Doc Rivers says he is ‘proud’ of Rajon Rondo – NBA Update
Boston Celtics have redefined the word ‘resilience’ this season.
The team was in tatters early in the season when Jeff Green was diagnosed with a rare form of a heart ailment. Nearly a month later, Chris Wilcox was ruled out because of the same problem, one which is supposed to be a rarity.
To add to their woes, Jermaine O’ Neal never managed to play a game due to a wrist surgery and all Doc Rivers was left with were his Big Three - Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen – and Rajon Rondo.
The ‘Fantastic Four’ never let the wily coach down and despite the niggles and injuries, kept on fighting before finally bowing out in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat.
The loss may have marked the end of the Big Three era, but it may also have marked the beginning of the Rondo era.
The Celtics swingman was just brilliant this season. He took his game to a next level in the playoffs, before going berserk against the Heat in the conference finals.
Doc Rivers when asked about Rondo’s breakout season said that he was proud. However, he still put the team first;
“Everybody buys into team around here. Rondo, Paul (Pierce), Kevin (Garnett), I think they sacrifice their individual games so much to try to help the team win. And so for me, that's where I'm the most proud of Rondo. I thought
he was phenomenal in that regard. I thought he was our leader on the floor. I thought he did so many things where he had to give of himself for the team, for the better of the team. He had to cut a lot without the ball. He just did so many things and for a
coach, I think that's where I'm the most proud of him.”
Starting all the 53 games he played for the C’s this regular season, Rondo averaged 11.9 points and a league high 11.7 assists. He also managed 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, leading the Greens to the fifth spot in the top
heavy Eastern Conference.
Then came the playoffs and it only kept on getting better.
In the very first series, Rajon played a pivotal role in dismantling the Atlanta Hawks. He averaged 16.8 points, 11.8 assists, 5.6 boards and 3.4 steals that series and then erupted with a triple-double in the very first game against
the Philadelphia 76ers. With Ray Allen struggling to find form and Avery Bradley out injured, Rondo kept on carrying the Celtics backcourt and his 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebound triple-double in Game 7 was the performance which took the Celtics in the
Conference Finals.
The series against Miami was the one, which clearly signalled the change of guard in Boston.
After an under par performance in Game 1, Rondo put up a career night with 44 points, 10 assists and 8 rebound, however it was still not enough to dismantle the Heat.
The series turned out to be a humdinger and in each game, Rondo proved himself to be the best there is at the one guard position. Even in last night’s loss, he was the one who kept the Celtics going till the third quarter, where
he scored half of his team’s points.
Rondo ended the series boasting an average of 20.9 points, 11.3 assists and 6.9 rebounds, but that was not enough as the Celtics got knocked out.
The signs which he has showed however indicate a bright future for the Greens and his team can certainly be proud of him.
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