2010 NBA Finals: It's Rajon Rondo's Time To Lead the Boston Celtics

Let's get one thing straight: Without the play of Rajon Rondo, there's no chance the Boston Celtics are even in the position of playing in the NBA Finals. The skilled point guard has emerged as a fearless leader for the C's, logging 40-plus minutes a night, and giving his all on both ends of the floor.

Offensively, when Rondo has 10 or more assists per game in the playoffs, the Celtics are 8-1. He is key to how they are able to score points down low and on the perimeter.

After becoming the first Celtic since Larry Bird to post a triple-double in the NBA Finals, Rondo has established that he is the main ingredient to Boston beating Los Angeles.

Yes, Kobe Bryant is playing phenomenal basketball right now, and the Lakers length is a big problem for the Celtics. But the one difference is that the Celtics have Rondo controlling the tempo and speed of the game, while the Lakers continue to try and find someone to stop him.

The sheer skill he presents in rebounding the basketball for someone his size is something special. Somehow, someway, people don't box him out, or he goes around bigger defenders. Rondo is always coming up with the basketball when shots go off the rim.

He was instrumental in the C's second half comeback Sunday night, when he scored eight points in the final five minutes to help seal the deal and tie the series at one apiece.

Then again, it's as though it's the first time Rondo has done this. He has been emerging as a premiere point guard since the beginning of the season.

Love him or hate him, Rondo continues to make plays that help this team win playoff games. He continues to work on his jump shot, and as he did Sunday night, when he is hitting the elbow jumper it is just one more dimension to his game that the defense has to try and stop.

In my mind, he is one of the top five players in the NBA right now. The scary part is he is only 24. Assuming his game continues to improve, he is going to be an All-Star caliber player in the NBA for years to come.

With five games left in this series, the Big Three in Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have taught and helped Rondo get to where he is today. After Allen's astonishing shooting display in the first half, Rondo proved to be the closer.

Pierce and Garnett both struggled mightily Sunday night.

Plagued by frequently missed jump shots, foul-trouble and tough match-ups with the Lakers' big men, Garnett has played terribly in the first two games

Pierce has been inconsistent, and needs to find a way to start hitting jump shots on the perimeter. 

The Boston bench has continued to play well, as Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, Tony Allen and even Nate Robinson have all been ready when their numbers were called. That cast is going to need to be a factor if the Celtics are to continue winning.

In the end, it all goes back to the scrappy point guard out of Kentucky. When push comes to shove, Rondo is going to have to carry this team the rest of the series.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson needs to come up with a defensive game-plan to limit Rondo's ability to drive toward the basket. Easier said then done.

Rondo illustrated this in round one against Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat. He continued to play at a very high level in a pivotal series against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and as the underdogs once again against the Orlando Magic, Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter were not able to stop Rondo.

Now headed back to Boston for three straight games, the Celtics are in the position to win games if they can continue to execute.

Bryant is mentally focused and determined to get revenge after his team's 2008 loss in the Finals to the Celtics, and to win his fifth NBA title.

Rondo is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to not let that happen.

The battle continues back in Boston tomorrow night.