WELCOME BACK RONDO!

[chambers]

He's baaaaackkk...
*his assists.
*his aggression towards the ring and penetration.
* taking the open shot when he had to and not 2nd guessing himself.
*his defensive tenacity.
* most importantly his hustle and desire. Watching him and KG and Ray all dive for the ball on multiple occasions got me so fired up I felt like i was watching a first round play off match against the Knicks.
Best game for quite some time.
Everything was a much higher standard- it was like the clock had been wound back 6 weeks and all was fine and dandy.
I'm so happy for Rondo.
 I think playing against Billups played an important part in this games performance because he lives for match ups like this and hopefully it aslo made him wake up to the fact that if he thinks it's tough losing your best friend to another team- imagine being Billups and having to move from your home town at the end of your career as a trade inclusion. A bit of perspective always helps especially when it come from one of your idols.

First place in the east is going to be much easier if he keeps this standard up.
GO CELTICS!

[KungPoweChicken]

This was his best game in about a month, but he still attempted the most shots on the team (besides Allen), which is unacceptable, and most were jump shots, which makes it worse.

[chambers]

I don't mind if he's attempting jump shots as long as he's mixing it up and attacking the rim for layups.
He finished well under the rim and hit some harder leaning layups and shots that he has been bricking over and over for the past few weeks.

[Dunn]

Rondo don't care for pleasing his backstabbing fans or countless writers who tried to Rasheed him. Games like last night shouldn't be needed for his detractors to choke on crow. Hopefully, he's healthy enough to end the the demise and trade wishes his own fans demanded. Too late for sorry haters.

[Bankshot]

I don't mind if he's attempting jump shots as long as he's mixing it up and attacking the rim for layups.
He finished well under the rim and hit some harder leaning layups and shots that he has been bricking over and over for the past few weeks.

Exactly.  I actually like Rondo taking open jumpers (not a lot of them though ), but when he wasn't playing well, he wasn't doing any of the other things, which is why I started the thread asking how could he be in a "setting up the offense" slump.

[dasani]

I don't mind if he's attempting jump shots as long as he's mixing it up and attacking the rim for layups.
He finished well under the rim and hit some harder leaning layups and shots that he has been bricking over and over for the past few weeks.

Exactly.  I actually like Rondo taking open jumpers (not a lot of them though ), but when he wasn't playing well, he wasn't doing any of the other things, which is why I started the thread asking how could he be in a "setting up the offense" slump.

my thoughts too.

[wiley]

Great game.  No other PG in the league runs that ball down and throws it off Amare to keep possession.  I agree with whoever said he doesn't need to be taking jumpers.....there's no reason for it really.  One or two per game at most.  I'd rather he practice floaters this offseason than outside jumpers.  If he's open enough to shoot a J he'll be open enough to shimmy in for a floater......and of course always love when he gets into the paint.

[SHAQATTACK]

This game , may have been the game that Rhondo finally gets his mojo back and throws off the funk he sank into since Perks departure. What an exciting game, he was into it like I haven't seen in many weeks. 

If he plays like this he can take his team back to the finals.

[chambers]

Although this is a rondo thread- I really didn't give KG enough love in the OP.
He was a fricken BEAST tonight and had his best game in a while aswell. He pretty much abused Turiaf and stoudemire.
That hand off tomahawk dunk from rondo was unreal.
Watching this game was a big relief.

[Assassin70]

Rondo don't care for pleasing his backstabbing fans or countless writers who tried to Rasheed him. Games like last night shouldn't be needed for his detractors to choke on crow. Hopefully, he's healthy enough to end the the demise and trade wishes his own fans demanded. Too late for sorry haters.

While there is some "haters" of Rajon game.  Most if not all Celtic fans want to see he improve play well and reach his potential. 

Even if you love Rajon, you have to admit his play has been on the poor side for the last 2 months. 

I am just glad he played a good game last night.

[BballTim]

This was his best game in about a month, but he still attempted the most shots on the team (besides Allen), which is unacceptable, and most were jump shots, which makes it worse.

  This will probably shock you, but if you watch other point guards as closely as Rondo, or even other players on the Celts, you will see that they also do things that are "unacceptable" or worse.

[Chris]

This was his best game in about a month, but he still attempted the most shots on the team (besides Allen), which is unacceptable, and most were jump shots, which makes it worse.

  This will probably shock you, but if you watch other point guards as closely as Rondo, or even other players on the Celts, you will see that they also do things that are "unacceptable" or worse.

Absolutely.  And I would argue Rondo's decision making was pretty darn good last night.  Looking at the number of shots is so deceiving.  Yes, he took more jump shots, but that is because that was the right shot within the system, or was in desperation after the offense broke down, and the ball ended up swinging to him. 

As I have been saying for a while, if Rondo is going to be as effective as he can be, he needs to be taking those shots, because even if it doesn't change the gameplan on paper, if he starts taking those in rhythm, it will get the defenders leaning a bit more his way, and get them out of the passing lanes. 

Even though guys play off him, they still want to challenge every shot.  When they know he is deadset on not shooting it, they can stay where they are, sitting on the pass or drive, but when they know that he is not going to hesitate to take that shot, they will take that extra step forward, and even move for the shot fake, which will open up the lane, and those extra couple inches are all he needs to make a play. 

I firmly believe that Rondos willingness to take those shots, and take the ball hard to the basket early in the game last night was a huge reason they had room to work in the 4th quarter.  He went from being the incredibly predictable player he has been over the last few weeks to a guy who was a triple threat (even if the threat to shoot was not a huge worry, instinct is to run him off the shot when you know he will shoot it).  That little question of "what is he going to do" meant that they couldn't as freely sit in the passing lanes like they have lately, and suddenly he could get the ball to Pierce, Ray, and KG in spots to score.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Some good signs from him in the last 3 or 4 games, as I've made notice of. Still think he's not making as great decisions with the ball as he should. He's missing cutters, making lazy passes, forgoing open layups to make a crappy pass, etc. Like the energy he's been playing with though, and he's certainly driving a bit more, and his defense certainly looks much better.

[mmbaby]

Rhondo will always come back, just like Ray does.

Whatever was wrong - I think it was his planter fasciitis - is getting better.

My prediction is that Rajon Rhondo is going to be one of the greatest point guards of all time, if not THE greatest. He will continue to improve and as he gets older, he will perfect his game.