by DRJ
As Doc pointed out, the amazing part of Rondo's Game 4 performance isn't even ON the stat sheet. It was that Rondo supplied the lion's share of on-the-ball pressure the Cs had decided to apply in this game.
There are only two guys in the Celtics playoffs lineup capable of applying effective on-the-ball pressure on the opponent bringing up the ball. Tony Allen, and Rajon Rondo. That is it. Rondo played all but 12 seconds of Game 4. TA played 26.5 minutes. TA applied the pressure about half the time when he was playing (give or take). That means that Rondo was the one applying on-the-ball coverage for about 30-34 minutes of this game – albeit it was not applied on every possession (which would have been truly superhuman).
It's hard to even imagine how much energy was required to do everything Rondo did in Game 4. Think about it:
- You must track the guy bringing up the ball for the Cavs, and harass him long enough to delay their sets by at least 4-5 seconds, preferably 8-10 or more. (This gives your team an advantage on defense.)
- Then you must guard your man in the ensuing set.
- Then, if you're Rondo, you're positioning to get the rebound, which he succeeded in doing an astounding 18 times (playing with relative giants). And you're fighting to actually get the rebound.
- And then, whatever happens, you're bringing up the ball and setting up the offense.
- For your troubles, you get slammed to the ground. A lot (16 FTs in the game).
- And you're fighting to get the offensive rebound too.
Yes, it does. But Rondo did – really this time – do it all. The performance was even more incredible than we imagined. Sounds like a good thing, right?
Maybe not. Because it begs the question: HOW OFTEN will Rondo be able to do this? Can he do it 10 more times in this playoffs season? Because it seems like that's what it's going to take to make it to the mountaintop – especially if Paul Pierce does not waken from the coma he appears to be in.
I am – seriously, now – not sure it's humanly possible to do this 10 more times in these playoffs. Rondo looked pretty exhausted at times in this game. Imagine trying to put out that kind of effort 10 more times.....
TA was out there for a few minutes and was forced to beg Doc to take him out, he was that exhausted. And TA is in pretty damn good shape. Imagine what Rondo had to go through – doing more than TA – for just about the full 48. This was.... truly.... amazing.
At the very least, Doc MUST find someone else to help apply the on-the-ball pressure. (Nate comes to mind.)
Also – a note to all the other players: When Rondo gets hit and is lying on the ground, LET HIM LIE THERE A WHILE. He's doing that to catch his second wind. Going over to “help” get him up immediately can be stupid and counterproductive (looking at you, Sheed). Let everyone worry for a few seconds more. The kid needs a break.
And one more thing. One final shot.
I'm pretty disgusted with Paul Pierce. When I watch Rondo play his heart out like he does, I am disgusted to the point of nausea when I see Paul lazily lose the ball on almost every dribble. Damn Paul – wake up or get lost. There's a true hero standing by your side. How can you not give your all? How dare you??
Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images