News: Rondo Suspended 1 Game

[jaybahs]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t2GgN_RC7M

This sums up how I feel about this whole situation ... Showdown ... Let's get it

[gar]

With Rondo out at least we might get a better effort for the whole 48 minutes.

[Neurotic Guy]

Relieved.  After seeing in the replay that he clearly extended his chest, I thought multiple games was possible given the ball-throwing incident.

One game is survivable.

[SHAQATTACK]

I can only give one bit of advice ... DO NOT LET PIERCE PLAY POINT FORWARD....DO NOT LET HIM HANDLE THE BALL.... I could pick his pocket.  He is TOO OLD and slow .  I go crazy when PP stands there and dribbles the ball....its a steal waitng to happen.

OUR rookie Moore after Rondo is our  most confident ball handler IMO...He can handle the rock..   I would give the kid a chance  with Bradley. Moore is not scard to shoot and IF he hits one ..then its game on ..he is liable to hit his next 6 .

I like Quis's game too of late ...he has finally found his game.  I would start with Pav and PIetrus,  but I'd go with Moore in a heartbeat if they are getting stripped by Teague  too much.

[gpap]

I expected as much.

Let him take game 2 off, get some rest, and then return for home cooking in Game 3.

We got this, Rondo...BOS will bring their "A" games in Game 2 - don't you worry.

But BE READY for GAME 3.

Ah yes, rest. A favorite word in the Celtics dictionary 

[LarBrd33]

We are 8-5 when Rondo doesn't play, and this is a higher winning % than our overall record of 39-27.

For what it's worth.....

Now do the playoff stats.

We won a championship in 08 with the ball flowing through Paul Pierce and Rondo acting as a glorified role player (4th best player on the team).  I know he's capable of big numbers, but we will probably be fine without him... as long as Pierce is on his game and KG continues to look youthful and spry like he did at the tail end of the season.  Those two are FAR more important to our playoff hopes than Rondo.  I know the company line is that Rondo is key.  The unofficial company line is also that he's a quirky, temperamental, stubborn player who tends to dog it when he's not properly motivated and encouraged... so it doesn't really surprise me they keep talking about how important and special he is (all the while continually trying to trade him the background).  I love Rondo.  He's phenomenal.  But he's our 3rd most important player right now.  I think what he does for us as a setup guy is top notch.  Not many can do it that well.  He's a limited scorer, but he's great running the offense.  At times I feel like he's too self-aware of his assist numbers (I've seen him pass up wide open layups many times), but beyond that I can't complain about him as a player.  I just think that any hope we have of winning a title rests with Kevin Garnett 1st and foremost (by a pretty wide margin, actually)... and Paul Pierce 2nd.  As well as Rondo runs the offense... it doesn't really matter when Paul Pierce is playing like Paul Pierce.

Brought this up a few weeks ago:

Just took a look at what Pierce did in the 8 game stretch with Rondo out and it seems to back that up:

1/20 (LOSS) 12 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks
1/22 (Win) 34 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 steals
1/23 (win) 19 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds
1/26 (win) 24 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 block
1/27 (win) 28 points, 8 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 steals,2  blocks
1/29 (loss) 18 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds
1/31 (win) 20 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
2/1 (win) 17 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Pierce usually steps up his game with Rondo out... which makes sense since the ball pretty much flowed through him his entire career up until late 2009.

[Celtics4ever]

Relieved.  After seeing in the replay that he clearly extended his chest, I thought multiple games was possible given the ball-throwing incident.

I have heard a lot about extending his chest.   This is nonsense a expanded chest is common when a guy is irrate.   A dropped shoulder is what really does damage when you do a walkby.   I know I did some hatchet work when I played.   Dropped shoulders clobbers the other guy, expanded chest no so much.

[LarBrd33]

We are 8-5 when Rondo doesn't play, and this is a higher winning % than our overall record of 39-27.

For what it's worth.....

Now do the playoff stats.

We won a championship in 08 with the ball flowing through Paul Pierce and Rondo acting as a glorified role player (4th best player on the team).  I know he's capable of big numbers, but we will probably be fine without him... as long as Pierce is on his game and KG continues to look youthful and spry like he did at the tail end of the season.  Those two are FAR more important to our playoff hopes than Rondo.  I know the company line is that Rondo is key.  The unofficial company line is also that he's a quirky, temperamental, stubborn player who tends to dog it when he's not properly motivated and encouraged... so it doesn't really surprise me they keep talking about how important and special he is (all the while continually trying to trade him the background).  I love Rondo.  He's phenomenal.  But he's our 3rd most important player right now.  I think what he does for us as a setup guy is top notch.  Not many can do it that well.  He's a limited scorer, but he's great running the offense.  At times I feel like he's too self-aware of his assist numbers (I've seen him pass up wide open layups many times), but beyond that I can't complain about him as a player.  I just think that any hope we have of winning a title rests with Kevin Garnett 1st and foremost (by a pretty wide margin, actually)... and Paul Pierce 2nd.  As well as Rondo runs the offense... it doesn't really matter when Paul Pierce is playing like Paul Pierce.

