2012 NBA Playoffs: Celtics Season Rests on the Shoulders of Rajon Rondo

The offense of the Boston Celtics was simply putrid during their Game 6 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night. They had no rhythm, no spacing and looked out of sorts all game long.

Brandon Bass couldn’t buy himself a basket a few days after scoring 27 points on 9-for-13 shooting in Game 5. Ray Allen barely touched the ball and was a non-factor. Kevin Garnett started hitting shots in the fourth quarter and put up 20 points, but struggled mightily early on and was unable to post up around the basket.

The only player who was able to get anything going on a consistent basis was Paul Pierce, but as the game wore on it became harder and harder for Pierce to create his own shots.  

The Celtics shot a horrid 33 percent from the field and scored just 16 points in the paint, compared to 46 by the 76ers. Quite frankly, the game should have been a blowout if not for Philadelphia’s 60 percent shooting from the charity stripe.

Boston's lack of scoring in the paint is most telling. Partially due to the 76ers' interior defense and also Boston’s resistance to attack the rim, the Celtics were unable to create easy shots.

The engine that starts everything for the Boston Celtics is Rajon Rondo. The Celtics are at their best when the speedy point guard is being aggressive, going to the basket and creating easy shots for himself and his teammates.

Bass was able to score a season high 27 points in Game 5 because Rondo was setting him up for dunks and wide open jumpers. He got to the line 10 times which tied for his season high not because he was beating his man off the dribble, but instead due to Rondo’s pinpoint passes that set Bass up around the hoop.

Bass' performance change from Game 5 to Game 6 was drastic. Bass wasn’t getting easy shots. He was shooting contested jumpers that resulted in an eight points on 2-for-12 shooting.

Rondo didn’t play with the urgency and energy that have helped him average 15 points and a league best 12.5 assists per game in the postseason. He instead stayed out of the paint and deferred to his teammates, who were unable to create anything for themselves.

Rondo’s six assists were his least of the postseason. Combine that with nine points on just 4-for-14 shooting and Rondo had by far his worst game in either series.

It seemed as if after a slow start, Rondo quickly got down on himself and there was even a shot during the game of Pierce yelling at the young guard and even slapping him in the head trying to get him back in the game. Pierce knows that the team has no shot if Rondo is hesitant and unwilling to take over.

If the Celtics want to win Game 7 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, Rondo needs to be the catalyst. He has to get into the paint and either take it all the way or set up his teammates like he had been doing prior to Game 6. The best player on the floor for Game 7 will have to be Rajon Rondo in order for the Celtics to come out victorious.