Rajon Rondo looming as threat to Heat's title run

[j804]

Nice article by Woj love it

BOSTON – One year later, the Miami Heat’s most troublesome threat in the Eastern Conference has never been so determined to deliver LeBron James and Dwyane Wade the cruelest of losses. Privately, Rajon Rondo has never stopped thinking about redemption. Three hundred sixty-five days ago, Rondo lay on his back, the pain shooting out of a dislocated elbow, and listened to Kevin Garnett screaming to him on the Boston Garden floor, “Breathe! … Breathe!” His elbow was out, the season was shot.

What everyone witnessed – the doctor jamming that left elbow back into its socket and Rondo turning a six-week regular-season injury into a six-minute playoff detour -– goes down into Celtics lore. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge called it the most amazing thing he’d ever witnessed with an athlete. Coach Doc Rivers called it “beyond courageous.” Rondo returned in that Game 3, beat the Heat with one arm and, yet, ultimately, had to be forced to sit out the night the Celtics were eliminated.

One year later on Sunday night, outside his Boston Garden office, Rivers was asked: Do you still wonder what would’ve happened had Rondo never gone down in the Miami series?

“Yeah, I do,” Rivers told Yahoo! Sports.

Rivers didn’t stop there. “The Heat played well,” he said. “LeBron made some big shots.” No, he wasn’t suggesting Miami didn’t deserve its conference semifinal victory over the Celtics last season.

Yet, does Rivers wonder what would’ve happened had Boston kept the pressure on Miami in that series?

Yes, he does.

Across the Eastern Conference, the big stars are tumbling out of Miami’s way. Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose are out of these playoffs, the two best players at the two positions – center and point guard – the Heat have shown to be most vulnerable. They’re gone, but Wade never tackled them in a playoff game the way he did Rondo a season ago. The East is clearing out for the Heat, but Rondo, the slightest star in stature, still cuts the most threatening figure. Mario Chalmers has grown, but Miami has never had the antidote for him.

Rondo’s rising again, on a tear for months, and he’s still the biggest potential barrier between Miami and a return to the NBA Finals. He was his genius passing and playmaking self – 16 assists, one turnover – in the Celtics' 101-79 victory over Atlanta at the Garden. So many of his 20 points came on jump shots, on the kind of sweet, fluid stroke that’s seldom functioned for him. Boston goes back to Atlanta with a 3-1 series lead for Game 5 Tuesday, goes back with a chance to advance closer to a conference final with the Heat.

Boston’s still the looming issue for Miami because Rondo and Paul Pierce, Garnett and Ray Allen have a run left with them. Boston’s still looming because that failed, final sequence in the Heat’s Game 4 loss to the Knicks on Sunday is a reminder of how efficiently this Celtics coach and these Celtics stars run plays in the telltale moments of games. Miami doesn’t need to let Boston linger in a series, doesn’t need to let the conference championship come down to execution late in games.

These Celtics understand they won’t be back together next season. Perhaps Garnett could return on a one-year contract, but Allen is almost assured to leave as a free agent. They all know Rondo had a layup in Game 4 that could’ve delivered them a 2-2 series tie a year ago, but his inability to secure the ball with his dislocated elbow left the ball to flutter out of bounds.

Rondo is relentless, and he played Games 3 and 4 a year ago in a way that defied explanation, defied comparison.

"The first game we got away with it," Rivers said Sunday. "The first game, I’m thinking, 'They’re gonna allow this guy to play with that one arm? You’re sitting there thinking, ‘This is not going to last.' And it didn’t. Then they started attacking him."

Before Game 5 a year ago, Rivers and Ainge knew: This had gone too far. Rondo would never, ever take himself out of the series, so they did it for him. "At that point, we just made the decision: 'We’re going to have him for a long time. We’re not going to ruin this,' "Rivers said.

Across this season, and this short series, Rondo’s been on a remarkable tear. Yes, he lost his mind in Game 1 of this series – bumping a ref, getting suspended – but it hasn’t stopped him, nor these Celtics. They lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, and Rondo sounded charitable when he said, “We know they won’t lay down,” for Game 5.

