Love the steal, but...

[Change]

Rondo was in a tough spot there.  No one was really set and he dribbles himself into trouble.

With no timeouts left, not gonna fault them too much although it would've been nice to put it away there.

Tough spot.

Why are people sugarcoating Rondo CHOKE JOB. He choked. There's reason this team still relies on old BIG3 when the game is on the line. Win or lose, I'll live with Pierce iso over Rondo running in circles playing hot potato with Basketball.

[GDAbraham]

Criticizing the decision making and not getting a good shot is one thing, but people shouldn't act like "if we had CP3" every time something doesn't go our way. It's easy to forget that even the best of the best can't pull miracles on the regular. Especially considering that particular savior on that other team did pretty much the same thing the other night. And both he and Rondo are very intelligent with excellent vision and quickness.

They won and ground it out. It still felt like a lazy win. If they were going to make any kind of statement, it should've been tonight. But it was skin of their teeth. That's not enough to walk away with an overabundance of confidence.

The rest thing sucks, but it could be so much worse.

[jdz101]

it was bad luck....get over it and follow them next game I say!  

[European NBA fan]

 

you have to get a shot off in that situation.  The Celtics had plenty of time, but looked totally disjointed and lost on that last possession.  I wonder what Doc had drawn up if anything.  I mean it was almost like the Celtics didn't know what to do.   Someone has to come get the ball from Rondo or Rondo needs to drive to the hoop and not hang out on the perimeter.  I know Atlanta had solid defense, but you have to at least get a shot off.  Totally unacceptable.  

Doc didn't have a play, he wanted them to take the foul, not steal the ball. They had the presence of mind not to call a TO they didn't have, Rondo got the ball up the court, drew the defenders away from KG's pick and Garnett was the only one to get open for a shot. Watch the replay, nobody helped Rondo in that situation.
Of course we wanted a shot, but give the Hawks credit for playing good D and doing just enough to win.

The foul wouldn't help, since we didn't have a timeout left. The steal is the best we can possibly get, and Rondo goes full speed, because it is necessary. Rondo has in all about four seconds to make a play (six seconds to get to the three point line), and since noone is open, he has to look for his own shot (or KG on the pick and pop).

Credit the Hawks defense or blame Ray, Pierce and Pietrus for not getting involved. But don't blame Rondo. That is ridicolous.

[green7]

the shot that pierce took ruined the game for us anyway, down by 1 could've made a better play than that.

[Who]

the shot that pierce took ruined the game for us anyway, down by 1 could've made a better play than that.

Yeah, that was another wasted possession.

[Change]

the shot that pierce took ruined the game for us anyway, down by 1 could've made a better play than that.

Pierce iso hasn't been all that great this year. But at least he got the shot up. It would help to have a point guard whom from time to time can take over a game late. Take pressure off an old BIG3.

[Onslaught]

Rondo was in a tough spot there.  No one was really set and he dribbles himself into trouble.

With no timeouts left, not gonna fault them too much although it would've been nice to put it away there.

Tough spot.

Why are people sugarcoating Rondo CHOKE JOB. He choked. There's reason this team still relies on old BIG3 when the game is on the line. Win or lose, I'll live with Pierce iso over Rondo running in circles playing hot potato with Basketball.

Without him stealing the ball we'd not had much of a chance in the first place. We didn't have a time out and ATL played good D. It wasn't the best job by Rondo. Neither was that shot before by Paul. They lost. It happens.

[ejk3489]

the shot that pierce took ruined the game for us anyway, down by 1 could've made a better play than that.

Why we didn't take a timeout before that, I will never know. They were clearly rushing things.

[Donoghus]

Rondo was in a tough spot there.  No one was really set and he dribbles himself into trouble.

With no timeouts left, not gonna fault them too much although it would've been nice to put it away there.

Tough spot.

Why are people sugarcoating Rondo CHOKE JOB. He choked. There's reason this team still relies on old BIG3 when the game is on the line. Win or lose, I'll live with Pierce iso over Rondo running in circles playing hot potato with Basketball.

I'm not sugar coating anything.  It was a tough spot.

No one really got set and Rondo got himself into a rough position to make anything happen with very little time left.  Wasn't a choke job. How exactly was it a choke job there with what was playing out on the floor?  Heck, he made a helluva steal to even give them a chance. 

[greg683x]

just saw replay of the play, if you are still claiming KG 30 feet away, please watch the play again.

KG has Smith near him as Rondo crosses half court, and he is right around 3 point line.

Then once again, has more space and time for a catch and shoot once Rondo made it more difficult to get a pass up top.

I'm not going to sit here and debate over and over but just watch the play again and there are 2 clear opportunities for KG to get decent looks.

Josh Smith was salivating for Rondo to throw that pass to KG.   It's not like Rondos back was turned he saw Smith other wise he would have passed it.

a true choke artist gets rid of the ball as soon as possible to escape any kind of blame.  See James, Lebron  

Rondo was in a horrible spot.   People are gonna make him the goat no matter what.  If he passes the ball to KG and he has to take a contested 30 footer you cant tell me people wouldnt be killing him saying we need to trade for a PG that'll shoot the last shot not pass to someone else.

That situation was so completely abnormal from any usual last second protocol for the Celtics.  Ray Allen not in the game, Pierce just airballed his last attempted game winner, KG 30 from the basket, Mickael Pietrus, no thank you.

Yes he made a mistake, but one lots of capable stars that some would even trade Rondo for, would make

[celticslove]

stop crying over that last play we will win game 6 and that's the bottom line. not worry bout them hawks at all.

[pearljammer10]

They had their go to pick and roll with KG, im not sure why rondo didnt dish him the ball right away. Unacceptable to not at least get the ball near the rim in the situation.

[CelticG1]

I'm sure in hindsight Rondo would have passed to KG at the 3 point line or maybe taken a half court shot himself. Maybe he would have  let the Hawks inbound and fouled them instead.

Rondo was trying (and rightfully so) to get a better look at the basket than KG 2 feet beyond the 3 point line. To be honest that would have been putting KG in a pretty tough spot and I'm sure people would be all up and arms about it. Rondo ended up with a mismatch on Horford and tried to make a play and failed. You can say he choked if it makes you feel better but when the best ball handler in the NBA loses his dribble to a center defending him I think that's more unlucky

[Donoghus]

People are gonna Monday Morning Quarterback the heck out of that last possession until Game 6.