Boston Celtics: 5 Ways Jason Terry Will Help Rajon Rondo's Game

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The Boston Celtics made a quite a few good moves during the offseason, including adding former free-agent Jason Terry to the team. 

Terry is a veteran guard who was a key piece in the 2011 Dallas Mavericks championship team. The winner of the 2009 Sixth Man of the Year Award is still one of the best bench players in the league, and fits in perfectly with a Celtics team that lacks depth. 

Of course, the addition of Terry helps the Celtics as a whole, but star point guard Rajon Rondo will also benefit from his presence. Here are five ways that Jason Terry will help Rondo's game.  

Effective Backup

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Rajon Rondo is a machine. The point guard never seems to slow down, but with the addition of Jason Terry, he will finally be able to get a few breaks. 

Last season, Keyon Dooling was the backup point guard for Rondo. While Dooling is a good player, he doesn't have the skills to keep up the effective pace that Rondo sets on the court. He struggled with creating shots for himself and his teammates.

Terry, on the other hand, is capable of running the Celtics' offense. Although he's not a traditional point guard, his good ball-handling skills will immediately make the Celtics' bench more of an offensive threat.

With Terry as the backup point guard, Rondo will get a chance to rest on the bench without having to worry about the offense falling out of sync. Consequently, when he gets back on the floor, he will be able to pick up right where he left off.   

Good Defender

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The Boston Celtics have one of the best defensive backcourts in the league. Between Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley, the opposing team always had their hands full. 

Despite his age, Jason Terry is still an all-around good defender who will fit right into the Celtics' defense. Head coach Doc Rivers always stresses the importance of quality defense for his team. While offense may be more entertaining, defense wins games. 

Terry's 1.9 steals per game is currently ninth among active NBA players. In his career, Rondo also averages 1.9 steals per game. The two guards will complement each other on defense, creating a problem for many offenses in the NBA.  

3-Point Shooting

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Last season, Jason Terry made 138 three-pointers, second in the league behind the Orlando Magic's Ryan Anderson. He nailed 37.8 percent of attempts from beyond the arc. 

Terry's consistency from behind the three-point line takes some of the pressure off of Rondo. Opposing teams will be forced to put a defender on Terry, which gives Rondo more room to set up plays for himself and teammates.

With Terry on the floor, the Celtics will spread the offense and create more opportunities for Rondo to either drive to the basket or dish the ball out to someone else. 

More Assists for Rondo

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Jason Terry is a scoring threat off the bench. Not only can he shoot the ball, but he can also make his free throws. In fact, Terry made 88 percent of his free-throw attempts last season. 

With the addition of this new offensive threat, Rondo's number of assists will naturally increase as well. Rondo averaged 11.7 assists per game last season, expect that number to rise in 2012-2013.

Terry will mostly lead the scoring of Boston's second unit, but when he's on the floor with Rondo, he should be a favorite target for the star point guard. His key off-the-bench contributions will directly correlate with Rondo's assists. 

Experience

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The Celtics desperately needed to add youth to a team led by veterans on the brink of retirement. In turn, they drafted Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo. While adding younger players is the best way to build for the future, it may not be the best move for winning a championship next year. 

Terry is a 13-year NBA veteran who has made eight trips to the postseason. He's a guard with plenty of experience, including a championship win in 2011. More importantly, he's beat the Miami Heat. 

When Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen first joined Paul Pierce and the Celtics, Rondo thrived playing with the veterans. Expect the same type of positive energy when Terry and Rondo are on the court together. Terry is a proven winner who will gel with Rondo instantly.