The steal, however, went in the books. It was his 168th of the season, giving him the season franchise record.
And as the milestone flashed on the big screen and 18,624 fans showered him with cheers, Rondo’s teammates couldn’t help picking on him at least a little.
“Our entire bench said it,’’ Rondo said. “I have the record for most steals and the most gambles in one season.’’
“One of the guys said, ‘Now you can go back to being solid,’ ’’ said Celtics coach Doc Rivers.
Rondo said with a grin he wasn’t aware of the gambles.
“We were,’’ Garnett said.
“I don’t know if we keep that stat,’’ Rondo said.
“We keep it,’’ Garnett said. “Don’t worry about it.’’
It’s an urge he admits he fights. Every so often you can see him let his man go by, then swipe at the ball, trying to poke it loose. But when he’s at his best defensively, which he was for most of last night’s win, Rondo is a menace, affecting the game without having to shoot or score.
He went 3 for 10, with 6 points, but he had a hand in 28 of the Celtics’ 57 first-half points.
At times he was a wingman, setting up his teammates. Then, he’d be a puppeteer, pulling the strings on his opponents.
He went behind-the-back to himself for a fastbreak layup that made it 50-33 in the second quarter, and sort of laughed to himself about it when he replayed it in his mind after the game.
“The one I got Sean May with?’’ Rondo said. “I actually tried against Denver last game . . . I’m sure on the scouting report a lot of guys probably think I do the fake behind the back and keep it, but this time I actually threw it and he went for it. It just happened. I wasn’t trying to overthink it or be fancy or too cute. I was just trying to make a play.’’
He only made one shot after that, a layup a couple possessions later.
Rondo’s game is absolutely dependent on the Celtics defense, which is why the Kings found themselves down, 57-37, at the half.
If a team scores and forces the Celtics to play halfcourt offense, Rondo’s the player to help off of, according to Rivers. But if the Celtics get stops, Rondo gets out in the open floor, at which point the opposing defense is helpless.
