Love the steal, but...

[Moranis]

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.  

[Celtics31]

Rondo absolutely needed to give that ball to KG right when he passed half court. Rondo knows he is not going to be the one to hit a contested, off-balance buzzer beater.

He had two opportunities to get it to KG, right away and then with about 3 seconds left. KG has the height and the range to give us a chance with a shot at the end there, instead Rondo dribbled way too long and at best (that's with him somehow expecting not to get trapped) he would have gotten a corner fade away contested jumper up. Don't know how Rondo can really think he is in a position to take that shot.

[Who]

Yeah, awful job by Rondo on that final possession.

[birdwatcher]

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.

[crownsy]

Rondo absolutely needed to give that ball to KG right when he passed half court. Rondo knows he is not going to be the one to hit a contested, off-balance buzzer beater.

He had two opportunities to get it to KG, right away and then with about 3 seconds left. KG has the height and the range to give us a chance with a shot at the end there, instead Rondo dribbled way too long and at best (that's with him somehow expecting not to get trapped) he would have gotten a corner fade away contested jumper up. Don't know how Rondo can really think he is in a position to take that shot.

Kg was barley over the half court line, you think he has much better chance of hitting a contested 30 Foot three than rondo has trying to drive deeper and get a shot/ passing lane? I think they were both pretty terrible options.

but thats what happens when you get caught on your own end line with 8 seconds left and no time out. you try to do what you can.

The over reaction here is, as always, ridiculous. It was a broken play, and it sucked, no doubt you have to get a shot off.

But it is what it is, a hard loss to a team that barley held on fighting for their playoff lives in front of their home fans (sweet confetti and streamers for a game 5 win by the way Atlanta  .)

[Change]

For obvious reasons he was scared to take the ball to the rim. Could you imagine the scrutiny him bricking 2 free throws losing the game?

[Celtics31]

Rondo absolutely needed to give that ball to KG right when he passed half court. Rondo knows he is not going to be the one to hit a contested, off-balance buzzer beater.

He had two opportunities to get it to KG, right away and then with about 3 seconds left. KG has the height and the range to give us a chance with a shot at the end there, instead Rondo dribbled way too long and at best (that's with him somehow expecting not to get trapped) he would have gotten a corner fade away contested jumper up. Don't know how Rondo can really think he is in a position to take that shot.

Kg was barley over the half court line, you think he has much better chance of hitting a contested 30 Foot three than rondo has trying to drive deeper and get a shot/ passing lane? I think they were both pretty terrible options.

but thats what happens when you get caught on your own end line with 8 seconds left and no time out. you try to do what you can.

The over reaction here is, as always, ridiculous. It was a broken play, and it sucked, no doubt you have to get a shot off.

But it is what it is, a hard loss to a team that barley held on fighting for their playoff lives in front of their home fans (sweet confetti and streamers for a game 5 win by the way Atlanta  .)

Within one second of Rondo being over half court, KG had was open a step in from 3 point range, and then again with 3 seconds left when Rondo kind of crossed back toward the top, KG was again there for a pass that would of been a half-way decent look.

I'm not going to put this all on Rondo, it is a hectic and tough situation. But his priority should of been to get the ball to someone that has a chance at making the shot.

[crownsy]

Rondo absolutely needed to give that ball to KG right when he passed half court. Rondo knows he is not going to be the one to hit a contested, off-balance buzzer beater.

He had two opportunities to get it to KG, right away and then with about 3 seconds left. KG has the height and the range to give us a chance with a shot at the end there, instead Rondo dribbled way too long and at best (that's with him somehow expecting not to get trapped) he would have gotten a corner fade away contested jumper up. Don't know how Rondo can really think he is in a position to take that shot.

Kg was barley over the half court line, you think he has much better chance of hitting a contested 30 Foot three than rondo has trying to drive deeper and get a shot/ passing lane? I think they were both pretty terrible options.

but thats what happens when you get caught on your own end line with 8 seconds left and no time out. you try to do what you can.

The over reaction here is, as always, ridiculous. It was a broken play, and it sucked, no doubt you have to get a shot off.

