Rondo turned the question on the questioner: “What’s the limit?” There’s no limit. “Then that’s what I’m playing with right now.” And his teammates can see that confidence has become competence on the court. “It’s a very cerebral game from the point guard position,” says Allen. “If you understand from the first quarter to the fourth quarter how things happen and how they evolve, you have to use your weapons out there.” Rondo has weapons at his disposal. There’s Pierce, who is third on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list. There’s Allen, who has hit more three-pointers than any player in NBA history besides Reggie Miller. And then there’s Kevin Garnett, one of the premier post players of his or any generation. Add to that amazing mix Kendrick Perkins, who leads the NBA in field goal percentage and Rondo has an embarrassment of riches from which to choose on the offensive end. “That’s his job, getting everybody involved,” says Perkins. “The whole starting five averages double-digits in points, and that’s all on him.” Rivers has also seen Rondo’s self-assurance translate to results on the court. “I think he’s more comfortable when people help off of him,” says Rivers. “Every night they do, every night teams do it a different way. Some teams have been better than others at it and he’s better equipped to handle it now. “In Orlando in the playoffs, it had a huge effect mentally on him, it affected his game. I don’t think it has that effect on him any more. He just keeps playing now and that’s been huge for our team. We see it now, and we’re going to see it once the playoffs start.” And the Celtics will need him to not only be sharp in the playoffs, but also indefatigable. Take one look at the Celtics roster and you’ll see Rondo has no legitimate backup at the position.
Short on the jumper In a league of giants the Napoleon complex is seeing a rise to greatness. After a decade of domination by big super athletic big men like Shaq, Tim Duncan, Dirk, and Garnett, the League is seeing a resurgence of young point guards that are facilitating the offense with skill and style. No player in the League has a tougher assignment than Rajon Rondo, who needs to keep his three All-Stars welloiled with shots to keep the big green machine running, and we can’t envision anyone doing it much better. His speed and passes that wrap around defenders are a mix of finesse and power, and his defensive ability to find the ball makes him a fan favorite at TD Garden. What makes Rondo unique though is that his star ability lacks an outside jumper. Ray Allen, who has been on the receiving end of many Rondo kick outs, says that Rondo is playing with more confidence and command of the position, but still has some work to be among the elite guards. “Having an outside shot as a point guard [is important],” says Allen. “It’s one thing to score in the paint, one thing to pass, but to be able to shoot the ball at an amazing rate, I think, [is necessary] to be an elite point guard in the NBA right now. You talk about Steve Nash, probably the one point guard that can do everything from passing, the three ball and getting to the hole, but it took him awhile to get there.” Rondo was recently named to his first All-Star team in his fourth year in the League, proving that the point guard doesn’t have to have a dagger long ball to be effective, but it is the one knock on Rondo’s game that is keeping him from being considered an elite, complete guard like Nash, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. “You have to take that mentality that you always can get better,” says Allen. “There’s a moment where, regardless of how many All-Star games you’ve made or how many championships you won, you have to have that motivation and urge to go out there and improve your game and your numbers. “I believe that he has it in him.”—Josh Gordon #44
clockwise from top: fernando medina; elsa; steve babineau/NBAE/Getty Images
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