Rondo the Enforcer
| Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:15 PM |
Of all the writers I've seen comment in the aftermath of The Fight, Wojnorawski seems to make the most sense.
The genius of Rajon Rondo's talent comes with the combustibility. If the Boston Celtics needed to respond to Brooklyn's Kris Humphries crashing Kevin Garnett onto the floor, someone else needed to do it. Superstars step aside and let role players retaliate. They don't get thrown out and suspended.
So why did Rondo do it?
"Loyalty," a close friend of his said Wednesday night.
...
Yes, Rondo cares deeply about his partnership with Garnett and believes there's a code that comes with honoring him. No one feels sorry for Garnett getting a hard foul – he's delivered his share, legitimate and not-so-legitimate, through the years. The bigger issue was the way that the Nets were taking the fight to the Celtics – the way that Brooklyn's come after Boston in two victories this season – and that's what Rondo and Garnett and these Celtics truly need to combat now.
So Rondo likely goes to the bench with a suspension, his combustible self costing the Celtics in a way that was completely unnecessary. There was no honor to defend on Wednesday night in Boston, no valor in rushing to Garnett's side.
Someone else should've taken the suspension for Boston, but more importantly, the Celtics should've matched the way Brooklyn so desperately wanted to beat them. That's the bigger issue, and that's the test for the Celtics point guard when his suspension ends next week.
This really gets at the heart of the matter, except that Wojnorawski doesn't go far enough. Let's ask, why does Rondo feel compelled to be the enforcer? Woj, it's because the Cs don't have any enforcer. Rondo is the closest thing we have to an enforcer. That's a crazy situation, but it's the situation we are in. Remember The Trade? Oh right, we aren't supposed to mention that little screwup by Danny. On top of that, the refs seem to like it just fine when the Cs get mauled.
Meanwhile, it's interesting to see how what happened gets distorted in the twitterverse. There's a lot of hate out there. One person even asserted that Rondo snuck up on Humphries and attacked him! Lots of folks calling Humphries bodying KG off balance and then hitting him with a straight arm in the face and chest to make him fall awkwardly a "flop". I remember Rondo being called a flopper each time he got mauled in the lane. This is how wars start; because most people don't care about truth, and they like violence. They just like to gang up on someone. That's how it was in high school. Folks who actually try to be truthful and compassionate in life are incredibly rare. And, of course, they are even more rare in the twitterverse. Thank God for Twitter. Now Junior High can be everywhere all the time, and neverending.
For the Celtics, the question is, what do we do now that more and more teams are pushing us around without compunction? Rondo can't take on every Humphries-Kleiza-Chandler-Battier stooge in the league.
----------------------------------------
Our wonderful local backstabber/journohack PFlapp has a ball quoting Reggie Evans' vicious comments about Rondo at length and promoting them as the accurate description of what happened:
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/11/29/3705428/brooklyn-nets-vs-celtics-rajon-rondo-reggie-evans
--------------------------------------
Rondo comments today:
What fascinates me is that Rondo comments that a foul similar to what was done to KG injured him last year. I thought of this right away the first time I saw the video. I'm sure he's talking about the Klieza play, where Kleiza fouled him, but then after the play made sure to knock him awkwardly to the floor. That was a stooge play, whether by Kleiza or by Humphries.
-----------
Am seeing two games?
Categories: None
Post a Comment
Oops!
The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.
26 Comments
He wants Rondo to be calculating and premeditate injuries and elbow people in the game. That's exactly what Rondo doesn't do! If Rondo wants to go after anyone, he does it in their face. He does it because he is true to himself. Yes, that is not the most strategically correct move for the team. And I agree that Rondo went too far. However, I have to admit this is one of the reasons why I love Rondo.
Esther says...
I have one probelm with Wojnarowski though: "There would've been a way to retaliate on Humphries during the game ? a hard foul, an elbow, whatever ? but a superstar rushing up and wrestling him into the front row was a complete waste of time. Perhaps Rondo needs to look around the locker room and ask: Where was someone else to do that job for me? "
He wants Rondo to be calculating and premeditate injuries and elbow people in the game. That's exactly what Rondo doesn't do! If Rondo wants to go after anyone, he does it in their face. He does it because he is true to himself. Yes, that is not the most strategically correct move for the team. And I agree that Rondo went too far. However, I have to admit this is one of the reasons why I love Rondo.
I think you make a good point, Esther, but I can see Wojonawski's point too. I think he's saying that if the Celtics had an enforcer, Rondo wouldn't feel pressure, as a leader, to play that role. I agree with that. What bothers me is that Woj doesn't go on to point out that we HAD an enforcer when we had Perk. In a way, this situation goes back to Ainge.
But I agree too that Rondo's game is passionate and spontaneous and that's the beauty of it.
Celticslifer says...
I think the bottom is this. Rondo could have been tossed with a hard foul as well. It happened. And I think Rondo has sent a message to his team,and the league.
Hopefully there will be no suspension. Folks are finally talking about the way other teams are mauling Rondo and the Cs in general - Doc even talked about the way the Cs were getting mauled. Now what are we going to do about it? The league has a responsibility to prevent this. Rondo himself said that seeing what happened to KG reminded him of a similar thing being done to him and causing him injury.
"Ok, got power back. Think Rondo was fortunate to only get two games. Also, there is apparently no rhyme or reason to NBA suspensions."
Rondo always have to stand up for everybody, and we shouldn't need it.
Morena says...
Great point about the lack of an enforcer.
