Rondo Needs Respect

Believe it, Rondo is scary good. by Scott Simone

The Celtics are the team to beat in the East. That’s cut and dry. But, what’s not so cut and dry is the reason they are atop the Eastern Conference again. With a team headlined by Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, it’s easy for many to attribute the Celtics’ winning ways to just those three. They shouldn’t. 

Arguably, the most important part of this team is Rajon Rondo. It’s easy to dismiss this baby-faced, lanky point guard of the Celtics, though. Looking at him, with his 6’1, 170-pound frame, he’s not exactly the imposing figure that strikes fear into the opponent. Instead, he looks like the nagging little brother, pestering everyone out on the court. This pest, however, could arguably be one of the best point guards in the game today.

Celtics legend Bob Cousy even has high praise for Rondo. Cousy told ESPN:

What more can this kid do? He sees the floor

extremely well. The kid is only 24. People talk

about the Big Three. But this is the Big One. The

sky is the limit as far as I can see. To me, the kid

has every base covered in terms of responsibilities

for a point guard. He does all of those. He rebounds.

He gets the steals. He's the real deal.

It wasn’t always that way, though. Rondo has blossomed in his four years in the league. As a rookie, Rondo was a backup behind Sebastian Telfair and only started 25 games. In his second season, after being delivered the gift of a lifetime in the Big Three, Rondo was considered the weak link. He lacked a jump shot. He lacked the maturity to lead the team. Sam Cassell was even brought in to help out at the point guard spot. But things got better. Rondo went on to help the Celtics win the NBA Championship in the same year.

Kevin Garnett has been big on Rondo as well. Before the season in 2008, Garnett expressed his love for Rondo to Celtics.com. “If Rondo is not the best point guard in three or four years, I’d be very, very surprised. He has all the tools to lead a team. His defense is unlike any other guard I’ve seen,” Garnett said. “He has the quickness of a Tony Parker. He has the eyes and the passing skills of a Jason Kidd. He has to establish that 15-foot jumper, make it stick and be consistent. But I’m very, very, very, very impressed with Rondo.”

In his fifth year in the league, Rondo has proven Garnett right. He has become one of the elite point guards in the NBA, right up there with Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Derrick Rose. So far this season, Rondo is averaging 10.9 points per game, 12.2 assists per game, 2.4 steals per game, and 4.4 rebounds. He leads the league in steals and assists per game. He is a threat to get a triple double every night he steps on the floor. When watching the Celtics play, you cannot miss Rondo. He is a nightmare for opponents on both ends of the floor. He is able to get the Big Three going. He is able to blaze past defenders and get into the lane at will. He is able to lock down the opponents best player, as seen when he matched up against LeBron James.

Rondo is a young 25-year old. He has continued to grow in each season, getting better and better. While this may not be his team completely, he is one of the most vital parts that make up the Celtics.