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The loss of Rajon Rondo was supposed to spell doom for the Boston Celtics – instead, it has liberated players who, until now, were largely out of sync and searching for some sort of turning point, some sort of click.
So, what to make of Rondo’s injury and the impact on our Celtics? Clearly, Courtney Lee, Jason Terry and Jeff Green are the beneficiaries of this post-Rondo world. Our Celtics are streaking, having won every game since Rondo went down.
So, are the Celtics better off without Rondo?
With this particular group of Celtics, at this particular point in time – the answer is yes. The spacing is better. The ball movement is better. Before the injury, everything seemed to run through Rondo – and that seemed like a the right strategy to employ. Now? Well, this Celtics team is built on balance, and on players who do multiple things well (but not any one thing great). Rondo’s injury has opened up more opportunities for more players. Lee, Terry and Green are able to better showcase their strengths, and are actually feeding off of each other in a way that wasn’t possible before the Rondo injury.
So, with that said, I flash forward to next season.
Should the Celtics consider trading Rondo?
Blasphemy? Well, it would be tough to part with the only superstar that we have who is in the prime of his career. But, you would have to think that a Rondo trade could command a couple of young, promising players in return, and maybe even a pick or two.
Would the Celtics be better off with Rondo as a Seattle Supersonic? With Rondo and another fringe player or two, could Danny Ainge pull a trade for DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans?
Don’t know, but you get the point.
Rondo will be coming off a major injury. He’s our most valuable trade chip. The Celtics are proving that they can win without him.
So, as painful as it might be – and trust me, I’m a Rondo fan to the core – the Celtics may actually have found a pathway back to the NBA’s elite.
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Rondo is such a student of the game that I have to believe that he is watching and learning from the new-found ball movement, early offense through passes up the floor, and opportunistic passing outrunning the defenses. I think he will blend in his court sense and game vision to enhance what his loss has begun.
I think the better celtics(Rondo)-fan question, is how much better be when he returns! And just as Bballee states, I’m pretty sure, that Rondo will learn much through this experience,and seeing how these guys operate and take responsebility is just great!! – and also a playing style worth considdering in the comming seasons – however this, all depends on what roster we have (thats for Ainge and co. to decide), and if the players pitch in, just as it is happening right now.
With that said, I find it a bit frustrating, how fast these speculations arrive, and mostly when it’s on a forum as this one – glad for mr. McClellan’s way of writing this post/blog though, and would at this writing moment, rather read of news concerning the team playing, and the guys in rehab – letting them know that we support them 100!
As for all the stats showing indications of the team playing better without Rondo, I think it’s important to remember a bunch of factors, the team really changed on the roster from last season, going from players who Rondo knew, and vice versa, and they were comfortable with the playing style. now we have and entirely different team, and as we all know by now, a increadible bench, which ultimately has meant that Rondo has had a huge job, learning these guys strengths and weaknesses – whilst also inproving his own game – shots, of course at the same time, as the new guys has been trying to fit in.
With the news of Rondo’s injury taking him out of this season, Doc, changed the celtic’s regular season game into a post season match up game, and i find this change crutial when I see that the speculations a starting, remember this Rondo was giving the task of making the “regular-rotation game” work, reasons for that we can only speculate…not really my thing
Anyway, I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I just wish the best for the C’s, especially those down and out for the moment, hope you recovery goes well Sully and Rondo.
peace.
- p.s. awesome win on the Nuggets
*how much better will they be, when he returns.