going into Game 6. A comfortable 3-0 series lead had been swept away by aggressive play from the Magic. Dwight Howard looked like a new man and the Celtics were having trouble containing the spritely Jameer Nelson. A loss tonight and all the momentum would be with Orlando, and the deciding game would be on their court.
The Celtics took no chances and came out aggressive. Early foul trouble on Jameer and Dwight, horrific three point shooting, and a renewed commitment to defense by the Celtics gave the Magic very little hope of winning this game. Credit the Celtics for regrouping and delivering a championship-caliber performance, even though Rondo still hasn’t found his groove since Game 3.
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The much-anticipated debut pairing of LeBron & Shaq had fans in Cleveland thinking NBA Championship. But the veteran-laden Celtics team had other plans, winning the first contest between two of the Eastern powers 95-89.
The story in this game was one of balance, or lack thereof. The Cavaliers have 2 superstars — LeBron & Shaq — and then a bunch of decent players. I know, Mo Williams was an All-Star last year, but I would take Rajon Rondo over him any day of the week. Troubled wing player, Delonte West, is sorely missed for his on-ball defense and outside shooting. The new energy guy, Jamario Moon, has yet to takeoff, and Anthony Parker was more or less held in check. The Celtics, however, have quality at every position. The Big 3 might be the Big 4 with the addition of Rasheed Wallace…and I think Rondo deserves a ton of credit for driving this offense. If it weren’t for a dumb decision by Big Baby Davis, this team would be stacked.
LeBron James did little to quiet any talk of a second straight MVP, as his stat line looked like an all-you-can-eat buffet at Morrison’s cafeteria: 38 pts, 4 3s, 4 rebs, 8 asts, 2 stls, 4 blks. Shaq did his part but was not as effective in the low post as you would like. But it was Paul Pierce down the stretch that kept hitting big shot after big shot. He paced the Celtics with 23 pts & 11 rebs.
It may have only been the first game of the NBA season, but the Celtics getting a victory in Cleveland sent a clear message to the rest of the league: we are back!
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Paul Pierce’s nickname is “The Truth”. But can you believe him when he says the Celtics are going to win the NBA title this year?
Here is what Paul Pierce had to say as reported by Yahoo! Sports:
“Before the season even started last year, I was asked, ‘What is going to stop y’all from winning it all?’ ” Pierce said in a phone interview on Thursday. “The first thing I said was, ‘If we’re healthy, we’re going to win it all.’ And I’m going to say it again: ‘If we are healthy, we are going to win it all.’
Looking at their roster top to bottom, it is hard to find any team in the NBA packed with this much talent. Despite losing a hugely undervalued piece in Leon Powe to the Cavs, the addition of Rasheed Wallace makes the Celtics a better team. Also, factor in the ascendancy of Rajon Rondo and the Big Baby Davis, coupled with the Big 3 All-Stars of Pierce, Garnett, and Allen, and you have to think they are the odds on favorites to win.
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