Oh, come on now! The C's are not
better without Rondo. They are probably
not a lot worse without
regular season Rondo, but they will certainly miss
playoffs Rondo.
Having said that, the problems the C's have today are not much different from the ones they had last week.
1. They need a scoring wing (SF/SG), preferably a deadly 3pt shooter. That's Pierce if he can shake his slump. It's Terry if he can shake his season long slump. Could that be Barbosa? Do the C's really need to pursue Reddick?
2. They need a quality Big to spell KG. Bass isn't big enough and isn't playing well enough, anyway. Sully is doing better than I thought he would, but isn't enough. The C's need a "rim-protector." Collins can't and Wilcox can't stay healthy...and probably isn't good enough anyway. Melo is way too raw. Anybody the C's could trade for would cost too much or not be any better than what we currently have. This is a need that likely can't be filled this year.
3. They need Terry, Lee and Green to play up to their averages. Playing up to their potential would be better, but just up to their career averages would be an improvement. I think Lee is over the last month, Green looks like he is coming along, but I think the Jet is still grounded. If these three could start playing well, they solve problem 1, but I think it'll take all three.
4. Consistency! Consistency! Consistency! The C's haven't had it, and they need it. Time to pass their chemistry test and start playing consistent team basketball. Play like they did yesterday and they win a lot of games even with Rondo out and even if Pierce and Terry stay in their slumps.
Here's something that I think we all noticed yesterday. The C's ran more than I recall them running in any game this season. The transition happy Heat had half as many fast-break points as the C's. Rondo could run. Rondo doesn't run. Why won't Rondo run? Yes, you have to play defense...and they did. Yes, you have to rebound...and surprisingly they did fairly well. Yes, playoff basketball is half-court basketball, but this team can run...and it needs to!
Oh, and Barbosa needs to play a lot more!