Training camp is in full swing and we’re mere days away from the start of the 2014 Celtics Preseason. Before that, let’s hop into the DeLorean and take a quick trip back to February, 2009. The Celtics are still reigning NBA Champions and are at Phoenix, one of the first stops of their annual post- All-Star western trip. The game before was the Utah game where KG suffered his career-altering knee injury.
Rajon Rondo strolled into his matchup against Steve Nash, one of the best in the game, and torched him and the team that technically drafted him, to the tune of (a then career high) 32 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists on 13-18 shooting. Rondo had long been the fourth star on the new Big 3 team, often grouped with Perk as one of the “other guys.”
This was a breakout game of sorts, and even afterwards, Paul Pierce had this to say:
Rondo scored a career-high 32 points to go with 10 assists on his 23rd birthday in Boston’s 128-108 victory over the Suns on Sunday.
“As Rondo goes, this team goes,” Celtics All-Star Paul Pierce said. “If he plays as well as he’s playing, then there’s no way we can lose.”
Also fun to note that in this game, Steve Nash is 34 years old, which is the same age Rondo would be if he signs a 5 year deal with the Celtics. I’m not saying he is or ever was as good as Nash, but it’s feasible to think he could be “Rondo good” through the age of 34, barring any further major injuries. Anyway, enjoy the highlights (video via youtube user Dawk Ins):
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxfTx3puNyg]
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