Rondo gets introduced before last night's scrimmage.

He caught a pass about three feet from the hoop and could have swooped to the rim and finished with a layup of his own. It would have been simple. It would have been effective. It probably would have even been smart. But it might not have been so unselfish, and so Rajon Rondo turned his back to the unguarded hoop and scooped a pass to the trailing Andre Iguodala. Iggy finished the and-one finger roll, pumped his fist, let out a primal roar and slapped five with an excited Rondo, after finding out exactly what the Celtics have been learning for the past four years: Playing with Rajon Rondo is a whole lot of fun.

After a sloppy performance in Team USA’s first public scrimmage, Rondo got his act together and looked a lot more like himself in take two. His stat line didn’t look gaudy (2 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes), but when Rondo was in the game it always felt like he was in control. He ran the pick and roll to perfection a few times, hitting Tyson Chandler for an easy alley oop on one occasion that Chandler ended up missing. He hit open teammates the second they worked free. He played the same selfless basketball we’ve grown accustomed to, and though he didn’t do much scoring and his assist total wasn’t great because his teammates missed a few good looks, Rondo played with the confidence, poise and basketball IQ that should make him an impact player when Team USA takes its talents to Turkey.

More than once, announcer Fran Fraschilla audibly gasped when Rondo made a pass. There was one no-look bounce pass coming off the pick and roll, one that was finished with authority by an unnamed big man (who will remain unnamed because I have no idea who it was). There was a quick, one-touch pass to Kevin Durant at the top of the key that seemed to be out of Rondo’s hands before he even secured the rebound. There was the aforementioned dime to Iguodala, the one that brought such emotion out of Iggy and I’m sure, because of its unselfishness, endeared Rondo to everyone on the team. And don’t forget the final play of the game, probably the only walk-off alley oop you and I will ever see (the game, just a scrimmage, was ended with a sudden death overtime), when Rondo lofted another alley oop to Chandler, except this time the big fella converted it.

Don’t get me wrong, Rondo didn’t play a perfect game. Not at all. He had a few sloppy turnovers, which put him right in the company of all the other guards, missed a reverse layup he’d normally make with a blindfold on (for a mere human, it was actually a pretty tough shot), and had one weak layup attempt swatted out of the air. But the mistakes were mistakes of aggression, as Rondo tried to make plays to help his team win the game. And Rondo, who came off the bench in the game’s first half (which could have been because he missed practice due to a death in the gamily), started the second half and made what would seem to be a very good impression on Coach K and Team USA’s other decision-makers.

The venue and uniform might be different, but last night I saw the same Rajon Rondo I’ve been lucky to watch nightly as a Boston Celtic. Despite suggestions that his game may not adjust well to the international rules, Rondo’s strengths — as they have a tendency to do — shined through far more than his weaknesses. With his head on a swivel and the ball in good hands when in his own, Rondo displayed his unique ability to control a game and make players better, to facilitate his team’s offense with a subtle aggression. After seeing him play 105 games last season, I can’t say I was the least bit surprised.

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Wondering who Danny Ainge was calling as the trade deadline came to an end? A laundry list of teams, actually. (Via the Herald)

This trade also means that Ray Allen gets to remain a Celtic, though the team looked into a wide array of potentially big deals using the veteran guard’s expiring max contract as bait.

A team source said that the Cs looked into acquiring Phoenix forward Amar’e Stoudemire, for instance. Management also looked into possible trades for Utah’s Carlos Boozer, Miami’s Michael Beasley, Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala and Golden State’s Monta Ellis.

The team also came close to completing a trade with Washington for Caron Butler, before the forward was traded to Dallas.

I hope he gave everything he had into making one of those trades work out. The Celtics needed a change, and I’m not so sure Nate Robinson is what the doctor ordered.

I await the latest news like Dennis Rodman used to prowl missed shots. I refresh HoopsHype at least 20 times a day. I’m aware of my addiction.

But it’s trade season, and the Boston Celtics oh-so-desperately need to make a move. Until February 18 or a big Celtics trade — whichever comes first — my addiction will persist. Read more »

Once in a while, someone else’s article catches my eye. Sometimes, it’s because the article is so spot-on I wish I’d written it myself. Other times, it’s because the article enlightens me with something I never knew. Still other times, it’s because I disagree with whatever’s written. No matter what the reason, I dish it off to another writer to make his/her point. You know, throwing some dimes.

"Where'd my hands go?? Where????"

The true believers among the TD Garden crowd who watched the Celtics for the second consecutive Sunday hand over a game in the second half like a church-goer passes the collection plate waited until Rashard Lewis’s floater in the lane with 8.9 seconds remaining to vacate the building.

The parishioners of the parquet should have taken a good long look as they filed out because it could have been the last time they saw the Celtics’ Holy Trinity together on their home court.

2. WEEI’s Paul Flannery discusses two potential trades involving Ray Allen, and their pros and cons.

What Ainge has seen over the course of 49 games is a team that hasn’t been able to establish homecourt, hasn’t won against elite squads and hasn’t established any kind of consistency, or even an identity.

