Day 2: Celtics-Knicks (Game 1)

A Celtics-Knicks first round match up wasn't supposed to happen. Then trades happened. The Celtics were the top team in the East and expected to reach the NBA Finals for a second straight year. Hours before the trade deadline they traded center Kendrick Perkins, who many considered the anchor of their very good defense. The Celtics went into a tailspin, finished the season 15-12 and dropped to the 3-seed in the Eastern Conference. Perkins had missed most of the season when the Celtics were playing well, so he hardly was the sole reason for their collapse. But his departure certainly became the easy answer. Undoubtedly, the close-knit Celtics were at least damaged emotionally by the unexpected trade.

Three days prior to Boston's deal, the Knicks acquired their year-long target, Carmelo Anthony. The much scrutinized Knicks finished the season 14-14 with Melo and were accused of giving up too much for him. What often goes overlooked is that New York was only 28-26 before the Melo deal, so record-wise, they weren't much worse. The new look Nuggets finished the season 18-7 and improved to a 5-seed, fueling much of the criticism the Knicks received. Both limped unexpectedly into the playoffs and created for themselves an unlikely match up.

Jermiane O'Neal, yes that Jermaine O'Neal, could be the key to the series. Jermaine was supposed to back-up the bigger, more famous O'Neal, but 350-pound 39 year-olds generally have a difficult time getting back into basketball shape. Shaq's expected presence was one of the big reasons the Celtics felt they could trade Perkins. He didn't play in Game One and it is unclear when or if he will ever play again. So naturally the other O'Neal went 6-6 from the field, provided Boston's only shot-blocking presence (something they badly needed), and took a couple of crucial charges that quelled New York's third quarter runs. Forget his offense, if O'Neal plays defense like he did today all series, Boston will easily control the paint. Remember, that wasn't a given coming into this series.

Rajon Rondo has a jumpshot only his mother could love. Just look at that thing. Does Ray Allen politely suggest that he keep his elbow in? How can Rondo's shot possibly be this bad when he has one of the greatest shooters in NBA history as a teammate and possible mentor? The Knicks didn't respect Rondo's shot either. Doc Rivers said they left Rondo wide open in practice to simulate what the games were going to be like. How about that for a confidence booster. Maybe not so surprisingly, it worked. Rondo knocked down three of his six mid-range attempts. He got to the basket at will even though his defenders were playing three feet off of him. If he makes that shot even 40 percent of the time, how can you defend him? I don't think there's a way.

Once upon a time, Bill Walker resided at the end of the Celtics' bench during the 2008-09 season. He never got in the game but was the typical overbearingly excited and supportive 12th man. He's familiar with this Boston team. When Carmelo Anthony picked up two quick fouls, Walker entered the game as his replacement. He immediately got in Rondo's face. Then he got tangled up with O'Neal, and jawed with Pierce. It's always fascinating to watch a guy play against his old team. More often than not, he plays with a greater intensity level and is more effective because of it. Walker won't play enough minutes to have an enormous impact in this series, but couldn't he be used to get in Boston's head? The last thing the Celtics will put up with is a former bench-warmer trying to show them up. This could become an interesting subplot.

I should probably conclude with Melo's shooting woes, broken down by quarter. He didn't attempt a shot in the 1st quarter. He made 4 of his 7 attempts in the 2nd quarter, including two threes. He went 1 of 7 in the 3rd quarter. He finished 0-3 in the 4th quarter, including a stupid long three to end the game with six seconds remaining on the clock. That's 5-18 for the game and if you take away the one good quarter: 1-11. Expect a big Game 2 from Carmelo. 

Rondo's Record Setting Pace

I'm not one to overreact this early into a season, unless of course its football season, but the way Rajon Rondo has been playing is incredible. We've all seen the stat. He has the most assists, 67, in NBA history after four NBA games, eclipsing Magic and Stockton's previously shared record of 65. That's a made up stat, but here's a few that aren't.
John Stockton currently holds the NBA record for most assists in a season, 1,164 in 1990-91. In order to tie this record, Rondo needs to average 14.1 assists a game for the remaining 78 games. Rondo is currently averaging 16.8 assists a game.
Odds if not common sense would certainly suggest Stockton's record is untouchable. Stockton himself, in the 1994-95 season, was the last player to record over 1,000 assists in a single season. Since Stockton, Mark Jackson in 1996-97 and Chris Paul in 2007-08 are the only two players to record over 900 assists in a year.
In a game that is increasingly trending toward one-on-one play, or so the stereotype goes, assists in the NBA are down from where they were in the 1990s. Since the 1999-00 season, the league leading average for assists in a year is 822, compared to 964 in the 1990s. Or only about 19 fifteen plus assist games away from the record.
Rondo certainly will eclipse the 822 average and most likely will break 900.
The tricky thing about assists is a player like Rondo can only do so much. Assists are of course dependent upon your teammates making their shots. Boston currently posts a .486 FG percentage, third in the NBA.

Assuming he can stay healthy for a full 82 games, Rondo is in the perfect situation to at least challenge the assist record. He's operating within a system he's familiar with and the same teammates he's played with almost his entire career. He has proven outside shooters in Pierce and Allen, as well as a rejuvenated KG that can score inside and out. The Celtic bench looks increasingly comfortable with their roles and defenses are giving Rondo all the space in the world to work with.
Rondo's jumper, or lack thereof, is perhaps a blessing in disguise. Teams are backing off of Rondo, almost daring him to shoot. This strategy is nothing new, but Rondo is utilizing the extra space on the floor this year, wiggling into different spots and letting the offense run its course. A more offensive minded point guard like Nash or Paul may look to force a shot, where Rondo will wait out an assist opportunity.
While many have commented about how miraculous it is that Rondo can average so many assists without the threat of an offensive game, I think it's just the opposite. Looking to shoot would only hinder Rondo's patience and court vision - the two most important aspects of his game, and quickness too, I guess.
And to think, Rondo only needs 15 assists tonight to hold the NBA record for most assists after five games. Let's see if he can make, for the lack of a better term, "made-up history."