Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo Make a Case For Team MVP

The Celtics are proving that they are a complete team.  They started out the year knowing that their starting center Kendrick Perkins would not be available.  In spite of all the injuries, they figured as long as Kevin Garnett was healthy they could keep their swagger and dominance in the Eastern Conference.

The lone stalwarts this season were the original "Big Three" off Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.  As a result, Boston sat atop the Eastern Conference with the Miami Heat feasting on mostly below .500 teams charging toward them.  Rajon Rondo had succumbed to foot and ankle problems forcing Pierce to do his best Rondo impression while K.G.'s defensive doggedness kept the whole team on point. 

All that was put in doubt when K.G. came up limping after a routine dunk; he was diagnosed with a strained calf muscle.  Ordinarily the team would take it in stride, except the injury occurred on the same surgically repaired leg. Celtics faithful could not be blamed for having a deja vu moment. 

While we wait for the outcome of Garnett's latest injury there is one pressing question that remains: Who holds the key to the Celtics' title hopes, K.G. or Rondo? 

Each player has a valid argument for being the one indispensable player.  

At first glance, K.G. would seem to have the edge.  After all, he is a perennial All-Star and has the edge in experience.  His game resembles his 2007-08 numbers and he has regained his mental edge over wannabe power forwards who masquerade as centers.  Other NBA players' dislike towards him has returned tenfold it seems and that is a good thing for Garnett.

Besides the consistent numbers he puts up, K.G. knows defense.  His intense approach towards everything basketball is the key to his team’s success.

The Celtics have been able to weather the storm mainly because of Rondo's return from injury and Glen "Big Baby" Davis' track record of stepping up. Truth be told, Boston was beginning to feel the effects of Rondo's absence prior to K.G.'s injury.

Therein lies the dilemma; Rondo's contributions cannot be measured by numbers. If you were to do that, you would miss the beauty of his game. He gets the team buckets and by doing so he saves the wear and tear on the aging veterans’ legs.  They do not have to work as hard to get shots.

This diminutive guard accounts for a good percentage of his team's points without actually scoring. No other NBA point guard can say that. At 6'1", he is a walking potential triple double.  He has had 11 triple doubles already in his short career, some of which he accomplished in the heat of the playoffs.

Both Rondo and K.G. are leading vote-getters at their positions (PF and PG) in the All-Star balloting, and Rondo's numbers are close to hitting one million votes.

Rondo's ability to control the whole game on both ends of the court without any offensive consistency makes his game that more remarkable. K.G. has to score to affect the outcome of the game.

It seems like either one of them can make a case for team MVP, but in the end it is Rondo that gets the edge.