First of all, I must admit I missed tonight's game, so I feel a bit reluctant to comment on anything related. But when I was reading the game reviews, two major things that jumped out at me were, one: the fact that the "Big Three" didn't play, and two: the drastic improvement of Rondo's numbers compared to the last three games.
Now, this is nothing new ... it's something that I've thought about often, (and mentioned here from time-to-time), since Rajon became the starting PG. Both in 2008, when KG had the abdominal injury, and last year when KG went down with the knee problem, Rondo seemed to just "take off" and become two or three times the force that he was when KG was playing.
The reason I bring it up is that I personally feel that when KG is on the floor, Rondo has a tendency to not drive to the basket as much, almost as if he's a bit afraid of invading KG's territory ... that as long as Garnett is in the post, he should be the number one option 9 times out of 10. So instead of penetrating and going strong to the hoop, Rage almost always passes off to KG, and treats the paint like it's out-of-bounds.
Some would say this is no big deal, because the C's seemed to compensate pretty well in 2008 and won the Championship regardless. But it still bothers me a bit because Rondo is so fast, and he can just plain get to the basket almost anytime he wants to. But when KG's on the floor, he very rarely does so, and then becomes a very easy player for opposing teams to defend, because he's yet to get his jump-shot going.
When Garnett is on the floor with Rondo, teams know that Rajon is rarely going to penetrate, and rarely going to shoot, and he then becomes one less worry and actually makes a double-teaming defense that much more effective. Rondo's greatest weapon at this point is his speed, as there are very few players, (if any), in the entire NBA that can keep up with him or defend him if he makes up his mind to get to the basket.
The problem is, when KG is in the paint, Rondo treats it like "sacred" territory, and I think, out of some kind of sub-conscious respect for KG's area of the court, avoids invading the paint whenever possible. When this first happened in 2008, I figured it was just an "immaturity" thing on Rage's part, but after last night's glaring return of Rondo's numbers, I went back and looked over statistics from those times KG was out, and the difference is startling.
I remember when Kevin hurt his abdomen, and Doc told Rondo to just stop thinking so much, penetrate the paint, and just "play" ... Rondo was like a new man during that period, and was the force of the team until KG came back. When Garnet did come back, Rajon went back to being his old tentative self, and pretty much kept his game on the perimeter. Without having a consistent jump-shot or drive to the hoop, a PG becomes very easy to defend, and almost a non-factor.
Now, for those who may think I'm dissing Rondo, don't worry ... I love this kid, and have been one of his biggest proponents since he came to Boston. I honestly think, if he gets to work on his jump-shot, that he can become one of the best guards to ever play this game. That's exactly the reason I'm saying this, because he's not playing to his strengths when he's not driving to the hoop. This kid is so fast and agile, and he can burn almost anyone.
Not only will he be improving his game if he starts driving to the basket more, but when KG is on the floor, the fact that Rajon is going to the basket will make it that much easier for the other players, KG especially, to be more open for their own shots or post moves. Rondo needs to realize that driving to the hoop more will not only improve his own numbers, but will also loosen up those areas of the floor that are much easier to defend when he's sticking to the perimeter game.
This is all speculation, mind you, and I don't know for sure if this is the reason for the difference in Rajon's game with KG's absence. But time-after-time now, he has seemed like a different player when Garnett has been off the court, and tonight's game was another glaring example. I think the rest of the team, the coaches, and KG in particular, have to make sure that they keep pushing Rondo to play "his" game, and to not worry about stepping on any toes by attacking the paint.
This team is at it's best when it's running, and almost impossible to beat, but when Rondo keeps being so reluctant to penetrate the box, (and without a decent jump-shot), it slows everything down, and gives the defense the time it needs to adjust. Rondo needs to know that it wouldn't hinder KG's game for him to drive to the basket, it would help it, because the defense would collapse on Rage and give Kevin more room to post-up or go to that sweet 18-footer of his!
When Rondo is at his best and attacking the basket, and this team is running the floor in "sync" and not over-thinking everything - just playing their game in a "groove" - they are absolutely unstoppable ... and it's a joy to watch!
Go Celtics!