But it is what it is, a hard loss to a team that barley held on fighting for their playoff lives in front of their home fans (sweet confetti and streamers for a game 5 win by the way Atlanta  .)

Within one second of Rondo being over half court, KG had was open a step in from 3 point range, and then again with 3 seconds left when Rondo kind of crossed back toward the top, KG was again there for a pass that would of been a half-way decent look.

I'm not going to put this all on Rondo, it is a hectic and tough situation. But his priority should of been to get the ball to someone that has a chance at making the shot.

thats all you've been doing in both threads, don't hold back now.

And i completely disagree that KG was "wide open a step inside the 3 point line"

he was well covered 5 feet behind it when rondo got over half court. he may have gotten to that spot once smith and horford started to double, but it was a little late at that point.

[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.

[lightspeed5]

it wasnt an awful possession by rondo. I wanted rondo to penetrate and get his layup. he was dominant on that front all night.

get the layup, and if it falls out, you have kg there with the putback... win the game... there was a mismatch with horford guarding him so the situation came up, horford just trapped him though

its a lot more reliable than having a shot that will potentially brick

[CelticG1]

Like Doc said it would have been nice for him to stay in the middle of the floor.

It's a tough play, obviously you want him or someone to get a shot off but it happens.

Josh Smith really slowed him up pretty good which I think threw him off pretty good. He had to turn and with the big body in front of him I don't think he could really see the court ahead.

In any case yes it was bad but it was also just unlucky. Rondo who has the best handle in the league loses it to Center defending him?

[RajonRondo9Dime]

For obvious reasons he was scared to take the ball to the rim. Could you imagine the scrutiny him bricking 2 free throws losing the game?

To be fair, 90% of the players in this league "settle" for Jumpers in these situations.

[Celtics31]

Rondo absolutely needed to give that ball to KG right when he passed half court. Rondo knows he is not going to be the one to hit a contested, off-balance buzzer beater.

He had two opportunities to get it to KG, right away and then with about 3 seconds left. KG has the height and the range to give us a chance with a shot at the end there, instead Rondo dribbled way too long and at best (that's with him somehow expecting not to get trapped) he would have gotten a corner fade away contested jumper up. Don't know how Rondo can really think he is in a position to take that shot.

Kg was barley over the half court line, you think he has much better chance of hitting a contested 30 Foot three than rondo has trying to drive deeper and get a shot/ passing lane? I think they were both pretty terrible options.

but thats what happens when you get caught on your own end line with 8 seconds left and no time out. you try to do what you can.

The over reaction here is, as always, ridiculous. It was a broken play, and it sucked, no doubt you have to get a shot off.

But it is what it is, a hard loss to a team that barley held on fighting for their playoff lives in front of their home fans (sweet confetti and streamers for a game 5 win by the way Atlanta  .)

Within one second of Rondo being over half court, KG had was open a step in from 3 point range, and then again with 3 seconds left when Rondo kind of crossed back toward the top, KG was again there for a pass that would of been a half-way decent look.

I'm not going to put this all on Rondo, it is a hectic and tough situation. But his priority should of been to get the ball to someone that has a chance at making the shot.

thats all you've been doing in both threads, don't hold back now.

And i completely disagree that KG was "wide open a step inside the 3 point line"

he was well covered 5 feet behind it when rondo got over half court. he may have gotten to that spot once smith and horford started to double, but it was a little late at that point.

Firstly, I've attributed most of the comeback solely to Rondo in multiple posts. While I am faulting Rondo for not making the last play simpler and just giving the Cs a chance, I'm not putting the game on him by any means.

But the fact is, KG was "open" (not wide as you added in) for a catch and a decent look right inside the 3 point line after Rondo crossed half court and then again, had space with about 3 seconds left.

I just think in those situations you need to play your odds and give it to the person who has the best chance at making a hard shot in a difficult situation.  

[mqtcelticsfan]

I'm going to continue to contend that Rondo got stuck with the worst set of circumstances imaginable after his steal. He had to make it across the court in 6 seconds with one of the best defenders in the NBA blanketing him, then ran into the worst possible player on the court when he finally found some daylight. You have to credit the defense on that play. They played Rondo perfectly.

[Celtics31]

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.