Rondo always have to stand up for everybody, and we shouldn't need it.
It would be like Orr being the Bruins' enforcer in the seventies. Orr might have been their toughest player, but he wasn't the enforcer. It's just commonsense that your star can't be your enforcer, unless maybe he's Wilt Chamberlain, and even then, nor can your smallest player be your enforcer.
paul says...
It would be like Orr being the Bruins' enforcer in the seventies. Orr might have been their toughest player, but he wasn't the enforcer. It's just commonsense that your star can't be your enforcer, unless maybe he's Wilt Chamberlain, and even then, nor can your smallest player be your enforcer.
That's the problem!! There's no one else on this team that pushes back, but as tough as Rondo is, he won't scare anybody. He's one of the smallest player in the league!! I think that if we still had Perk and he was the one to shove Humphries, that bully wouldn't have grabbed him by the arm but he probably would have just walked away.
Morena says...
That's the problem!! There's no one else on this team that pushes back, but as tough as Rondo is, he won't scare anybody. He's one of the smallest player in the league!! I think that if we still had Perk and he was the one to shove Humphries, that bully wouldn't have grabbed him by the arm but he probably would have just walked away.
Exactly Morena. We miss Perk so badly in so many ways.
paul says...
OKC has the most vulnerable star in the league in Durant, and you don't see anyone messing with Durant. That's because they know Perk is right there.
It's easy to mess with people who are half a foot shorter than yourself!!
I hope this will really wake up somebody on this team.
We don't have a real enforcer, but there are other guys more than Rondo that should get physical..
Morena says...
It's easy to mess with people who are half a foot shorter than yourself!!
I hope this will really wake up somebody on this team.
We don't have a real enforcer, but there are other guys more than Rondo that should get physical..
Or bring in someone like Martin.
And then trade half the team for Josh Smith, lol!
paul says...
Or bring in someone like Martin.
And then trade half the team for Josh Smith, lol!
That sounds good!!
paul says...
Then again, we have a lot of talent on this team. So much revolves around Jeff Green. What is going on with him?
Everyone had high expectation on him and he's really disappointing us.
He's one of those that should bring in some physicality
Morena says...
Everyone had high expectation on him and he's really disappointing us.
He's one of those that should bring in some physicality
Problem with Jeff Green is that he never really had an opportunity to get comfortable with his play. He is the kind of player that needs 30 minutes per game on nightly basis in order to get the ball going, to feel the game, to make plays, to be effective. He only got some minutes in the pre-season games and that was it. So far, in 15 games, he only played around 20 minutes/game and with no ball in his hands, most of that time. He is just not that kind of player to be effective without the ball. He is different than Barbosa, who only needs a few minutes to attack the rim, this is what Barbosa does. Jeff, on the other hand, I don't think is comfortable yet. He comes from a year off and all of the sudden he is surrounded by this pressure. Also, let's not forget that he is a only 4 year pro. Therefore, personally, I am still being patient with Jeff. However, he needs more minutes. He needs to play more than Paul Pierce and I believe if he does, he can be the player we all expect him to be.
As for Rondo, well, this team is in real problem if the smallest player on the field ended up being the enforcer. I have no problem at all with Rondo trying to send a message to Humphries and everyone else being able to "read" this message, including his own teammates. This Celtics team needed something like this to happen. A wake up Rondo style. Let's just hope the message was heard and things will get better and better.
Morena says...
Everyone had high expectation on him and he's really disappointing us.
He's one of those that should bring in some physicality
If he just played with some energy and aggressiveness and passion it would help a lot. I don't get him. If you aren't committed to doing well, why demand 9 million dollars?
Cisco says...
Problem with Jeff Green is that he never really had an opportunity to get comfortable with his play. He is the kind of player that needs 30 minutes per game on nightly basis in order to get the ball going, to feel the game, to make plays, to be effective. He only got some minutes in the pre-season games and that was it. So far, in 15 games, he only played around 20 minutes/game and with no ball in his hands, most of that time. He is just not that kind of player to be effective without the ball. He is different than Barbosa, who only needs a few minutes to attack the rim, this is what Barbosa does. Jeff, on the other hand, I don't think is comfortable yet. He comes from a year off and all of the sudden he is surrounded by this pressure. Also, let's not forget that he is a only 4 year pro. Therefore, personally, I am still being patient with Jeff. However, he needs more minutes. He needs to play more than Paul Pierce and I believe if he does, he can be the player we all expect him to be.
As for Rondo, well, this team is in real problem if the smallest player on the field ended up being the enforcer. I have no problem at all with Rondo trying to send a message to Humphries and everyone else being able to "read" this message, including his own teammates. This Celtics team needed something like this to happen. A wake up Rondo style. Let's just hope the message was heard and things will get better and better.
What bothers me about that, Cisco, is where Jeff demands huge money. Sure Jeff, if you need time and you need us to be patient, THEN DON'T DEMAND TEN MILLION FRICKING DOLLARS SO YOU CAN SUCK. I mean, come on, stop listening to your stupid agent and have some integrity. If you aren't ready to bring it, then don't demand the big time money.
Also, I think there is something wrong with the idea that Green has to be given the big minutes before he's earned it. he wants big money and big minutes before he's earned small money and small minutes. It's crazy, in my view.
I don't mind Rondo sending a message, but we need someone to be our enforcer. Last year it was Rondo getting clobbered constantly. Now it's KG! That's how the disrespect for us has grown.
Oops!
Oops, you forgot something.