Why is Rondo playing unfathomably well?

[LarBrd33]

Why is it that Rondo has put together possibly the 4 greatest performances of his entire career in 4 consecutive games?

Game 1: 29 points, 7 assists, 9 rebounds, 2 steals
Game 2: 19 points, 16 assists, 12 rebounds, 5 steals
Game 3: 20 points, 6 assists, 11 rebounds, 5 steals
Game 4: 25 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals

Averaging:  23.3 points, 10 assists, 10.8 rebounds, 3.5 steals

I seriously can't think of any Celtic player in the last 20 years who has put together a stretch of games like this.  I don't even think Pierce ever put up these kind of numbers.   

There is literally only one player in the playoffs currently outplaying Rondo... and that's the otherworldly LeBron James (averaging 32 points, 7.5 assists, 11.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals).

http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Efficiency.jsp?league=00&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9splitScope=GAME&qualified=N&yearsExp=-1&splitDD=All%20Teams

What's going on here?  Is it just Chicago's defense?  I mean Rondo's good... but he's not THAT good.  Is it a fluke?  Will he come back down to Earth in the next couple games?  Would he put up these kind of numbers against any other team?  Has he been more aggressive?  Has he been given more control?  Is it simply that Rose is a rookie who plays defense like a rookie? 

Help me understand what's up with Rondo.

[crownsy]

Why is it that Rondo has put together possibly the 4 greatest performances of his entire career in 4 consecutive games?

Game 1: 29 points, 7 assists, 9 rebounds, 2 steals
Game 2: 19 points, 16 assists, 12 rebounds, 5 steals
Game 3: 20 points, 6 assists, 11 rebounds, 5 steals
Game 4: 25 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals

Averaging:  23.3 points, 10 assists, 10.8 rebounds, 3.5 steals

I seriously can't think of any Celtic player in the last 20 years who has put together a stretch of games like this.  I don't even think Pierce ever put up these kind of numbers.   

There is literally only one player in the playoffs currently outplaying Rondo... and that's the otherworldly LeBron James (averaging 32 points, 7.5 assists, 11.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals).

http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Efficiency.jsp?league=00&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9splitScope=GAME&qualified=N&yearsExp=-1&splitDD=All%20Teams

What's going on here?  Is it just Chicago's defense?  I mean Rondo's good... but he's not THAT good.  Is it a fluke?  Will he come back down to Earth in the next couple games?  Would he put up these kind of numbers against any other team?  Has he been more aggressive?  Has he been given more control?  Is it simply that Rose is a rookie who plays defense like a rookie? 

Help me understand what's up with Rondo.

With paul struggling and KG out he's slid up to second on the offensive option chart behind ray?

Also, he's hitting his jump shot, and even the three. thus Chicago has had to crowd him, and he's killing them off the dribble.

and, maybe he already figured out how to hold reserve's in the tank and bring it out in the playoffs from last year?

I don't know, i just hope it continues.

[LarBrd33]

It must just be that Chicago's defensive style allows Rondo to do whatever he wants.  Hopefully it continues.   Rondo's playing like Oscar Robertson and yet we still only have 2 wins. 

[Chief]

Talent and a huge desire to win.

[LarBrd33]

Talent and a huge desire to win.

sure, but you don't just randomly overnight go from averaging 11 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals (solid, for sure) to being the 2nd best player in the league.  Must be Rose and his rookie defense.

[fairweatherfan]

Chicago's backcourt sucks on D, except for Hinrich, who doesn't guard Rondo.  Also, for a couple of games they kept their bigs back to pressure defensive rebounders.  Whenever we got the ball out of that quickly Rondo generally had a fastbreak against the shortest Bulls on the court.

Also, we've needed him to step up and be more aggressive, and he's shouldering the load.

[Chief]

Talent and a huge desire to win.

sure, but you don't just randomly overnight go from averaging 11 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals (solid, for sure) to being the 2nd best player in the league.  Must be Rose and his rookie defense.

Rondo is just filling Kg's role. I think he has always had the talent and desire but because of his youth, was respectful and let KG run the team. I wonder if things will go back to the old way when KG comes back.

[Casperian]

"He was asking all kinds of questions about what he needed to do," coach Doc Rivers said. " 'What do you need me to do, what can I do defensively, what should I do offensively, am I dribbling too much, am I not getting the ball to Ray and Paul, are we not posting enough?'

"I mean, they were terrific questions and he's a student of the game and I love when he does that. And when he left, I got to thinking, 'That's too many questions.'

"And so when I walked to the locker room I told Rondo that he had the keys to the team - and just go play. And stop asking me questions."

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/21/bulls_had_no_answer_for_rondo/

[guava_wrench]

Because Stern is trying to position Rondo to be more marketable.

One for the conspiracy people.

[shiggins]

maybe because he's unfathomably good?

[RAcker]

A recent trip to Salem.   

[Chris]

I think a huge part of it is the way they are playing defense.  They are overplaying Ray and Paul so much, it is creating a lot of space for Rondo to work and make things happen.

But the bigger reason is that Rondo is playing with a ton of confidence, and he is taking and making the shots they are giving him.  I don't think he has passed up an open, rhythm shot all series, and in the past he would pass up 4-5 of these a game (at least).

[LarBrd33]

I think a huge part of it is the way they are playing defense.  They are overplaying Ray and Paul so much, it is creating a lot of space for Rondo to work and make things happen.

But the bigger reason is that Rondo is playing with a ton of confidence, and he is taking and making the shots they are giving him.  I don't think he has passed up an open, rhythm shot all series, and in the past he would pass up 4-5 of these a game (at least).

So basically you're saying that the Bulls have decided, "lets make them try and beat us with Glen Davis and Rajon Rondo instead of Ray and PIerce"... and so far it's worked half the time?

[Hoops]

I think the biggest reason is that he's playing with freedom - he's playing on instinct rather than x's and o's. I don't know how much KG's absence contributes to this, but Rondo has flipped the irreversible switch - the lights are on from here on out with Rondo. If he wants to score, he'll score. If he feels like Ray needs some shots, he'll get Ray some shots. He acts the ball belongs to him and anytime it's loose, he goes and gets it (off a rebound or whatever).

[crownsy]

I think a huge part of it is the way they are playing defense.  They are overplaying Ray and Paul so much, it is creating a lot of space for Rondo to work and make things happen.

But the bigger reason is that Rondo is playing with a ton of confidence, and he is taking and making the shots they are giving him.  I don't think he has passed up an open, rhythm shot all series, and in the past he would pass up 4-5 of these a game (at least).

So basically you're saying that the Bulls have decided, "lets make them try and beat us with Glen Davis and Rajon Rondo instead of Ray and PIerce"... and so far it's worked half the time?

I would think it would, as well as rondo has been playing, BBD is not KG.

I'd rather have the 4th option and a bench player try to beat me with the HOF big out than let the other 2 HOF'ers decide it.