Rajon Rondo has been scoring in bunches lately, and that’s not a good thing for the Boston Celtics, who visit the Chicago Bulls in Thursday’s best NBA game.
Rondo is averaging 15.2 points, 9.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds – excellent all-around numbers and what we’ve come to expect from the former All-Star point guard. But Rondo’s play hasn’t been the key to Boston’s success this season.
The Celtics are just 15-13 overall and 6-2 without Rondo, although it should be stated that much of that second mark was established against a soft part of their schedule.
What is somewhat evident, however, is that the Celtics appear to be better when Rondo isn’t carrying the scoring load. Rondo has scored 20 or more points six times this season, and Boston is just 2-4 in those games. Conversely, the Celts are 6-3 when Rondo reaches double figures in assists.
Rondo has established season highs in his last two games, going for 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in Sunday’s home win over Chicago and ringing up a career-high 35 in Wednesday’s inexplicable home loss to Detroit. The win over the Bulls was somewhat misleading as the Bulls were without MVP Derrick Rose and backcourt mate Richard Hamilton, and the Celtics still had to hang on for dear life.
After that game, Rondo was sour for some reason and decided not to speak to the media. Yeah, why would we need a quote from a guy who just went 32-15-10 on national TV?
The rematch also is on national TV and also will not include Hamilton, who remains out with a groin injury.
But Rose, who has been sidelined by a back injury, participated in shootaround Thursday morning and is a game-time decision.
The Bulls (24-7) already have played 20 road games and opened a six-game homestand with Tuesday’s win over Sacramento. They are 10-1 at home, the best mark in the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics, conversely, have played 19 of their 28 games at home and are beginning a five-game trip that carries through the All-Star break and includes stops in Dallas and Oklahoma City. They are 4-5 on the road.
Rondo scores when Paul and Ray have tough or bad nights and struggle to score. You want to point to Rondo scoring as causing the others to struggle, but those of us who actually watch Celtics play a lot know that Rondo is reacting to when the Celts struggle to score. That’s where numbers can fool you. Correlation is not causation. Anyone who watched Detroit game could see that Ray and Paul did not have it last night.
Chris, nobody at home really cares if Rondo didn’t want to speak with you. I love your site but when you continue to complain it starts to seem petty.