Rajon Rondo looking to put mediocre game 6
behind as Boston Celtics host Philadelphia 76ers in the series finale – NBA Feature
Rajon Rondo is without a doubt, the most important players in the Boston Celtics team.
Yes, the Boston Big Three doesn’t even include Rondo, but the fact remains that as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen get older, Rondo has gradually taken over the team and is now the one who is calling the shots on the court.
And it helps if you are the point guard.
But in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rondo was not at his usual best. In fact, he was below average. Rondo scored 9 points on the night and more importantly, had only 6 assists.
As the playmaker of the Boston team, one excepts Rondo to put up double digit assists on a day in day out basis. And when he doesn’t, the Celtics suffer. Not only Rondo, but Garnett was also 9 of 20 from the field for his 20 points,
not the level of performance you have now come to expect from Garnett in the playoffs.
Rondo was 4 of 14 from the field in game six and earned only two free throw attempts, meaning he did not attack the rim and settled for jump shots. His stats when combined together show that Rondo did not score himself, nor did
he make plays for his teammates. The result, Boston shot 33.3% from the field for the night and lost the crucial game 6 to the Sixers.
“I think he’s a passer first. He can get into the paint any time he wants, but I think he really wants to pass (first). The numbers on him show when he scores more than he assists their record is not as good. Last game he had five
assists in the first half and we led by three. He had nine in the second half and you saw what happened” said Sixers coach Doug Collins referring to Rondo.
The Celtics were outscored by the Sixers 22-14 in assists in game 6, proving to be a critical factor in their win. Rondo does most of the dishing for the Celtics, so his drought led to a drought for the Celtics.
Just one game earlier, the Celtics seemed to have the Sixers all figured out. Now they travel back to the TD Garden to host the Sixers for a win or go home game 7.
“I think he attacked early and missed some shots. He probably got caught in between himself because he saw the offense wasn’t working” said Doc Rivers.
"I thought he was trying to orchestrate the offense and trying to go (to the basket) and he probably got caught in the middle tonight. It happens. He’ll be better,” Rivers added.
Rondo is crucial for the Celtics if they want to progress to the next round. His play making ability is required to give good looks to Pierce and Garnett. And also, with the rest of the Celtics
team relying much on jump shots, Rondo needs to penetrate into the paint. He needs to be aggressive.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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