North Station Sports

The average NBA fan determines player dominance by their ability to score the basket and control games through well rounded scoring ability.

Rajon Rondo, widely known as a horrid jump shooter, continues to prove that shooting isn’t the only way to take over a game. Third in the NBA is assists (9.2 APG) and leading the league in steals (2.7 SPG), Rondo is, without question, a top tier point guard. He continues to shoot plain embarrassingly from the foul line (46 percent) and, though only attempting 15 three-point shots this season, he has made but 2.

No, Rondo is not a good shooter. We have established that and it’s plain for any sports novice to see. Their is no such thing as a “streak” with Rondo because he rarely makes (or attempts) two consecutive jump shots. I suggest that, at this point in the season, we move on from this point.

Rondo took flight in the fourth..

How many times have we seen a headline like this? This one is taken from today’s Boston Globe story on last night’s 98-89 victory over the Bucks.

There seems to be a point, especially at the Garden, where Rondo will take over a game, build team momentum and excite the spectators at the Garden.

How can a guy with such awful shooting percentage from the distance take over a game?

Confidence! It comes through one made shot around the basket. He can excite an audience through a magician-like ball fake or spectacular Houdini-like pass to find a wide open teammate. At the point this act of magic occurs, it usually marks the beginning of the end for opponents that have been able to keep pace with the C’s to that point in the contest. Last night it came in the fourth quarter. Rajon started by hitting a difficult shot in the paint. The, up to that point, subdued crowd roared and the C’s were off to the races. Led by Rondo, the Celtics outscored the Bucks 18-27 in the fourth.

Eight Celtics players scored (6 in double digits) and Rondo had his large hands in every one of those players points. The Celtics hit 35 field goals and Rondo had 13 assists. Rondo had an assist on nearly 40 percent of the Celtics’ points scored. The closest Buck to notch an assist finished EIGHT behind Rondo! He was tied with Garnett with 9 rebounds. Rondo grabbed 40 percent of the C’s rebounds, he was directly responsible for 3 of the C’s 5 offensive rebounds. Rondo had more rebounds then Pierce (5), Perkins (5), Wallace (2) and Williams (o) combined.

How can a 6′1 player out rebound four Celtics front line players combined?

Long arms have something to do with it but quickness, hustle  and high basketball IQ are the main reason for Rondo’s rebounding exploits. Rondo is often over-looked for his basketball intelligence by people who only focus on his lack of outside shooting effectiveness.

Rondo is en route to becoming one of the all-time great Celtics point guards…

Did I say “all-time”? Yes I did.

Rondo has everything it takes to become an all-time great Celtic, except outside shooting. Looking at Rajon’s career stats stacked up against former Celtics greats, Rondo fairs well.

Bob Cousy

18.4 ppg         7.5 assists          5.2 rebounds 37 fgp

The Houdini of the Hardwood is one of the most beloved figures in Celtics history. He is the original play maker and revolutionized the point guard position. He led the league in assists seven times and he has 6 rings. Cousy, despite his overwhelming player accomplishments, was also a poor shooter.

K.C. Jones

7.4 ppg          4.3 assists           3.5 rebounds         38 fgp

K.C.’s most remembered as the team’s coach through the glory years of the 80’s. The biggest disservice to this defensive stall-worth is that the league didn’t track steals during his tenure. Jones had his share and his playing days in green will be most recognized for his dominance on defense. K.C. was never voted to an all-star game and yet is a hall of famer. He has 8 championship rings as a player and 2 more as a coach. At 38 percent shooting, K.C. will never be remember for his offense.

Jo Jo White

17 ppg          4.9 assists          4 rebounds       1.3 steals       44 fgp

Class that mirror’s Ray Allen, White led the Celtics in the 1970’s. An effective scorer while never shooting better then 47 percent from the field, White was most known for his defensive grit, quickness with the ball and leadership abilities. He led the Celtics to 2 championships in the 1970’s

Dennis Johnson

14 ppg            5 assists           3.9 rebounds             1.3 steals           45 fgp

DJ is known as “the best teammate Larry Bird ever had”, that says a lot. Johnson was the defensive stopper assigned to guard Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson during their prime years. Also not a great shooter, Johnson overcame a career 45 fgp with unstoppable clutch scoring always seeming to get hot in the fourth quarter. DJ has been snubbed from the Hall of Fame to this point in spite of his contributions to 3 championship teams.

Rajon Rondo

2009-10        11 ppg            9.2 assists             4 rebounds            2.7 steals         53 fgp

career            9.7 ppg         6 assists                  4.4 rebounds        1.8 steals        48 fgp

How can Rondo be put in the same sentence with these legends?

Though majority Rajon’s points come from penetration points in the paint, he has a better field goal percentage then any of the legends that came before him. in fact, none of the legendary Celtics point guards come even close to Rondo’s shooting percentage this season. Rondo also out-steals 2 of the 3 Celtics point guards who have been noted by NBA historians as some of the best defenders in NBA history. We will never know where Rondo stood against K.C. Jones, as his steals per game, though expected to be high, will always remain a mystery.

Though trailing Cousy by one assist in career stats, Rondo has out-assisted the Cous the last two season by over one assist per game. No other Celtic Legend even comes close to Rondo in his assist output the last three seasons.

Rondo trails all the legends in points per game. Surrounded by great shooters, Rondo’s focus is not scoring. He told the Globe last night,

“I like taking shots, it’s just when you’re playing with guys who are great at what they do my job is to ship them the ball. I’m a pass-first point guard, probably pass second, shoot third. This is how I play. I’d rather get assists any day than score. I’m going to shoot when I have to, when I feel the need to. Other than that, I’m fine with getting Ray the ball, Paul Pierce, Eddie House. You know, I’ve got great shooters around me.’’

Okay, we all know Cousy had Heisohn and Sharmen to distribute to. K.C. Jones had scoring wiz (and brother), Sam Jones to feed nightly. White had Havlichek and Cowens. Dennis Johnson had the original big three demanding the ball. Rondo has Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Kendrick Perkins and Eddie House, all offensive specialists and scoring machines to keep happy. That’s a lot of ego’s to contain by making sure they get the ball.

If Rondo had to score, he can penetrate to the basket and either score or get to the line on nearly every possession. Fact is, he doesn’t have to score. He was not hired to score.

Rondo, only in his fourth season, is keeping pace with the stats of the legends that preceded him. Only time will tell if Rondo can pull his scoring into the categories of the greats. Time will also be the judge of Rondo’s ability to lead a team stacked with star-power to another championship– he is still one behind Jo Jo who is last among Celtics legendary floor generals.

Rondo’s glaring weakness (I won’t say it) will continue to haunt him as defenders continue to lay off him on the perimeter and dare him to make free throws. In the very least, Rondo must improve his free throw percentage so he is not a liability in the closing minutes of tight games when he is need most.

Rajon took a big step towards that going 5-7 from the line last night and shooting the ball with confidence. As the Celtics exited the court after the victory, KG put his arm around Rondo with congratulatatory pride on a job well done. If Garnett is proud and happy then that’s enough for me to be as well.