Rondo’s playing on a different plane this season. He’s been the best point guard in the Eastern Conference, and shoulder to shoulder with Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook in the league. All along, he’s been one of the sport’s smartest, sharpest players. Rondo was a young guard during the Celtics' championship chase in 2008 when a teammate remembered one of the coaches giving him a Hawks playbook to study overnight. They were in the opening-round series, and the coaching staff outlined the top 15 or so plays Atlanta would likely run on Rondo.

The next day, the coach quizzed Rondo on the plays. He asked about three or four, and Rondo ran through the details for him. And then, the coach asked about another play in the book – only Rondo shot back that it wasn’t in the book, that the Hawks didn’t run the play. Which was exactly what the coach wanted to hear.

That’s Rondo, and that’s part of one of the most beautiful minds in basketball. The bigger the games, the bigger the performances out of him. That never changes. He rolls out of bed this time of year and right into a triple-double. The Heat will be in those conference finals, and they won’t be tested unless the Celtics are awaiting them, unless Rondo’s still standing in these playoffs.

LeBron James is the best player in these Eastern Conference playoffs, but Rondo controls a basketball game like no one but else but James. All these threats to the Heat in the East have crumbled, but Rondo remains. And, rest assured, he’ll dare the Heat to take him out again. Rondo’s relentless this way. Doc Rivers wondered: What would’ve happened? Well, the Celtics want to find out again. They have one, best chance, and it hasn’t changed for a year. Three hundred sixty-five days later, Rajon Rondo’s still coming for the Miami Heat.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--rajon-rondo-looming-as-threat-to-heat-s-title-run.html;_ylt=AjMKNujMICzFgwjKZvBjoZu8vLYF

[bopna]

Rondo will get his revenge believe me...he is a fiery competitor that will not go away dislocated elbow or not...im sure Wade did not re :)ally intended to hurt Rondo but it was prety obvious he took him down. I don't wanna wish for anymore injuries for us nor for the cHeat but they are as dirty as they come.  I still like our chances against anyone in the league IF and only If we remain injury free... GO CELTS 

[SHAQATTACK]

Rondo could shoot every game like last night , he's move directly to the head of the NBA point guard class hands down.

He was zinging those jumpers though like Kobe.  Had to replay that torrid of Rondo jumpers to be sure I was seeing straight.

[Celtics4ever]

i'm sure Wade did not re :)ally intended to hurt Rondo

I am sure.  He also tried to legwhip PP in the series.  He deliberately hooked him and pulled him down.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_QDViW_2s8

[jdz101]

Brandon Bass/KG/Avery/Paul/Rajon are all pretty tough competitors. They won't take a backward step this year when d.wade attempts to goon them..

No heartless guys like JO and the fat mamba this year.

[SHAQATTACK]

The Celtics don't seem to be intimidated by the Heat in the least. I think KG , RAY and PP mindset is we are not going to let a team of two great players, one good one and rest scrubs walk all over us.

Our front court of ROndo , AB , Ray and Pietrus, Moore , is flat out 100 X better than the scrubs they play.  Wade can be checked , and his no longer the dominate force he once was.

For the CHEAT to win they need 25-30 from Bosh , Wade and LBJ EVERY GAME and huge minutes every game .  ANything less from them and the HEAT have a melt down.

Our bench destroys theirs , so Wade and LBJ can never rest , or the game starts to go away from them.

IF we could get KG, Williams and Hollins and Steamer to PILE on Bosh , smother him completly out wear him out .  GEt our defense lockdown on WADE .  THen just let Bron play his tail off and be a one man team and have 35-40 points. We still win.

RONDO ..can control the "PACE" of the game , its advantage Celtics.  This is also how the Spurs with TOny Parker can beat the CHeat.  COntroling the tempo of the game. Rondo and Parker can get Bron all out of sorts by controling the tempo.

[Overrated]

Rondo could shoot every game like last night , he's move directly to the head of the NBA point guard class hands down.

He was zinging those jumpers though like Kobe.  Had to replay that torrid of Rondo jumpers to be sure I was seeing straight.