THE EVOLUTION OF POST-RONDO CELTICS

WEEI

BEN ROHRBACH


We can debate whether or not the Celtics are better without Rajon Rondo until the sun sets on the careers of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, but the more important question is whether the C’s can play better without their All-Star point guard before team president Danny Ainge decides he wants to deal his two aging superstars at the trade deadline.

During the four-game winning streak since Rondo’s season-ending ACL injury, the eye test suggests the Celtics are getting more stops defensively, playing at a faster pace, moving the ball around on offense like Norman Dale’s Hickory High team in Hoosiers and receiving bigger contributions from everywhere on the roster. And the numbers bear that out.

The C’s are scoring 5.5 more points per game and allowing 4.6 fewer points a night sans Rondo. They’re shooting better across the board -- up from 45.8 FG% (33.5 3P%) Before Rondo (B.R.) to 48.3 FG% (34.7 3P%) After Injury (A.I.) -- and getting to the free throw line more often. Meanwhile, opponents are shooting worse -- down from 44.6 FG% (35.7 3P%) B.R. to 41.9 FG% (28.8 3P%) A.I. -- and getting to the line less frequently.

“It’s been a transition,” said Garnett. “The normalcy of not having him here is starting to set in, so guys kind of know that they are going to play and being prepared for that. It’s a transition. I don’t know where we are at, but we’re going to take it one game at a time, and we’re going to continue to … just consolidate that responsibility through everybody.”

Pierce is playing more minutes (33.5 in first 43 games to 36.3 in last 4), but not being used as much (27.05 to 29.35 USG%). He’s scoring less (18.8 to 17.3 PTS), but facilitating (3.8 to 6.3 AST) and rebounding (5.7 to 9.8 REB) more. He’s taking fewer shots (15.0 to 12.8 FGA), but getting to the rim (3.6 to 4.0 FGA within 3 feet) and creating for himself (61.5 to 47.6 %AST) more often.

In other words, the Celtics captain has been vintage Pierce for the past four games. The question going forward: Can he sustain that production? If Pierce can, the 10-time All-Star may help sway Ainge from trading him and write one of the more fascinating chapters of his storied career.

"He's the original Celtic, and we go how he goes," said Garnett. "On nights when he's not going, we obviously try to support him and help him, but this is Truth's house. That's never been misunderstood since I've been here. We have all the trust in the world in him."

Speaking of Garnett, his usage rate has also decreased in Rondo and Jared Sullinger’s absence (from 25.1% B.R. to 23.0% A.I.) while his minutes, scoring, rebounding and assists have all increased marginally. He’s taking one more shot within 10 feet and one fewer shot from mid-range. But, for the most part, he’s been the same player. And that’s a pretty damn good player.

Meanwhile, everybody else has also increased their production in more minutes. In the past four games, the starting backcourt of Avery Bradley and Courtney Lee held their counterparts to 35.6 percent shooting, Jason Terry created more of his own offense (from 81.1 %AST B.R. to 66.7 %AST A.I.) and Leandro Barbosa hopped in Celtics coach Doc Rivers’ Hot Tub Time Machine, as his numbers ballooned exponentially along with his playing time.

“I feel more than confident with this group,” said Bradley. “We play hard.”

Likewise, they’re creating better shots for Brandon Bass, who like Garnett averaged fewer long jumpers and more attempts at the rim over the past four games than he averaged in his first 43. In the spread offense, the Celtics have assisted on 26-of-31 field goals (84%) from Bass and Jeff Green. That’s a significant increase from prior to Rondo’s injury.

“We have to share the ball,” said Green, who’s averaging 13.5 points during the win streak. “We can’t hold it. We’ve got to continue to move it and play team basketball.”

Of course, the Celtics have played all four games at home, including two cupcakes and the Chris Paul-less Clippers, so things won’t get any easier in terms of scheduling. They also host three of their next five games before the NBA All-Star Game, but they play 18 of their 34 games on the road following the break, including a five-game West Coast swing immediately afterwards.

“Rondo brings so much to the table in terms of his ball control, getting guys easy shots, his ability in the pick-and-roll, rebounding, so they’re a different team,” said Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro, “but other guys are stepping up, and that’s what it’s about. They’ve played home games. They’ll be tested on the road as they move forward, but they’ve got obviously very experienced guys, so they’ll be able to handle it.”

There’s also Lee’s Win For Rondo and sports radio callers’ Win In Spite Of Rondo theories, which would both suggest the increased effort and sense of urgency over the past four games are simply a result of knowing Rondo isn't walking through that door.

“We won [three] in a row when Chris first went down a few weeks ago,” said Clippers veteran Grant Hill. “Teams aren’t used to seeing this Celtics team. Obviously, we’re used to seeing Rondo dominate the ball, but it forces other guys to step up, and they’ve played well. I think the recipe, though, is that they just played harder. They played harder than us.”

Hill’s comments suggest another possibility for the C’s recent success. Perhaps Rondo’s absence provides the element of surprise. Not only do opponents lack a body of work to scout this group, but it’s also more difficult to game plan, since Rondo’s no longer controlling the offense.

“It’s much more open; it’s freewheeling,” said Jason Terry of the C’s new spread approach. “The defense can’t sit on particular plays. This league is great with scouting, and they get used to you. They kind of know your tendencies. But in this offense, it’s very unpredictable. You don’t know who’s going to get a shot, but we know we’re going to get a good one.”

Then again, the Clippers are 2-6 in their last eight games without their All-Star point guard.

Years from now, we might laugh at the question of whether or not the C’s are a better team without Rondo the same way we do at the Drew Bledsoe vs. Tom Brady debate of the early 2000s, but we’ll know whether they play better without him by season’s end.

You know, as long as Ainge doesn’t offer his answer by trading Pierce and/or Garnett.

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