The problem is the time for evaluation is just about over. The trading deadline is looming on Feb. 18 and the Celtics will play just two more games before that date.

It’s a gamble either way. If Ainge decides that Allen and the Celtics can rediscover their old formula he doesn’t have a lot of proof to support that claim beyond past history.

If he decides to make a move, there will be the short-term ramifications in terms of playing style and long-term ramifications in terms of the team’s financial picture.

Your move, Danny. Or not.

3. Tom Ziller of NBA Fanhouse wonders whether Danny Ainge will make another Ray Allen trade, and says it would be brilliant if he does.

It’s a brilliant idea. The Celtics’ problems come on offense. Before, Allen’s excellence helped Boston “get by” on that end. Now, he’s part of the drain. Boston needs a two-guard to take up about one of every four or five shots while on the floor, and to hit the majority of them. Allen’s shooting struggles have hurt that scheme, and Garnett’s not in much of a position to help. But if Boston can get a shooting guard who can handle the shot-making duties, the defense (tops in the league through Sunday) can allow the Celtics to compete with anyone. But pulling a deal is, obviously, much harder than it sounds.

4. Red’s Army discusses a new nickname the NBA blog Hardwood Paroxysm has made for Rajon Rondo: The Clinic.

I made the comment on Twitter that Rondo was by far the best player on the floor, and that he was putting on a clinic. Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPBasketball on Twitter) turned right around and suggested “The Clinic” as a nickname for Rondo.

In that moment, the nickname was born. It’s gotten a fair amount of support so far… and we love it. so we’re going with it.

Rajon Rondo is “The Clinic”… because he could put one on at a moment’s notice.

I’m sure some of you won’t like it. I’ve already heard the “he needs to shoot jumpers and free throws better” or “he needs to be more consistent before you can call him that.”

Meh. I don’t care. He can dominate games for long stretches without that… and he’s only going to get better. He’s a walking basketball clinic… so that’s what we’re calling him from now on.

Wanna throw your own dime, and get someone’s article recognized? Email me at jayking@celticstown.com or follow me on Twitter.

I really hope David Lee doesn't get a chance to play with these guys.

The All-Star game is right around the bend, and the starters have been named.  (Long live AI!) The reserves, though, have yet to be chosen.

Do I have opinions about who should be picked?  Of course.  Am I going to share them with you?  Absolutely.  I’ll go with the East today, the West tomorrow.

And here we go…

Eastern Conference

Guards:

Rajon Rondo – Watching Rondo play every night this season, it should be impossible for him to be left off the team.  Not only is he first in the NBA in steals and third in assists, but he’s a game-changer each night on both ends.  I would even argue Rondo has been the C’s MVP so far.  He’s been that good.

Joe Johnson – Another no-brainer.  Johnson is the best player on the Eastern Conference’s rising contender.  He’s a matchup nightmare and his team’s unquestioned go-to guy.  He makes shots, finds open teammates, and helps his team win games.  Enough said.

Forwards:

Chris Bosh – In a just world, Bosh would be starting the game in Kevin Garnett’s place.  But All-Star voting is anything but just, and Bosh will have to settle for being a reserve.  Bosh could stand to play a little (read: a lot) more defense, but he’s done everything else to help Toronto win games: 23.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 52.4% shooting.

Josh Smith – The difference between Smith this season and Smith last season is what has HASN’T done, rather than what he HAS done.  Smith hasn’t jacked up bad shots, he hasn’t become enamored with the three-point line, and he hasn’t given anyone a good reason to keep him off the All-Star team.  He could always fill up a box score, but Smith is just now beginning to realize that sometimes basketball’s about a lot more than well-rounded statistics.

Gerald Wallace – To average 11.1 rpg as a 6’7″ small forward is simply silly.  That he added 3.3 boards on top of his previous career-high average in his ninth season is nothing short of ludicrous.  But to do all that while spearheading perhaps the top defense in the NBA and leading the Charlotte Bobcats to a surprising 21-21 record?  That’s All-Star worthy.

Paul Pierce – Stats-wise, Pierce hasn’t had his best season.  His numbers are down almost across the board.  But he’s leading the Celtics in scoring and doing it in a cooly efficient manner, including a scorching 47.0% from behind the arc.

Center:

Joakim Noah – You might think I’m nuts for this pick, but hear me out.  There are plenty of centers in discussion to be an East reserve but, really, none is truly worthy.  A lot of people will say David Lee, due to his 19.2 ppg and 11.4 rpg, but I’m here to remind you that there are two sides to the game of basketball.  Of all the centers being talked about in the East, Lee is the worst defensively.  And, in my eyes at least, it’s not even close.  Noah has done everything the Bulls could possibly want from him.  He rebounds, plays ‘D’, is an underrated passer, and can even score a little bit.  Besides Noah, Kendrick Perkins and Al Horford are both viable options to be picked.  Really, as long as Lee doesn’t win it, I’ll be happy.  Please, coaches, value defense and winning above gaudy statistics.

Snubs:

Andre Iguodala, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Kendrick Perkins, Al Horford, Mo Williams