The worst half by Rondo in recent memory...

[Roy Hobbs]

Clearly, it wasn't a dominating half statistically, but worse, Rondo just didn't seem to have his head in the game, and made a lot of bad decisions.  It's amazing how poor this team looks at times when Rondo is off.

Let's hope he shook off whatever was bothering him and comes out big in the second half. 

[Mr October]

Yeah. He's had a few "hero" plays where he should have made smarter plays. Pick your spots Rondo. Pick your spots.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Clearly, it wasn't a dominating half statistically, but worse, Rondo just didn't seem to have his head in the game, and made a lot of bad decisions.  It's amazing how poor this team looks at times when Rondo is off.

Let's hope he shook off whatever was bothering him and comes out big in the second half. 

The problem is not being off. The problem is that he's controlling the ball while being off. It's the main reason I've been very critical of him when he's playing bad in the past.

[MaxwellSmart86]

C's down 36-32...get a stop...EVERYONE running the court---EXCEPT Rajon Rondo---he decides to pull up at half court---and work the clock...of course we get NOTHING....Next possession, Rondo has a chance to blow by Williams...NOPE....snooze alarm ON tonight.

[P2]

Foul trouble disrupted his play.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Foul trouble disrupted his play.

He was bad since the first play of the game. It had nothing to do with foul trouble. Though foul trouble contributes to it, but he hasn't been in the game defensively or offensively in the whole game. Some very lazy passes in the beginning of the game are not a consequence of being in foul trouble.

[Roy Hobbs]

Foul trouble disrupted his play.

He was bad since the first play of the game. It had nothing to do with foul trouble. Though foul trouble contributes to it, but he hasn't been in the game defensively or offensively in the whole game. Some very lazy passes in the beginning of the game are not a consequence of being in foul trouble.

Well said again.  Rondo's head just isn't right.  If he doesn't have it tonight, Doc needs to take the ball out of his hands.

[Jon]

Well, let's say if he doesn't have it "tonight" or just this half.  I expect him to bounce back in the second.

I didn't like Doc bringing TA in for him with 2 minutes left.  Should've just gone to Nate and avoided the chance of 3 fouls on TA and Rondo. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

And I don't want to be extra critical on Rondo because he has been fantastic pretty much all playoffs, but he's just completely off tonight and if he's off we can't keep him on the floor controlling the action. We have a game to win.

I expect him to come out in all cylinders in the 2nd half though. I hope...

[Spilling Green Dye]

Rondo got in early foul trouble which threw off his flow.  Then he clearly went to the locker room early with a tight hamstring, which they already announced.   I'd say those two things combined to make his play very mild.

[Change]

The one play that stuck out: Him not giving the ball up to Pierce early on that last play of regulation. Pierce was in the back-court calling for the ball, Rondo choose to bring the ball ball & it took precious seconds of the clock. Pierce was discombobulated. Just a horrible play from start to finish. The last minute of the game, Rondo should forgo ball handling duties.

[Frezz]

Did not show any aggresiveness for one second tonight. This loss is squarly on him. Just like the first three wins were all him. I know he's played great these playoffs but I'm so disappointed in him tonight. It's like he wanted no part of competing.

[pengaloo]

No one played team ball and so we lose. We didn't make the extra pass. PP with 32 points is great in that it shows he can still score, but it's not winning basketball because it was iso iso iso - that's not team basketball.  That's 4 other guys being spectators. We didn't have any transition game going because no one sprinted up the court. Help defense wasn't there.

I don't know if Rondo's passive play forced Paul to play hero ball or if Paul playing hero ball forced Rondo to play passively. It's a chemistry issue that I thought we figured out but I guess not .

[Dybdal]

Man.. i really hope Rondo never reads Celtics blog.

That guy has been going full steam with no real backup since House left for NY and when he clearly just does not have it tonight, everyone jumps to the conclusion that his head was not in the game, even though he leaves the game with back pains and comes back, trying to battle though it.

Its not his mind, its just tired legs and that happens.. bad timing to do that? ofcourse but with the preformances he has had during these playoffs play allmost the entire game with no backup, then your allowed to throw up a stinker once in a while.

Just a [dang] shame it happned on this night.