Since Rajon Rondo’s season-ending injury, the Boston Celtics have actually been a better team. Rondo, arguably the team’s best player, went out with a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament with the Celtics record sitting at 20-23.
Without him, the team is 16-10. They’ve won seven games in a row during the stead, starting with a game against the Heat, when the status of the injury was made public.
The Celtics currently hold the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and have an opportunity to pass the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 5 seed before season’s end.
Even with the recent success, the Celtics are not a championship team; their last loss against the Heat proved they can play with any team. But knowing the Celtics will likely lose before the finals this year, it makes me wonder what the team is going to do with Rondo during the offseason.
Rondo is clearly a talented player, averaging 13.7 points per game and 11.1 assists when he went down. He also had a career high 5.6 rebounds per game. Rondo was on his way to another solid year, tying John Stockton’s record of 37 straight games with 10 or more assists — only Magic Johnson has a longer streak, with 46 games.
When Rondo went out, the Celtics’ offense was a huge concern. Most wrote the Celtics off, figuring they would spiral into a losing season. But just the opposite happened. Veteran players such as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry stepped up, increasing their production.
Then, talk of Rondo’s intentions came about. Many wondered if his goal was only to break records and get assists. I don’t completely believe this is the case, but I am starting to think the Celtics really are better off without him. Regardless, the team is more complete, playing bettertogether on the court.
Although this is hard to say about someone who is the team’s best player, others have filled the gap since his injury. Not only have the veterans contributed, younger talents have emerged since the injury.
Most notably, Jeff Green has really had a coming out party. He had an impressive game against a routing of the Suns, with 31 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks. More recently, Green scored 43 and grabbed 7 rebounds against the Heat in a tight loss.
Avery Bradley has also filled the void of Rondo, moving to fill the position as point guard. Bradley is averaging 9.5 points per game and only 2.1 assists, but continues to improve; he will only get better. He’s limited himself to just over one turnover a game at 1.4.
The Celtics have a lot of leadership in the locker room, starting with head coach Doc Rivers. Rivers was never ready to write the team off after the injury and has really helped keep them together.
I don’t know what the future holds for Rajon Rondo, but I do know that the Celtics would be better off if they shop Rondo around in the offseason. The Celtics will still be alright if they keep Rondo, but to try to get a young, big man and a pick for Rondo would be smart.
The young players on the team have proven so far that they can pick up the slack, even though they’re less talented than Rondo. Who knows, maybe Green or Bradley could emerge during the playoffs and help Garnett and Pierce out; perhaps the Celtics could make another run. Although it is unlikely, I wouldn’t write this team off yet, with or without Rondo.