Rajon Rondo Suspended: Will Paul Pierce Come to the Rescue for the Celtics?

According to ESPN, Rajon Rondo is suspended for Game 2 of the Hawks-Celtics series, due to his chest-bump of referee Marc Davis. While this is certainly a loss for Boston, it is one they can bear. The Celtics are fortunate to have a creative player who initiates offense in Rondo's stead, albeit differently.

I'm talking about old, reliable Paul Pierce, who can play a decent point-guard facsimile with the best of them. He most recently did this on April 18 against the Magic—a game Rondo sat out—to the tune of 29 points and 14 assists. 

Obviously, the Boston small forward lacks Rondo's speed and elite passing ability, but he compensates with the threat of a shot, and decent-enough court vision. When Pierce is the ball-handler in a pick and roll, defenders are often forced to switch, creating a mismatch for the Celtics. This is because teams fear the former three-point-competition winner's shot, and often would rather switch defenders than allow him the space to get it off.

When Rondo runs a similar action, his defender will often sink below the screen, not switching, because teams are fine with Rajon shooting. 

That switch is what can stoke Boston's offense, as Pierce is guarded by a lumbering big, whom he can break down off the dribble. The opposing defense responds with help, and that help gets the Celtics open for shots. 

Of course, Avery Bradley can provide his own point-guard imitation when The Truth needs a breather. Bradley held the fort adequately during Rondo's regular-season suspension and injury. 

This is an unfortunate state of affairs for Boston, but it's far from a death sentence. They're lucky enough to have a replacement who provides a different look.