Rajon Rondo has a long history of stepping things up in the playoffs, and though most of the current members of the Boston Celtics weren’t with the organization with the point guard, they’re wary of what he can do.
Rondo has had an uneven season with the Chicago Bulls, but the current crop of Celtics, who are set to face him in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, know the lore and are expecting the best from Rondo.
“I’m a fan of the game. I know, whether he tries it or not, those big games he’s always gonna be ready for them,” Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas said Friday, via ESPN’s Chris Forsberg. “He’s always gonna play his best [in big games]. And that’s just me watching him when I was younger and before I got in the NBA. You know, when it counts, he’s gonna be ready and he’s gonna perform. So we’ve got to slow him down and eliminate what he does best, and that’s getting everyone involved.”
Avery Bradley, the only Celtic who has been around long enough to have played with Rondo, concurred.
“Rondo’s like my brother. On the court, off the court, we’re brothers,” Bradley said. “It’s weird playing against him, going up against him, but I think I said it last game: I know he’s a true competitor and he’s going to bring his best game in the playoffs. So it’s going to be fun playing against him. Weird but fun.”
Rondo had a tumultuous season, averaging 7.8 points and 6.7 assists in a modest 26.7 minutes per game. He’s barely played in the playoffs since 2012, with only a brief stint with Dallas that saw him sent home early since then. His reputation precedes him, but he may struggle to live up to it.
