Rajon Rondo and Other Wounded Warriors in Celtics Playoff History
The story from last night's game was Rondo coming back from a dislocated elbow and inspiring the rest of the team and the fans with his play. He is a warrior and his play last night solidified that.
However, it is not the first time a Celtic player has played through injury in the playoffs and inspired their team. Let's take a look at some of the Celtic players that have played through pain in the playoffs.
Bill Russell
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Bill Russell was the greatest champion ever, winning 11 titles in Boston. Only once did he lose in the NBA Finals. That one Finals defeat came in 1958 when the Celtics lost to the Hawks.
However, the loss was due in large part to the fact that Bill Russell severely sprained his ankle. He still played on it, but was not the same and the Hawks beat the Celtics in seven games. Although they lost and Russell did not play well, it was still a courageous effort by Russell.
Larry Bird
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Larry Bird was arguably the NBA's toughest player. He played through severe back problems during the end of his career along with countless other injuries.
In the first round of the 1991 playoffs against the Pacers during Game 5, Bird dove for a loose ball and smacked his head against the floor. He went to the locker room and appeared to be done for the game.
But you couldn't keep Larry Bird out of a playoff game. He returned and scored 30 points to eliminate the Pacers.
Kevin McHale
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In 1987, Kevin McHale broke the navicular bone in his right foot before the playoffs. He ignored the doctor's advice and played throughout the playoffs.
Although the Celtics failed to defend their title that year, due in large part to the fact that McHale was not 100 percent, he still managed to average 21 points and nine rebounds a game on a broken bone in his foot.
John Havlicek
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After winning 68 games in the 1972-73 season, the Celtics faced the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
In Game 3, John Havlicek suffered a separated shoulder. Although the Knicks went on to win the series, Havlicek still played through it. For the rest of the series he played with one arm and still managed to average 24 points a game throughout those playoffs.
Paul Pierce
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Say what you want about Paul Pierce's toughness (he was stabbed 11 times in 2000) or his injury in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals. But Pierce had waited 10 long years to finally make the NBA Finals, so why would he want to fake an injury and leave his first ever Finals game that he had waited and worked so long for?
It just wouldn't make sense for him to fake that injury. And he returned to score 15 points in the third quarter alone to will the Celtics to victory. Legitimate injury, and an inspiring performance to propel the Celtics to victory in Game 1.
Rajon Rondo
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Rajon Rondo fell and braced his fall with his arm and in the process, dislocated his elbow. It was a scary injury and most assumed he was out for the game, and some thought he was done for the playoffs. But he shocked everyone by returning to the game shortly after leaving.
And in his return, he played inspiring basketball even though he had only one arm. He was playing lock down defense, hustling for every loose ball, grabbing rebounds with one arm, pushing the ball with his good hand and even scoring off of fast break points.
On one play, he stole the ball from Chris Bosh and dribbled the length of the court with his good hand and dunked it with the same hand. He is as tough as they come and he proved it last night.
