Rondo Taking Celtics Toward NBA Finals

Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Magic, NBA Playoffs

BOSTON - Just before he walked off the stage at his post-game press conference Saturday night, point guard Rajon Rondo turned back to chest-thumping, irascible teammate Kevin Garnett - the 11-time All-Star, future Hall of Famer, 10 inches taller - and gave him a playful cuff across the back of his head, the kind of thing a captain would do to a rookie. For just an instant, Garnett looked startled. Then he grinned knowingly.



It was a passing of the torch.



This was Rondo's team now.



A role-playing little brother to the Big Three when the Boston Celtics won their 2008 NBA Championship, Rondo now will lead them into battle, into the NBA Finals against the Lakers, when this Eastern Conference final mercifully and officially ends Monday night.



The Celtics mauled the Orlando Magic, 94-71, to take a 3-0 lead in this best-of-seven series, riding Rondo's grit and leadership, including one miraculous defensive play that will be measured against others in the rich and storied Celtic lore.



More than anyone else on this team, more than Paul Pierce, Ray Allen or Garnett - all of whom will be in the Hall of Fame one day - Rondo has led them through this surprising, almost stunning run through the playoffs, turning them from a No. 4 seed into a championship favorite.



Bring on the Lakers.



In two years, Rondo has grown from a stay-out-of-the-way point guard to the catalyst who makes them go, the spark that has lit the championship fire once again.



"He's earned the respect of every guy on the team,'' Garnett remarked. "I said this about Shorty: he's in a zone. He's just showing the world now what he's made of. The future is scary.''



Although Rondo, in his fourth year, became an All-Star this season for the first time, these playoffs have become his crowning moment, allowing him to take his rightful place. A reputation is being made this month.



The Celtics, after an up-and-down regular season, stunned the top seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James in the conference semifinal round, sending shock waves through the league.



They have embarrassed the No. 2 seeded Magic, spanking them like children, taking away their hope. It's Rondo, who handles the ball like it's on a string, that has turned the Magic into puppets at his disposal.



Lakers point guard Derek Fisher, with all his championship rings, must be having nightmares already.



Rondo made the play of the game, arguably the play of these playoffs, in the second quarter Saturday with the Celtics establishing control. He chased down a loose ball in the backcourt by outhustling Orlando's Jason Williams, dove around his legs, then popped up with the ball before his slide had finished, and scored, sending the crowd into a frenzy.



"It was probably one of the toughest plays defensively I've seen in my career,'' Allen said. "It's one thing to have the ball and make something miraculous happen, but not having the ball and making something miraculous happen, then score with it, that was awesome.''



Adding to his blinding drives, his lofty shots over Dwight Howard and his passes through key holes, Rondo has inspired a grizzled, veteran team to new heights.



"My reaction was just like everyone else's - pure grit, pure hustle, pure basketball, pure I-want-it-more-than-you type of play,'' Garnett said. "He's so mentally tough. Just when you think he can't handle certain things, he challenges himself.''



Rondo didn't even shoot well Saturday. He made only four of 14 shots, but he still controlled the game. He had 11 points, 12 assists and four steals. Just like he outplayed point guard Mo Williams of Cleveland, he has tortured point guard Jameer Nelson, who was having a great playoff run until he met Rondo.



Although Deron Williams in Utah has pronounced himself the league's best point guard, and Steve Nash and Chris Paul may disagree, Rondo may be rising above all of them.



He has averaged 17.3 points, 10.7 assists and 2.1 steals, playing a yeoman-like 42 minutes per game. Magic Coach Doc Rivers won't trust his team to anyone else now.



"What he's doing is leading this team,'' Rivers said. "He has a great sense of what to call out there. And now he's giving amazing effort, never giving up on any possession. When you have that speed and have that heart, you become a pretty good player.''



As stunning as its win over Cleveland was, Boston's demolition of the Magic has been even more impressive. The Magic came into this series riding a 14-game winning streak (including playoffs and regular season), but they have been stripped of all pride, losing their will to compete, looking helpless against the all-powerful Celtics.



The Celtics were so dominant early that it looked like they were playing defense with six men on the court. And on Rondo's defensive gem, maybe they were.



"I just wanted it,'' Rondo said. "We dove for loose balls. We took charges, did all the little things on the court. It was just fun to be out there and be a part of this.''

 

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