Rondo's growth

[Drucci]

The thought just stuck me but... remember in 2008 when Rondo was struggling on the road in the playoffs and playing tentative, scared? When we blamed him for not stepping up?

Boy, did he improve in the last two years! The guy went from being scared and playing poorly on the road to becoming a leader on this team and an absolute killer in opponent's arenas... I mean, look at his performance in game 1, dominating in every facet, going fearlessly at Shaq, in the paint... and now in game 2 he scores only 11 points but dominates the game with his passing and controls the tempo and his team to perfection.

Now I understand what it means to see a player grow up with your team, improve year after year and become a leader/star. Awesome. Congrats to Rajon and let's hope he keeps impressing us!

[Roy Hobbs]

Yeah, he's come a long way, even since last year's playoffs.  He's a factor in every game, which wasn't the case last year.

[misha]

Rondo is an elite player now.

[LB3533]

As a team, we are so much better when Rondo has more assists than points.

If Rondo is our leading scorer, it's going to be an L for us more than likely.

[GreenFaith1819]

He has certainly come a Long way.

If we can take CLE..then beat ORL.....

Rondo will have a Field Day against LA. They have less to throw at him than both CLE and ORL, I think.

[Roy Hobbs]

He has certainly came a Long way.
Rondo will have a Field Day against LA. They have less to throw at him than both CLE and ORL, I think.

If we get that far -- which of course is a big if -- I think LA will play Kobe on Rondo.  He won't be able to abuse him like he would Fisher.

Let's win seven more games before we talk about that, though.

[RJ87]

As a team, we are so much better when Rondo has more assists than points.

If Rondo is our leading scorer, it's going to be an L for us more than likely.

I disagree with this assessment. It makes it sound like "when Rondo's selfish, we lose..."

When Rondo is the leading scorer, its normally because no one else is stepping up and he recognizes this and calls his own number more. When Rondo is able to rack up assists, it shows everyone's involved and it's a full team effort.

[CoachBo]

Yeah, he's come a long way, even since last year's playoffs.  He's a factor in every game, which wasn't the case last year.

As a longtime Rondo critic, I could not agree more. He's finally taken the steps to reach elite status.

I'd like to see him demand more from his teammates in the down times, but there's simply no way to find fault with the results in the first two games. He's reached elite status, and he's single-handedly breaking Cleveland down defensively.

[GreenFaith1819]

He has certainly came a Long way.
Rondo will have a Field Day against LA. They have less to throw at him than both CLE and ORL, I think.

If we get that far -- which of course is a big if -- I think LA will play Kobe on Rondo.  He won't be able to abuse him like he would Fisher.

Let's win seven more games before we talk about that, though.

This is true. Phil would try that. But the way that Kobe has looked thus far I think that Rondo will tire him out.

[twinbree]

Rondo has really been the brightest spot for me this season. And it's just a pleasure to watch him find another gear in the playoffs. Looking forward to watching him get better and better.

[rondohondo]

Plus now we can have faith in rondo making ft's so he can control the ball late in games. He is 29-36 in the playoffs. He is even hitting threes 5-9

[Drucci]

Plus now we can have faith in rondo making ft's so he can control the ball late in games. He is 29-36 in the playoffs. He is even hitting threes 5-9

Good point, now I'm not even worried anymore when he goes to the FT line, he almost looks like Ray Allen sometimes (see game 1)!

[wdleehi]

Rondo is playing great.



It also helps that he hasn't been that challenged at the PG spot in the playoff yet.  Neither Clev nor Miami had a PG that could stay with him. 

[thebirdman]

He has really been playing great. Especially considering the big minutes he has to play...

I would still like him to be more aggressive at times. He needs to realize that the big three isn`t better anymore. In game 1 he started to look for the pass too much because he thought he took too many shots. Sometimes, when he is on like that, we need him to take over the games in the fourth quarter on offense...

I appreciate his pass first mentality but at times when the big three isn`t making shots we need him to be more aggressive!

I am just worried that after game 3 there are only 2 days between  games, so fatigue might be an issue. We can`t have him play 45 minutes per game. Doc needs to figure something out...the best solution is, of course, blowing the cavs out, so Rondo can get some rest in the fourth!

[moiso]

He is a special player and point guard.  I have always felt we were extremely lucky to have him.  He plays defense, he hustles, he sees the court, he is unselfish, he gets to the rim at will... he even hits his foul shots now.  He is the comlete package and an awesome competitor.  I can't say enough about him.  Every year he climbs higher on the point guard list.  This year he seems to be looking up only at D Williams, if he's not looking straight at him.