Rajon Rondo Trade Rumors: Triple Double in OT Win May Stop Trade Rumors

Like it or not, the Boston Celtics have become the enigmatic Rajon Rondo's team.  Everyone is ready to criticize him for not being a part of the Boston Celtics' future. You hear it over and over again: He can't shoot; yet Rondo is shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.

They forget this is the first year that the Big Three have openly acknowledged that this is Rondo's team  now.

The first half of the season saw him struggle with the decision by trying to prove to his teammates that he was the Celtics' best player.  This caused the veterans to wonder if they had done the right thing in openly supporting him. 

You saw the frustration on their faces, and it seemed like they played with far more joy when Bradley ran the point.  It showed in that 6-2 run they had when Rondo hurt his wrist and was sidelined for a few games.

This seemed to fuel rumors of Rondo being on the trade block and his alleged difficulties with authority figures.

His eventual inclusion in the 2012 All-Star Game as a replacement and his two game suspension saw a more focused and energized player after the break.

Rondo-mania can either drive you crazy or delirious when he exhibits talents that none of the so called top five guards in the league can touch.  This is evident with his league leading triple-doubles (a stat not even MVP candidate LeBron James can touch). 

He has 16 career triple-doubles, a few of which has him mentioned with the likes of Oscar Robinson, Magic Johnson, Bob Cousy and Wilt Chamberlain.

His greatest assets are considered his greatest challenges: his penchant for hating to lose. Last I heard, most great competitors have that quality too and get up for opponents they think are their equal. Kobe does it, Michael did it, Larry Bird did it and Magic did it.

Most of them were lambasted at one time or another: Kobe for his rants about leaving the Lakers, Micheal for the ornery way he treated his teammates and Magic for running his head coach Paul Westhead out and ushering Pat Riley's "Showtime" era in; even LeBron James for making "The Decision" and his alleged failures to be clutch at clutch moments haunt him.

The more Rondo puts up ridiculous numbers like he did against the Knicks on Sunday March 4, 2012, the more the media will pick at his perceived flaws.

Yes, greatness holds you to a higher standard; it will only stop when he is the reason the Boston Celtics raise banner 18.