Rajon Rondo likely to return tonight against New York Knicks
Nothing definite yet, but it looks like Rajon Rondo might return tonight against the New York Knicks.
While there’s still no official word yet, all indications are that Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo will return to the Celtics’ lineup tonight against the New York Knicks.
Rondo, who has missed the last eight games with a right wrist injury, was an active participant in the team’s morning shootaround.
Earlier this week, coach Doc Rivers said tonight’s game was a likely target date for the two-time all-star to return to action.
Paul Pierce has done a great job as the team’s de facto point guard. Avery Bradley and E’Twaun Moore are gaining valuable experience in the back court. The Celtics are 6-2 in Rondo’s absence after being 5-8 at the time of his injury.
Yet Rondo’s return could make a surging team dangerous. The Celtics have regained their identity as tough bastards who would rather slow dance with Gheorge Muresan than give up two points. Now they need to regain their All-Star point guard, whose presence should make everything a lot more simple, especially on the offensive end.
I know Pierce has been great lately. I know the Celtics have emerged from the dungeon into the sunlight with Rondo on the bench. But there are plenty of extenuating circumstances — the Celtics finally started to play themselves into shape, Pierce regained his rhythm after a bothersome heel injury kept him from having a training camp, and Kevin Garnett is once again showing a pulse. Rondo makes everyone else’s job easier, and the Celtics need him in the lineup.
P.S. — I know Paul says this a lot in the comments, but the Celtics do have the potential for chemistry problems. The Big Three still have something left to give, especially Pierce, who is clearly playing great all-around basketball right now. But Rondo is the team’s best player. I don’t foresee a power struggle. The Celtics have always been about wins rather than statistics. But the potential exists for an interesting and problematic tug-of-war between Rondo and the Big Three.
I’m intrigued to see whether Rondo reverts to his old pass-first ways once he returns, knowing that his teammates have started to look a lot more limber and capable in his absence, or whether the scoring aggression Rondo used during the season’s first weeks remains.
Related posts:
- Rajon Rondo likely to return to action tomorrow night
- Rajon Rondo likely to return Friday, according to Doc Rivers
- Rondo will play tonight; Shaq won’t
- Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen out tonight; Pietrus, Dooling, Wilcox expected to return
- Paul Pierce surprised Delonte West didn’t return, Rajon Rondo believes Celtics miss West
Celtics Blog | Jay King | February 3, 2012
Thanks for the callout, but NO NO NO we do NOT want Rondo to return to his pass first ways. My God, why can’t people see the way Rondo can break down a defense when he goes on the attack, which in turn OPENS THE DOOR TO PASSING! And all we really need for this to happen is to begin to shift the Celtics offense, essentially mixing in a little bit of the Chicago offense, but imagine if Derrick Rose was a fantastic passer, instead of a good one… imagine the ball whizzing around from Celtic to Celtic as defenses dissolve into chaos. That’s what we want, right? We want the FULL RONDO.
And that means we want him to crack down on D like Avery has been doing too. We don’t want the matador defense anymore from a guy who has rightfully twice been designated the defender of the year at his position.
I hope you are right about there not being chemistry problems on Rondo’s return. I forsee that there will be. Isn’t it obvious that the best thing about Bradley, from the point of view of the Big Three, was that he was willing to be a role player? That’s the crux of the whole problem. Rondo used to fit into the hole that was there for him, the narrow little role player role, but as he’s grown out of that, the size and shape of his hole hasn’t really shifted much. The Big Three and Doc still want him crammed into that little hole he always had, even though he is the team’s best player now.
It’s a mental thing. Like a habit. A rut. And the cure is basically for all of them, especially Rajon and Paul, to start thinking SYNERGY…
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Also, the next time Rondo goes down hard to the floor, smashed by some behemoth on the other team (or jiu jitsu master), I damn well want to see him INSTANTLY with a grill full of Celtics. Is that too damn much to ask of a TEAM? We did say this was a TEAM, right, and that it was all about TEAM?
Stick up for your damn teammate then, Celtics.
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By “him” I mean the guy who knocked Rondo down, not Rondo himself, getting the Grill of Green. Darn pronouns…
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RR is best, and the team is most efficient and powerful, when he has 12+ assists and gets to the FT line at least 6 times. This means he is pass first which is what every PG’s role is first and foremost and it means he’s driving to the hoop and taking advantage of his skills in scoring at the rim. I don’t want Rose-type PG play from RR as that is not his game. Push the ball, distribute to the other 4 on the floor with him, defend like a maniac and score when openings present themselves. I do not want him looking shot first, taking jumpers, or holding the ball at the 3-line (PP has that down pat and it hurst the teams mechanics). RR will be fine, the team will be fine with his return and hopefully his energy will help these guys play even better (and that includes rebounding which he excels at for a guard). Go Cs…hit the f’in boards and run and hustle with the Cs ‘Energizer Bunny’ leading the way. Should be fun and I even get to see it on ESPN. Yea!!!
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James, we won the rebounding war tonight, and interestingly enough, the only two players besides Sasha to be in the minus column tonight were Rondo and ONeal, the latter far less surprising. Rondo didn’t look sharp tonight, which is understandable, since he’s been out a while, likely has a very stiff wrist, and got a fat shiner in the eye in the first half. But son of a bitch I wish he’d start making free throws. Paul, the synergy will come; they are playing hard and that’s a good start. They just need to find that rhythm, and yes, Rondo needs to PUSH the ball regardless of whether he intends to shoot or pass first. I like this team right now. They won tonight through defense and will, considering their offense was out of rhtym all game long.
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PS, I loved the fact that Doc had AB and Rondo together at times. Talking about defensive pressure in the backcourt! And it paid off.
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