I want to start with a story that came out from the Boston Herald today...
"During the video session between Games 2 and 3 of the Miami Heat series in last spring’s playoffs. According to multiple sources, Rondo’s errors were being pointed out when he arose and began discussing the mistakes of his teammates. Loudly. Using harsh language. Coach Doc Rivers got up and fired back, and Rondo threw a bottle that shattered the video screen. He bolted from the practice facility and was prevented from returning when he tried later."
There has been so much speculation around whether Rondo is going to be traded. It doesn't look like it's going to happen now, but there are sources around the league that say Ainge wasn't just taking calls on Rondo, but actively shopping him around the league ("“Offered him around the league is more like it,” one GM said").
Have the Celtics had enough of Rondo? It's tough to say, but let's try to look at both sides.
Negatives:
I am going to leave his game alone, since we have been over it time and again. Rondo is a terrible outside shooter, terrible at free throws, and can be inconsistent, but that's not what I want to focus on.
There was a story that came out a couple weeks back about Rondo and his altercation at a bar with an owner saying he was basically being an asshole to the people there. We had Shaq come out and say that Rondo can be a pain in the ass. We had the story above in which his went basically crazy during prep for a playoff game, called out his teammates, and stormed out. We had Obama make a comment about Rondo's shooting and reports suggesting that had a effect on his game. We had the Perkins trade, and Rondo going into a shell and not playing as well. We had his little on the court antics of him trying to sneak into other teams huddles.
Is this the reason why the Celtics wanted him gone? Is it that he just doesn't have thick enough skin to be the leader the Celtics need him to be?
Positives:
The game after the story above the Celtics won their only playoff game. Rondo played with basically one arm, and willed his team to win. He has been a terrific player, and even Paul Pierce on the radio said today that he is the best player on the team. Rondo is only 25 years old, and has had to grow up on a Championship team that is fueled almost 100% on emotion. Doc has been hard on him time and again, to try to mold him into the player they need him to be. After everything he has done he has to sit back and listen to how the Celtics are looking to trade him.
Maybe Rondo is just growing up. Remember back in the day when we all used to hear similar stories about Paul Pierce? Maybe this is Rondo's "coming of age" tale. As a Celtics/Rondo fan I really hope that's what it is.
For the Celtics to have any chance this year Rondo can't just be good, he is going to be damn near the best PG in the league. He can't take several games off and find himself. He can't go into a shell when something goes wrong. He can't let all these trade rumors make any changes to the way he plays.
It's time for Rondo to grow up. This time comes for a lot of players, and I think this is the year (more then any other) that Rondo has to take that final step into being the leader of this team. When Rondo is running up and down the court, and leading this team the Celtics are still an elite squad, but if he falters they will look old and slow very fast. We saw that all too well last year.