Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper, USAT
Rajon Rondo Rejuvenating Himself as a Valuable Piece This Postseason
From 2009-2013, Rajon Rondo was considered a marquee point guard for the Boston Celtics who razzle dazzled his way to four All-Star selections and countless triple-doubles. His ability to pass and steal the ball was second-to-none and was the floor general for many successful Celtics teams.
After a series of injuries and growing tension between he and Boston’s front office, Rondo was traded to Dallas in 2014. He spent a dismal season with Dallas before landing in Sacramento. The star power Rondo once possessed seemed to diminish since his stint in Boston, but is back in the 2017 Playoffs for the Chicago Bulls.
Facing the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics in the First Round, Rondo has stepped up greatly helping Chicago steal the first two games of the series over his former club. No one would have thought the Chicago Bulls—who finished 8th in the Eastern Conference with a 41-41 record—would come out the Playoffs gates this hot. Inserting Rondo’s genius basketball I.Q. into the starting lineup was the best move head coach Fred Hoiberg made all season–he’s pushing the tempo, finding teammates cutting to the basket, and penetrating Boston’s defense. All season long, Chicago struggled to put points on the board–especially in the half court set–but is having no problem doing so in the first two games.
In Game 1, Rondo led Chicago to a 106-102 statement victory behind 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and just 1 TO. Rondo orchestrated the offense all game long, setting his teammates up for great scoring opportunities. Rondo had a record-setting Game 2, falling just short of his 11th career postseason triple-double with 11 points, 14 assists, 9 rebounds, and 5 steals. Chicago took out Boston with ease 111-97.
Rajon Rondo tied a Bulls postseason record with 14 assists in Game 2, and created more points off those assists (32) than any player in franchise history. Also, Rondo became the first Bulls player since Michael Jordan in the 1991 NBA Finals to have a 14-assist, 5-steal outing in the Playoffs.
Rajon Rondo’s 2016-17 has been all over the place. He started off well, then slowly declined as the season continued and almost had a fallout with Chicago’s front office as the Trade Deadline approached. Rondo has turned it up at the right moment, and is determined to lead Chicago to more success this postseason.
