Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Get this: Rondo has scored two points or less in five of the Celtics’ last eight games. They’ve gone 1-4 in those games, with the win coming against the Detroit Pistons when Rondo was actually taken out towards the end for free throw purposes.
In other words, while Rondo is still dishing it out and rebounding just as good or better than ever, his offense has gone M.I.A. Does he pass up some shots for better looks to, say, Tyler Zeller? Sure – and that’s fine. But there comes a point where the player with the ball in his hands most has to be more of an offensive threat on his own, and right now that isn’t Rondo.
“I just try to take what the defense gets me tonight,” Rondo said. “Get us in our sets. They did a pretty good job. Like I said, we were taking the ball out of the net for the most part when I was in the game. We couldn’t find a way to get stops. Playing against a set defense. I came down, coach came down, we called plays and we just let the offense flow.”
I’ll be the first one to credit Rajon Rondo for his assist and rebounding numbers, but I don’t think this team can win games consistently if he’s not a threat to score.
Rondo taking 2-3 shots and scoring 2-4 points is fine, if he’s surrounded by Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. But that’s not going to work with this roster.
But… it’s hard to fault Rondo for his play when you’re reminded he’s leading the league in assists and quarterbacking one of the best offenses in the league.
So what’s the solution?
Brad Stevens isn’t completely sure how to explain what’s holding Rondo back.
“I thought the couple of shots that he did take [Friday night], especially off of behind the screens were aggressive, good looks. And if I had to do over again, I might play it a little bit more high pick-and-roll that may give him some more opportunities to do that.
But you know when he’s not shooting, he’s finding Tyler (Zeller) and that’s turning out to be points at a pretty high percentage. So, again, I thought that as far as offensively on the floor game, I thought he did a pretty good job. Certainly we’re a team that needs every basket we can get, whether that’s one person or two people or three people, we need to all play well to win.”
I guess it’s up to Stevens to find Rondo better opportunities to score. When in doubt, blame the coach.
Let’s be honest, the microscope is on Rondo’s scoring because he’s a pending free agent looking for max money. We might worry less about Rondo’s scoring and more about the team’s defense 106.5 ppg (28th) if his contract situation was different.
On Page 2, Marcus Smart has an Achilles issue.
The rookie point guard, who returned five games ago after missing 10 to a severe left ankle sprain, went back to the same leg last night with a strained left Achilles’ tendon. He suffered the injury while drawing a charge in the second quarter, and left after only four minutes on the floor.
Smart has probably grown to loathe Fridays. He sprained the ankle during a Nov. 8 game against Indiana, also on a Friday.
From a team perspective, the most promising news this time is that Smart is expected to miss less time. Tests weren’t scheduled as of last night, with the reasoning that Smart should be reevaluated after a night of rest.
“Strained Achilles on the same foot as his ankle, is what I was told. I don’t know what a strained Achilles means from a long-term standpoint, but I know that (team physician) Doc (Brian) McKeon said that he should be relatively quick healing but he didn’t feel comfortable sending him back in tonight,” said coach Brad Stevens.
There’s good and bad news here. Good news is that Smart did not re-injured his ankle. Bad news is you never want to hear Achilles injury because of the worst case scenario.
But as far as Achilles injuries go, this one seems to be benign.
Let’s just hope Smart can get back in a groove. I want more of what we saw against Washington.
And finally, the worst non-travel call in the history of the NBA.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Corey Brewer’s dunk last night against the Thunder.
I count 5-6 steps in the open court.
The entire officiating crew for this game should be suspended without pay and forced to undergo a six week training course on the league rules.
The rest of the links:
Herald – NY circus in town | C’s frustrated by defenseless setback | CSNNE – Celtics not playing desperate enough | C’s down 2 guards in loss | Globe – Celtics beat Knicks, end skid | ESPN Boston – C’s desperate for win, need play to match | C’s hopeful Smart injury is quick healing | Young to miss couple weeks rehabbing shoulder
