Public Enemy #1

Rajon Rondo remains the focus of the Chicago Bulls. If they have any shot of winning this series, they have to slow down Rondo. Here's the latest out of Chi-town:

The Bulls won't win another game in this best-of-seven playoff series with the Boston Celtics if they can't contain Rajon Rondo.

The Celtics point guard has been their best player, averaging 22.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists for the three games. And he hasn't been slowed after spraining his right ankle in Game 2.

''We couldn't control Rondo at all,'' Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''We may look at some different things. We have to do a better job of executing our game plan, and then we can make changes on it. Turnovers are getting him in the open court, where he's really good. He's attacking us on the break.''

I can't believe Rondo has reached this status already. Even with KG out, the Celtics still have a Big 3. He's been that good.

So here's the Bulls game plan:

• Protect the ball - this will help keep Rondo from flying out on the fast break.
• Have Noah and Thomas leave their man sooner and get to Rondo as soon as he reaches the paint (I can see a 20-assist night under this scenario).
• Trap him deeper in the back-court which puts pressure on the Celtics to make crisp passes and find the open man (I can see Ray and Paul with 30 points each under this scenario).

Screw the defensive schemes, maybe a a change of shoes will help.

Anyone else feel like Big Baby isn't getting his due? Apparently the key is not to try so hard:

“Yeah, it’s funny how that works,” Big Baby said. “When you don’t try to force the issue and you just do what you’re supposed to do, things just go your way. It’s like, man, the ball just finds you sometimes.”

The ball is not only finding Davis, but enjoying the time spent together. Davis averages of 7 ppg and 4 rpg have soared to 19 ppg and 7 rpg in this series.

The Herald's Mark Murphy has some more info on Tony Allen's situation:

Both sources said Allen’s current troubles are somehow connected to last summer’s incident, and that the Celtics guard allegedly has incurred a heavy financial debt to someone in Chicago and he now refuses to repay.

Whether these new details are true or not, my position (stated clearly yesterday) remains the same.

Today's Links: Patriot Ledger - Rondo, Perk, Big Baby Making Names for Themselves | Herald - Marbury Right on Point | Globe - Marbury Finds Stride | Rondo Taking Lead Role | Bulls Eye Quick Return to Form | Magic Choke, Sixers Up 2-1 | Cavs Up 3-0 | Rockets Win, Up 2-1 |