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Rondo key to C’s winning IN Cleveland

May 12th, 2008 by Bill Burt

I have two words that best describe the Cleveland Cavaliers resurgence in Cleveland for Game 3 of their series with the Celtics:
Delonte West.
I have two words for the Celtics that would best eliminate that Game 3 force:
Rajon Rondo.
It’s hard to ask a 22-year-old NBA kid to take over a series, game in May or really an opposing player, but that’s just what I’m doing here.
Rondo got schooled by the ex-Celtic guard on Saturday. West had 21 points and seven assists. But more importantly, when the game mattered in the first three quarters, he made Rondo look confused and afraid.
Rondo scored only seven points and had, get this, no assists.
The Cavs have one great player and several pieces. The Celtics are, it could be argued, better at nearly every other spot on the team other than LeBron James and maybe 7-foot-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
West is decent to good, but Rondo is good to very good.
Game 3 was unacceptable. Rondo has to do better in fact he has to dominate West, who is not a true point guard. He’s just a basketball player.
Rondo has to own this matchup. Remember, the point guards get a lot better than West after this round.
My guess is Rondo is steaming and plays a very good game, if not great.
But you know what, he had better. The Celtics need him now more than ever.

Posted in Celtics | View Comments

  • Ghost of Shawn Walsh

    Regardless of how this series turns out – and I’m leaning Cavs in 6 – Doc Rivers needs to go. He once again is demonstrating that he can’t coach in the postseason. Period. When you have Ray and KG on the bench to start the fourth quarter, and the suck that is Brown and Big Baby ON THE FLOOR you have problems. Look, Doc seems like a nice guy, but he’s being out-coached by Mike Brown. Not Popovich. Not even Phil. BUT BY MIKE BROWN. Christ.

    Furthermore, Gang Green is playing like Doc played: Without aggression. It kills me to admit this, but C-Barks is right: The Celtics are getting ZERO easy baskets, and that is why the series is tied up going back to Beantown.

    There are several poblems with this team, aside from the obvious (road woes, inept coach). First, Paul Pierce is a different player on the road than he is at home. Why? Who knows. Regardless, Pierce the last two games has been somewhere between Cassell and Rondo on the suck-o-meter. What is his penchant for rushing 3s? Seriously, take it easy.
    Hey, speaking of Sam, wow, does he suck. Sure, he’ll make a few nice shots for you, but Sammy is all about Sammy and that’s a problem. And I know it’s the NBA, so who cares about defense, but, yeah, it wouldn’t kill Cassell to play a little either.

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