NBA Playoffs 2012: Rajon Rondo Proves Elite Point Guards Matter Most in Playoffs

Rajon Rondo's 44-point masterpiece in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals may be his most memorable outing, but that doesn't mean it's been his most important.

After all, his Boston Celtics lost that game.

Taking nothing away from the automatic mid-range jumper that generated those 44 points, Rondo is at his best when he plays the role of a pure point guard.

A lot of guys can get hot on any given night, but there are precious few who can approximate Rondo's passing ability—a skill set he employs with remarkable regularity.

He's totaled 35 assists over his last three games, including 15 in Boston's all-important overtime win in Game 4.

The scoring explosion may have made headlines, but the passes won the games.

Rondo doesn't just pass the ball, either. He puts the ball exactly where it needs to be, when it needs to be there. He's as much a quarterback as he is a point guard.

Even when those passes don't directly lead to a bucket, they're good for an offense's health— and not just because they keep Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen happy. That ball movement also keeps the defense off-balance, even against quick units like the Heat.

Steve Nash may not have claimed a title yet, but he's proven what a first-rate passer can mean for deep postseason runs. Nash has played in 118 playoff games over the course of his 16-year career for a reason.

His teams win.

While Jordan's Bulls and Kobe's Lakers may have gotten by on sheer individual greatness, most teams need point guards to run the show.

Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul kept things interesting in the West this year, and Rondo has more than held his own out East.

Thanks to Derrick Rose's devastating torn ACL, Rondo's biggest competition has been Philadelphia's Jrue Holiday—who played pretty well against Boston in the second round, especially on the defensive end.

He forced Rondo to pass, and that may have been his biggest mistake.

Rondo only averaged 14.1 points in the series, but he assisted on 12.7 baskets per game. He never took more than 16 field-goal attempts, and the Celtics still managed to survive while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen played through injuries.

With his teammates largely unable to create their own shots, Rondo did it for them.

Before too long, the Heat just might be wishing they'd added a point guard when building their superstar trio.