There's always a comparison. Like, how different can point guards be?
So the question goes to Mr. Brian Scalabrine, a noted scholar of the game.
"Stylistically speaking, Mr. S, just whom does Rajon Rondo remind you of?"
"That's a good question," he replies. "I'm going to have to give you an answer on a different day. That's a research question."
That day may be a long time coming. Rajon Rondo may very well be utterly sui generis. Just one of those Rondos on The Ark, you know?
The Celtics beat the Utah Jazz for their 15th straight victory last night, and the indescribably different Celtics point guard was at it again: 25 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and, for an extra added attraction, 6 turnovers. That would be 25 points without the benefit of a single shot longer than 2 feet, but that's part of his charm.
One of these days, Rajon Rondo will incorporate a little pull-up jumper to his game. One of these days, he'll come down on the fast break and take a nice little 12-footer right off the bounce.
"He does it in practice," insists Doc Rivers. "It's just a matter of confidence. It will come. And when it does, it's all over."
And if he doesn't, well, the Celtics will have to make do with what he's offering on a nightly basis. It's a package of skills that has vaulted him pretty far up the pecking order of NBA point guards. Two months shy of his 23d birthday, Rondo now steps on the floor against just about anybody and the Celtics know the matchup is seldom worse than a draw, and it's usually in their favor.
Last night was considered to be a test. The opposing point guard was Olympian Deron Williams, generally regarded as one of the four best NBA point guards, along with Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and Steve Nash. On March 14, Williams absolutely abused the Celtics in a 110-92 thrashing right here in the Garden. Williams had 32 points and eight assists that evening, taking it to the basket at will while making 17 of 18 free throws.
Last night Williams was put in the Point Guards Protection Program until midway through the fourth period, when he made three straight baskets. But the night belonged to Rondo, who, as Kevin Garnett succinctly put it, "took control of the game at both ends," as the Celtics gradually pulled away for a sticky 100-91 triumph.
Rondo had an enormous impact on the game both at the beginning and at the end. He really did set the tone, taking it to the hoop with authority in the first period. In one stretch of just under two minutes, he picked up fouls on Paul Millsap , Mehmet Okur, and Williams with power moves to the basket.
He was just following coach's orders, actually.
