BOSTON—It was a familiar week for Celtics guard Rajon Rondo. On Thursday, it was reported that the Celtics were “aggressively” shopping Rondo, the kind of rumor that repeatedly has come up during Rondo’s career. That led to the standard denials by team president Danny Ainge, followed by coach Doc Rivers’ assertion that his relationship with Rondo has not deteriorated. Rondo has been hearing these things since 2009, and in the meantime, he has simply gone out and played.
As Rondo said recently when asked about the rumors, “I don’t listen to it, because I just think everything happens for a reason, and whatever happens will happen. It’s not a distraction for me. All I do is try to concentrate on keep getting better, regardless of where I’m at. I just play.”
On Sunday against the Knicks here at TD Garden, Rondo again just played—and tallied his fourth triple-double of the season (tied with LeBron James for most in the league). Three of those have come in the past 10 games, and Rondo again lit up an opponent on national television, as he had done against the Bulls on February 12. This time, Rondo outdid Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin by finishing with 18 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists to lead the Celtics to a wild 115-111 overtime win, their fourth in a row.
Certainly, Rondo’s 20 assists were impressive. But as a 6-1 point guard, his 17 rebounds were jaw-dropping. “Well, we needed them,” coach Doc Rivers said. “We were small, we played small. ... We talked to our guys—if we go small, guards have to rebound. And Rondo did that.”
Lin struggled for much of the game, finishing with 14 points but just five assists and six turnovers. Backup Baron Davis had eight points and seven assists but also committed six turnovers. Carmelo Anthony was the star for the Knicks, finishing with 25 points.
Rondo’s numbers were important, but his defense was just as critical. He succeeded in attacking Lin and pressuring him and Davis into bad plays. “It was what we expected,” Rondo said of Lin. “You know, a lot of pick-and-rolls. He got into early foul trouble, and that’s what my intention was early. Just try to go at him and be aggressive and get him out of the game.”
Rondo’s performance was just one of many aspects of Sunday’s game that bode well for the Celtics as they start off a stretch of six games in which they face five teams in playoff position. Boston also will be heading out on an eight-game road trip that starts a week from Sunday.
All four of the Celtics’ top stars chipped in significantly. Boston got an 18-point, 10-rebound day from big man Kevin Garnett, who logged a season-high 41 minutes. Paul Pierce carried the offense, especially down the stretch, scoring 34 points on 13-for-23 shooting and making the game-tying 3-pointer with 5 seconds to play in regulation. Ray Allen was quiet for much of the game but scored five key points in overtime to push the Celtics to victory.
Pierce said this is the kind of game that gets his team going. “They’re better than blowouts, they’re more fun,” he said. “The great players, they like to step up as you saw tonight. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Rondo, myself, Melo hit some big shots. That’s what makes the game of basketball, these types of games versus New York, so much fun. Because you always see the great players rise to the finish.”
The win pulls the Celtics to 19-17, now 2.5 games behind Philadelphia for the Atlantic Division lead. The Knicks, who have gone 3-4 in their last seven, are 18-19, four games behind the Sixers.
没有评论:
发表评论