Celtics Need To Build Around Rajon Rondo

It's not everyday that a franchise like the Boston Celtics hires a young coach like Brad Stevens to lead them in the rebuilding process and ultimately to banner number 18 hanging at the TD Garden but that’s what has happened here. Recently the Celtics decided to part ways with franchise cornerstones Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks and 3 future first round draft picks.

This means that Rajon Rondo is now “The Guy” on the team. Throughout the course of his career in bean town Rondo has always played his role behind the likes of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett but now the Boston Celtics are his team and he needs to stay. People have always said Rondo is just a play maker and could never be the number 1 guy on a really good team, I for one disagree. Rajon Rondo does so many things right obviously with his passing and ability to make people better but the defensively his intensity can inspire a team this is a guy who just wants to win and now its his time to prove he can do it as the guy. He has a leaders mentality and you want that in your organization.

This biggest thing for the Celtics is getting new coach Brad Stevens and Rondo on the same page and for now that seems to be the case. Stevens in his opening press conference stated “There is no bigger fan of Rajon Rondo then me”. Sources close to Rondo say that he is looking at the situation with an open mind which is exactly what you want to hear. For now the dynamic between Stevens and Rondo is cool but we will see how long that lasts when the season starts and the Celtics lose a few games.

This is the perfect opportunity for Rondo to prove himself he always had the mindset of a leader now its time to put that to use. As the Celtics move forward they have still have a few pieces already sitting around Rondo like Jeff Green, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks, Avery Bradley and Brandon Bass the Celtics aren't elite but they are far from scrubs they just need to put themselves in a position to bring in another All-star player to play with Rondo. That could come in the form of one of 3 future 1^st round draft picks the Celtics received in their recent trade with the Brooklyn Nets. As a big time franchise that prides itself on excellence don't expect the Celtics to be below the elites for that long.

This isn't 2006 anymore Rondo isn't a wide eyed kid from Kentucky, this is his team now. This is a guy who when healthy is a top 5 guard in the league. The same guy who played less than half a season last year and had more Triple-Doubles then Lebron James. This is a guy who i'm sure goes to the TD Garden sees all the banners and retired numbers and wants to be up there himself. Danny Ainge get him pieces so you can get #9 to the rafters and another banner for Boston

Playoff Time 2013: Kevin Garnett

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 The term “Celtic Pride” is something that is abstract but pulsates throughout the entire Boston Celtic Locker room. I don’t think there are very many players who are “True Celtics” and exemplify what it means to be one more then Kevin Garnett. He has been loyal, played the right way and endeared himself to the garden faithful. When asked earlier in the season around the trade deadline about a possible trade to the LA Clippers Garnett responded by emphatically saying “If it's up to me, Garnett said, "I will live and die green all day”. Garnett refused to waive his no-trade clause and decided to give an NBA Title run one last shot in Green on the Parquet floor.

At this point in his career Garnett is all about preservation and understands that he needs to have energy left in the tank when the games really count in the playoffs. He isn’t the young man we saw in Minnesota lead the Timberwolves to the Conference finals, He isn’t putting up gaudy numbers, He isn’t even a power forward anymore as the NBA has evolved more into a run and gun fast paced league he has became a center. KG is a grizzled vet that understands his role on this Celtic team.

People often ask if “The Big Ticket” has anything left in the tank. Well he is 36 and Is still averaging 14 points per game with 8 Rebounds a game. It’s not Garnett like but that is more then serviceable for a guy playing on a team that’s fairly deep. If you ask him that question yourself he would probably tell you to just watch and then go out and have a big time playoff performance.

As the Celtics enter the playoffs they will take on Carmelo Anthony and a New York Knicks teams as underdogs. It is no secret that these two teams have a history of playing physical basketball. This is the kind of series Kevin Garnett was built for, the kind  of series where he can reannounce to the basketball world that he is still capable of being a dominant playoff performer. Will Kevin Garnett make a big time impact en route to a Boston first round upset of the Knicks? I guess that’s why they play the game

The NBA Playoffs begin April 20^th as the Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics take on Carmelo Anthony the New York Knicks

No Backdown in Boston

The Boston Celtics are known for excellence with 17 Championships and some of the games greatest players like Larry Bird and Bill Rusell so rarely do they ever play the role of underdogs. Well tonight an Underdog is exactly what they are in their own building as they take on a Miami Heat team who has been on a historic 22 game winning streak tied for 2^nd longest in NBA history.

Heat/Celtics is always makes for some good theater but now it's even better that Guys like Jason Terry have called the Heat's Streak “Unimpressive” and Paul Pierce has also said they hope Miami loses for the rest of the year. Players on Boston are sick of ESPN's 24/7 coverage of Lebron and the Heat and rightfully so they are rivals so that's expected.

The Celtics are an organization with Pride and tradition and will not back down to the Heat under any circumstances with or without Rajon Rondo. Tonight should be a Classic. This is a chance for the New guys like Jordan Crawford, Terrence Williams to make a name for themselves on National TV as well as Jeff Green to prove he can take his game to another level. Look for a physical basketball game and for the TD Garden to be rocking.