Let's go easy on Cassell!

[nickagneta]

I don't agree that Rondo's been overvalued here. He's averaging 31 MPG int the postseason with 7 APG and a 7:1 assist to turnover ratio. The offense, plain and simply put, runs better with him in there at the point than anyone else on this team.

As for the taking it easy on Sam, Sam needs to be brought to task when he plays like he did in Atlanta. But if we can get the Sam we saw play in Boston for those 4 playoff games then Sam should be commended and people should take it easy on him. In the 4 games in Boston he averaged 8.8PPG, had a 4:1 assist to turnover ratio, shot 53% from the field and 50% from international waters. He also played much more within the confines of the offense and had some decent defensive moments as well.

But only in those games in Boston. In Atlanta he was a ball hogging, me first shooter who killed the Celtics when he was in there.

So really it falls on Doc's shoulders. If he see's the Atlanta Sam does Doc have the balls enough to go with extra long minutes for Rondo or use Eddie or not?

I'm just glad Doc made a decision and is either going to live or die by it. This way at the end of the playoffs we will know if it was the right decision or wrong.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I agree with most of what you said nickagneta.  Sam was excellent in the games in Boston. He was either shooting efficiently, or moving the ball as he's supposed to, depending on the situation. In game seven he played excellent defense, and I think people have made his defense in this playoffs be worse than it's actually has been just because he hasn't gotten the help defense in several situations; mainly from Powe's lack of defensive rotation.

Anyways, it's not about Rondo being overvalued, for me, I think people aren't being as critical of him as they supposed to be.Between the first two games and game 7, he was playing the game horridly.  The things people don't like about Sam, he was doing, yet no one wanted to call him out or decided to look the other way.  He stopped running the offense like he knows to, was ball hoging, at times he simply stood there without even dribbling the ball then hoisted a shot up.  That was 4 games in the row of him not moving the ball as needed and I'd argue that he was one of the main reasons for our losses in Atlanta.

I hope we see more of game 7 Rondo during the rest of the playoffs.