Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo Shows Improved Mid-Range Game

Rajon Rondo was one of the few All-Star omissions that got everyone talking. Whether or not his 13 points and 10 assists per game during the first half of the season, which he was sidelined with a wrist injury for a portion of, were enough to make him an All-Star yet again was up for interpretation.

He did little to prove he should have been selected in a loss to the Bobcats in which he scored just five points. This caused outrage on the part of Doc Rivers at Rondo and the whole team. And whether it was Doc's frustration with him, the lack of plans he has for All-Star weekend or both, Rondo finally responded. He responded not only with a good game to silence all of the critics, but with one of the finest games of his career.

He didn't look like an All-Star out there—he looked like the league MVP. Throughout the game, he truly dominated in every aspect while notching his second triple-double of the season, scoring 32 points, dishing out 15 assists, pulling down 10 boards and recording two steals.

What stood out most throughout the whole game though was something that Rondo did, something normally so basic and elementary in the game of basketball yet so elusive for the young Rondo. It wasn't anything spectacular by any means, yet at the same time it was.

Celtics fans everywhere shared a silent and cautious cheer as they watched Rondo, gasp, hit a mid-range jump shot, then another and a few more in the game. Sure, he wasn't perfect shooting from mid-range—in fact, he was quite mediocre—but after years of suffering through a mid-range jump shot that was downright horrendous, mediocre doesn't seem so bad.

In fact, if Rondo can hit those shots at a mediocre rate not only will he reap the benefits, but so will the entire team. It would add a whole new dimension to his game and the Celtics offense. Teams could no longer play him like they will catch his terrible case of shooting if they come within five feet of him on the perimeter.

Perhaps what was even more impressive during this game, though, and even more elementary was him making his free throws. They are called "free" throws for a reason, but for Rondo they have been all but free. In this game, though, he went to the line more and made more free throws, finishing with a 10-for-13 performance. Again, this is a mediocre 77 percent, but for Rondo and his shooting, mediocre is the new unbelievable. 

Sure, betting on the consistency on Rondo's jump shot and play is still about as smart as putting your money in the stock market, but this game is certainly a good sign for the young guard. And may I remind you that Jason Kidd was once "No J son Kidd" and now he is squeezing every bit of life out of his NBA career as a three-point specialist.

Maybe one day Rondo too can be a great shooter, but for now we will really settle for consistently mediocre. If he can be a consistently mediocre shooter, he will be a much better player, the Celtics will be a much better team and I can guarantee that he will never be left off of an All-Star ballot in his prime again.