“This Is Not A Rivalry”

Kevin Garnett clearly wanted to make a point.  When the Globe asked him about a Celtics-Hawks rivalry, he said:

“This is not a rivalry.  [The Hawks] are a very good team, they play with a lot of confidence and swagger. Joe Johnson is one of the best in the business and they cause a lot of hell and havoc. But you have to win for it to be a rivalry.”

OK.  At some point, the Herald apparently asked the same question.

“This is not a rivalry, and I want that on the record.  You have to win some games first. But they’re a very good team.”

I know Hawks fans are going to come back with the 3 games they won in the playoffs last year… but in the end… it was the Celtics that won the series.  So let’s nip that in the bud.

I don’t know how many people noticed it last night, but Rajon Rondo took the next step in being the leader of this team on the floor.  Not only did he calmly lead the team in the clutch, but he outwardly took the leadership reins when he stood and addressed his team during a late time out.  He actually got KG to calm down.  If you don’t think that’s connected to him burying shots late in the game, you’re nuts.

By the way, on November 16, I wrote Rajon Rondo might be regressing.  At that point, he was averaging 7 points a game and he’d only taken 10 shots once.   Since that post, he’s averaging 14 ppg and he’s taken 10 or more shots 10 times (he dropped 15, 8 and 7 in the game immediately following that post).  In December, he’s averaging 14.5 ppg, 8 asst and 7 reb, while shooting 53% from the field.

Am I trying again to take credit for lighting a fire under Rajon Rondo?  Of course I am.

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