Let me be the first to say that I love Rajon Rondo. I truly believe that he is an exceptional point guard. He is just a truly great pure point guard that can orchestrate an offense like very few. Rondo is also an amazing defender that can shut down both his man and the passing lanes. Rondo is also a solid rebounder to top it off as he is second not he team in rebounding. However, this does not excuse the fact that the Celtics are struggling the last couple games and Rondo is right now one of the main reasons why.
The last two games Boston’s offense has been absolutely pathetic to say the least. The offense looked wretched. The team fails to attack the basket and settles far too many times for jumps shots. The problem is the jump shots are not falling and the team is struggling to score. Granted the team was missing Ray Allen for one game and Paul Pierce has been slowed by injuries, but to score only 34 points in a half against a crappy New Jersey Nets team to squeak out a win and then follow that up with only 74 points against the Pacers is inexcusable at home. The Pacers game would have been even more wretched an offensive performance had Ray Allen and his 7-11 shooting that was good for 23 points.
Folks if you are going to credit Rondo for the team’s offense during good times then he needs to shoulder the blame during a stretch like this for the offense. Rondo runs the show in Boston. This is his team now. The problem the last two games is he fails to set the tone. Instead of attacking the basket and either scoring or creating off the drive, Rondo has been far too stationary trying to set a play for a teammate from the perimeter. I know defenses are collapsing and clogging the paint against Boston to make Rondo shoot jumpers, but Rajon is still capable of getting in to the teeth of a defense with his quick and elusive moves to the basket. This means either layups or a defense moving that will get a teammate an easy or open look.
The way Rondo goes the offense goes. When he is in attack mode, the Celtics offense looks great. When he is standing still, the offense is stagnant. Rondo needs to take over and start attacking again. Until he does, Boston’s offensive woes will continue. Remember Go Green Or Go Home!!!!!!!