Brought this up a few weeks ago:

Just took a look at what Pierce did in the 8 game stretch with Rondo out and it seems to back that up:

1/20 (LOSS) 12 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks
1/22 (Win) 34 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 steals
1/23 (win) 19 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds
1/26 (win) 24 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 block
1/27 (win) 28 points, 8 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 steals,2  blocks
1/29 (loss) 18 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds
1/31 (win) 20 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
2/1 (win) 17 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Pierce usually steps up his game with Rondo out... which makes sense since the ball pretty much flowed through him his entire career up until late 2009.

Oh you know what... you can actually add the 4/18 Orlando win to the list as well.  Pierce's line:  29 points, 14 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals.  The other aspect is... whenever Rondo is out... pretty much ANYONE you put in his spot is an upgrade shooting the ball.  During the ORlando game it was Bradley (23 points on 10-14 shooting).  And of course, when you have another guy capable of shooting (as opposed to Rondo who defenders always slack off), it spreads the floor for scorers like Pierce to operate.  So once again... as long as Pierce is on his game... we're fine. 

[jimmehx]

I think Doc might have given him the night off anyway.

Why would he do that? Down 0-1 in a series, yep! time to give our leader the night off.

[Celtics18]

I think Doc might have given him the night off anyway.

Why would he do that? Down 0-1 in a series, yep! time to give our leader the night off.

Just to rest up a little, get a back massage, catch up on some reading.  That kind of stuff. 

[Celtics18]

We are 8-5 when Rondo doesn't play, and this is a higher winning % than our overall record of 39-27.

For what it's worth.....

Now do the playoff stats.

We won a championship in 08 with the ball flowing through Paul Pierce and Rondo acting as a glorified role player (4th best player on the team).  I know he's capable of big numbers, but we will probably be fine without him... as long as Pierce is on his game and KG continues to look youthful and spry like he did at the tail end of the season.  Those two are FAR more important to our playoff hopes than Rondo.  I know the company line is that Rondo is key.  The unofficial company line is also that he's a quirky, temperamental, stubborn player who tends to dog it when he's not properly motivated and encouraged... so it doesn't really surprise me they keep talking about how important and special he is (all the while continually trying to trade him the background).  I love Rondo.  He's phenomenal.  But he's our 3rd most important player right now.  I think what he does for us as a setup guy is top notch.  Not many can do it that well.  He's a limited scorer, but he's great running the offense.  At times I feel like he's too self-aware of his assist numbers (I've seen him pass up wide open layups many times), but beyond that I can't complain about him as a player.  I just think that any hope we have of winning a title rests with Kevin Garnett 1st and foremost (by a pretty wide margin, actually)... and Paul Pierce 2nd.  As well as Rondo runs the offense... it doesn't really matter when Paul Pierce is playing like Paul Pierce.

Brought this up a few weeks ago:

Just took a look at what Pierce did in the 8 game stretch with Rondo out and it seems to back that up:

1/20 (LOSS) 12 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks
1/22 (Win) 34 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 steals
1/23 (win) 19 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds
1/26 (win) 24 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 block
1/27 (win) 28 points, 8 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 steals,2  blocks
1/29 (loss) 18 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds
1/31 (win) 20 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
2/1 (win) 17 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Pierce usually steps up his game with Rondo out... which makes sense since the ball pretty much flowed through him his entire career up until late 2009.

Oh you know what... you can actually add the 4/18 Orlando win to the list as well.  Pierce's line:  29 points, 14 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals.  The other aspect is... whenever Rondo is out... pretty much ANYONE you put in his spot is an upgrade shooting the ball.  During the ORlando game it was Bradley (23 points on 10-14 shooting).  And of course, when you have another guy capable of shooting (as opposed to Rondo who defenders always slack off), it spreads the floor for scorers like Pierce to operate.  So once again... as long as Pierce is on his game... we're fine. 

"I'm not hatin' on Rondo.  I love Rondo, I'm just saying', is all."

Noodge.

[green7]

i better see moore play over dooling in tomorrows game, and pierce needs to get focus.

[Celtics18]

The Cs have to hold home court and win one game in Atlanta. The Hawks are trying to play with their third string center. I don't know if they have enough to beat the Cs 4 out  of 7 even with Rondo missing a game and Ray Allen possibly out for the series.

Look for the Hawks to have a massive letdown in Game 2.  Also look for Keyon Dooling to have a big game for the Cs (I can't believe I just typed that).      

Keyon's dropping thirty tomorrow night!

[BballTim]

Brought this up a few weeks ago:

Just took a look at what Pierce did in the 8 game stretch with Rondo out and it seems to back that up:

1/20 (LOSS) 12 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks
1/22 (Win) 34 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 steals
1/23 (win) 19 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds
1/26 (win) 24 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 block
1/27 (win) 28 points, 8 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 steals,2  blocks
1/29 (loss) 18 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds
1/31 (win) 20 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
2/1 (win) 17 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Pierce usually steps up his game with Rondo out... which makes sense since the ball pretty much flowed through him his entire career up until late 2009.

  Our offense was *worse* when Rondo was out for those games, not better.

[green7]

and besides moore and bradley (who aren't really good passers), i think quis did a great job finding bench players open in those games where the starters was resting especially on fast breaks.