Jessica Camerato of CSNNE wrote a terrific piece about Rajon Rondo’s leadership. She finds that Rondo’s teammates see him as more mature this year than in previous seasons, and he has really taken on a leadership role among the Celtics. The piece has a lot of great quotes, but my favorite comes from Ray Allen.

“He’s more settled in,” he said. “I’ve noticed a maturity in him this year that I haven’t seen. It’s things that he says during games. During the preseason, he’s focused on his help defense, he’s zoned in more, and he knows that a lot of what’s going on starts with him. It’s been great encouragement for me to see him because a lot of things that I would say, he’s saying them now. So I believe that it’s mostly brought on through him because those are things that he wants. He’s setting that tone.”

Paul Pierce called Rondo Boston’s “driver,” but Rondo tried to deflect credit.

“It’s just a part of how we play Celtic basketball, really,” he told Camerato.

How in the world did Rondo take a leadership role so quickly? It seems like just yesterday he was on the trading block because he caused more headaches than the notorious Jack and Coke. Which reminds me: thank God the Celtics didn’t trade Rondo and Ray for Rodney Stuckey and the washed-up remnants of Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. Do you know what the report of that proposed trade said? That Detroit immediately rejected the idea. The legend of Joe Dumars strikes again.

If you haven’t already, read Camerato’s Rondo piece. NOW!