Celtics (6-1) at Mavericks (3-2) 11/8

[Fafnir]

I can't blame Rondo for taking a three to try and win it when they don't have a guy within 5 feet. Tough game, but you won't win them all. Especially on the road when you can't get to the line to save your life....

I agree, but they were up 5 with less than two minutes left and they simply could not close the deal. They had all of the momentum, too.

Actually, we _can_ blame Rondo, but not for the two. He made a _horrible_ defensive play on that Jason Terry 3 when we were three up. Why does he have to fight _over_ the screen on Jason Kid? It's Kidd! Would you rather give Kidd or Terry a wide open three! Argh!

Rondo and Ray both made poor plays on that. Ray needs to stick to his man in that situation.

[GreenFaith1819]

Besides, next time Dallas plays us, we'll have DWest and hopefully a healthy Shaq, JO and Perk..

How about KG with the 15 boards? When was the last time he pulled in that many in TWO games the last couple of years?

[vinnie]

You win some you lose some. Dirk pretty much beat the C's by himself late.

I would argue that the C's beat the C's.

[rgreen165]

I cannot believe people getting on Rondo. He only had what, 15 assists tonight. And his defense on Terry in the third period was stifling. Give the guy a break. They lost because Pierce got jumper happy then had that horrible drive to he basket that didn't even draw iron

EXACTLY

[Fafnir]

Kevin Garnett has been great to start the season. The defense is there, the rebounding is up. More activity offensively.

I'd like to see his scoring efficiency pop back to where it was but I expect that to come in time. Missing a few shots that he normally makes at the moment.

Anyway, another highly encouraging performance from KG. Himself and Rondo are quite the pair, dominant.

I worry about Rondo, he's laboring at times with his foot or something.

But yes KG has looked very good. Dallas is a tough cover for us because KG is our only PF who can hope to contain Dirk.

[PosImpos]

What was that?

17.5 seconds left and the best shot we can find is Rondo wide open for a pull up jumper?

That, folks, is why Rondo is not an MVP.  Table all this silly talk of him ever winning that award, or even being a true franchise player.  You can't be a franchise player if the other team can legitimately give you a wide open, pull-up shot at the end of the game and feel confident in that decision.

C'mon now...little harsh of our PG, huh?

We were all singing his praises just 24 hours ago.....one game isn't a season.

Dallas will be watching Boston and LA play in June, so it's all good....

I love the player Rondo has become, and I'm all for singing his praises, but people who talk about him as if he could be a MVP candidate or as a cornerstone franchise player need to get real and stop drinking so much green kool-aid.  He's a great floor general, and probably the best passer in the NBA at this point.  He isn't, however, a go-to guy, and that prevents him from entering the same discussion as guys like Deron Williams, Chris Paul, and yes, even Derrick Rose (long term..D-Rose is not better than Rondo right now). 

To be "the Man", you have to be able to score in the clutch.  You can't be an offensive liability, and that's what Rondo is in situations like the end of tonight's game.

[paul]

rondo's gotta keep working on his shot

[kozlodoev]

I can't blame Rondo for taking a three to try and win it when they don't have a guy within 5 feet. Tough game, but you won't win them all. Especially on the road when you can't get to the line to save your life....

I agree, but they were up 5 with less than two minutes left and they simply could not close the deal. They had all of the momentum, too.

Actually, we _can_ blame Rondo, but not for the two. He made a _horrible_ defensive play on that Jason Terry 3 when we were three up. Why does he have to fight _over_ the screen on Jason Kid? It's Kidd! Would you rather give Kidd or Terry a wide open three! Argh!

Rondo and Ray both made poor plays on that. Ray needs to stick to his man in that situation.

A wide open layup is  still superior to a wide open three pointer. Ray made the right play.

[Fafnir]

I cannot believe people getting on Rondo. He only had what, 15 assists tonight. And his defense on Terry in the third period was stifling. Give the guy a break. They lost because Pierce got jumper happy then had that horrible drive to he basket that didn't even draw iron

EXACTLY

I wouldn't say jumper happy, Chandler was smoothing penetration very effectively. The C's just didn't hit the jump shots that they had to have late.

[xmuscularghandix]

Tommy just said that “he didn’t have to take the three, drive right into the teeth of the defense SOMEBODY has to pick him up. Otherwise he gets a layup or gets fouled"

[snively]

Kevin Garnett has been great to start the season. The defense is there, the rebounding is up. More activity offensively.

I'd like to see his scoring efficiency pop back to where it was but I expect that to come in time. Missing a few shots that he normally makes at the moment.

Anyway, another highly encouraging performance from KG. Himself and Rondo are quite the pair, dominant.

Agreed.  If we ever get the O'Neals healthy at the same time or one of the O'Neals and Perk, with West added on to take some of the scoring pressure of Paul and Ray, I'm very confident in this team's chances against anybody.

Dallas is a tough team, but they're definitely a few rungs below this Celtics squad.

[Fafnir]

I can't blame Rondo for taking a three to try and win it when they don't have a guy within 5 feet. Tough game, but you won't win them all. Especially on the road when you can't get to the line to save your life....

I agree, but they were up 5 with less than two minutes left and they simply could not close the deal. They had all of the momentum, too.

Actually, we _can_ blame Rondo, but not for the two. He made a _horrible_ defensive play on that Jason Terry 3 when we were three up. Why does he have to fight _over_ the screen on Jason Kid? It's Kidd! Would you rather give Kidd or Terry a wide open three! Argh!

Rondo and Ray both made poor plays on that. Ray needs to stick to his man in that situation.

A wide open layup is  still superior to a wide open three pointer. Ray made the right play.

Ray wasn't the guy who was responsible for helping on Kidd though, you can't drift so far to the point that you cannot contest a 3.

[vinnie]

Through 8 games, Rajon Rondo is averaging 15 assists a game. He took that three, because the rest of his teammates were doing diddly squat. What the heck was that play with 1.5 seconds left, however? That, was bad.

[rsan]

You can't with them all and really was only a few mistakes that cost us. KG looked great tonight. Love the fact we are boarding a lot better

[PosImpos]

What was that?

17.5 seconds left and the best shot we can find is Rondo wide open for a pull up jumper?

That, folks, is why Rondo is not an MVP.  Table all this silly talk of him ever winning that award, or even being a true franchise player.  You can't be a franchise player if the other team can legitimately give you a wide open, pull-up shot at the end of the game and feel confident in that decision.

Dude he missed the shot, anyone could have missed the shot, just because he missed ONE shot in one game doesn't mean he can't be a franchise player. He was left wide open so why not shoot it, everyone was covered and time was running out

rgreen, Rondo has taken a lot of end-of-the-quarter shots in the last year or so, and that's because other teams happily give that shot to him.  He only very rarely makes those shots, because he isn't a good outside shooter. 

Every player misses jumpshots, including Kobe, Lebron, D-Wade, etc.  But the other team has to cover them as if they are going to make the shot, because they are a threat.  Rondo is not a threat.  In end of the game, need-a-good-shot-to-tie-or-win situations, Rondo is a liability; the other team can simply play off of him like that.  That's why his potential as a franchise cornerstone is limited.