Rajon Rondo's Top 5 Moments of the 2010-2011 Boston Celtics Season

With the lockout still going strong, there has been a lot of debate about what the future holds for Rajon Rondo and whether or not he can lead the Boston Celtics one day. Although the season ended only a few months ago, it's time for everyone in the league, and more importantly, Celtics Fans, to relive some of Rondo's best games during the 2010-2011 season. He had a tremendous season and watching these clips reminds me of the great presence Rondo has on the court and the bright future he still has ahead of him.

After watching the Boston Celtics lose to the Miami Heat in the playoffs, a lot of fans were disappointed with how the season turned out. These great Rondo moments show that the hunt for Banner No. 18 will continue next year and he will be the player that will one day get us there. Even though the lockout is threatening to stop fans from enjoying this great sport, take the time to remember how amazing some parts of last season truly were.

(I included a bonus moment/slide from last season. It's a true classic Rondo moment.)

5. Rondo's Triple Double Secures the Third Win Against Miami

The Celtics had already beaten the Miami Heat twice going into this game, but now it seemed that Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and Lebron James had found some chemistry and rhythm to their game. This wasn't the same team the Celtics beat before and Rajon Rondo would prove that he could lead his team to victory over what many people believed to be the best "Big Three" in basketball today. 

Rondo produced an impressive 11 points (50% FG), 10 Rebounds, and 10 assists to record a triple-double against the team's biggest rival of the year. Equally as impressive as Rondo's triple-double was the level of defense he offered and his ability to cover anyone he wanted on the court. He took the opportunity to cover Lebron James as often as possible, playing a very invasive style of defense that forced Lebron to give up the ball four times in the first half.

Doc Rivers even said, "I thought Rondo just willed us the game... Rondo just took it upon himself that whoever was bringing the ball up he was going to guard and harass. And I thought that changed the game for us." Rondo took control of the game leading the Celtics to another victory against the Heat, winning 85 to 82.  

4. Rondo's 17 Assists on Opening Night Gives Boston the Win

The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat began to play out throughout the NBA the moment that the Heat signed the three biggest free agents of the summer. The battle between the original Big Three of Boston and the new Big Three of Miami would begin opening night at the TD Bank North Garden. As fans began to stream into the stadium, the energy in the building was like that of an NBA Finals championship game.

The match-up had been hyped up for the entire preseason and the moment was here for the Celtics and Heat to prove to each other who was the better team. The key piece that people overlooked in the argument of the Big Three stars of each team was Rajon Rondo. He would take control of the offense, dishing out 17 assists to lead his team to victory, 88 to 80 over the Miami Heat. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the crowd cheered, Miami had been beaten, and the Celtics looked like they had the tools necessary to hang that 18th banner from the ceiling.  

3. Rondo's Triple-Double and 24 Assists Give Celtics the Edge over the NYK

Bounce pass, one handed pass, behind the back pass, shot fake to a pass; Rajon Rondo can do it all. He showcased his unbelievable passing ability against the New York Knicks by setting a new career-high with 24 assists. He provided over half of the team's points through scoring or assisting in the Celtics 105-101 win over the New York Knicks. 

He provided the ball to his teammates in the best locations, giving them a more effective shot and providing the time they needed to have a much higher shooting percentage. His passes were precise and Rondo seemed to be more in tune with what was happening on the court than any player out there. He provided an additional 10 points himself while contributing 10 rebounds and 1 steal. When Rondo is playing this well, triple-doubles just seem to come naturally to him and the Celtics seem to be unbeatable. 

The work of art that was Rondo's passing during this game was the biggest display of passing talent the league would see all year. He showed that he is better than any other player in the NBA at setting up his teammates and with that he began the season on a fierce note. He helped to make the Celtics one of the best teams in the NBA during the regular season and provided the offensive designs that would let them roll through the first half of the year. When Rondo can get other players the opportunities to score and can run the offense as effectively as he is able to, this Boston Celtics team is unstoppable. 

2. Rajon Rondo Leads the Sweep Against the Knicks with 4 Incredible Games

During the fast-paced series against the New York Knicks Rondo produced a 30 point game, a triple-double, a double-double, and narrowly missed a triple-double in the first game. New York threatened to be a difficult opponent with Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire leading the team. However, Rondo rolled through New York like they were standing still and he showcased the talents that truly make him one of the greatest point guards in the NBA. 

Game 1: Rondo provided the team with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists narrowly missing a triple-double. He conducted the offense to a narrow victory over New York to go ahead 1-0 in the series.

Game 2: A lot of people think that Rondo cannot score a large amount of points, but when Rajon starts running the floor there are few teams that can keep him from scoring. Rondo scored on fast break after fast break, recording 30 points and supplying the firepower the Celtics needed to surpass Carmelo Anthony's 42 point game. Rondo had a great overall game with 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals in addition to the 30 points he provided, giving the Celtics the win at 96-93.

Game 3: Rondo records a huge triple-double, bringing in 15 points with 5 of the points coming off of foul shots (the notoriously bad free throw shooter went 5 for 6). With 11 rebounds and 20 assists Rondo was displaying his ability to affect the game more than any player on the team. The Celtics came away with the victory once again, 113-96. 

Game 4: Probably Rondo's worst game of the season was still successful as he recorded a double-double in the final game against the Knicks. He scored 21 points (66.6 FG%), dished out 12 assists, and still provided 5 rebounds on defense. He provided the extra support necessary to finish off the New York Knicks and give the Boston Celtics there final victory of the series 101-89.

Rajon Rondo showed the high level of basketball that he is capable of when he can get the ball moving at a faster pace. He was an integral part of the Celtics sweep of the New York Knicks and if we can get this level of play out of him in the playoffs next year we should progress even further into the post-season.  

1. Rajon Rondo Returns

(WARNING: Video shows an elbow dislocation.)

As Rondo fell to the parquet floor and his elbow dislocated under his weight, the hopes for Banner No.18 seemed to slip away for most fans watching. The Celtics rushed to the side of Rajon Rondo and he was helped off the court, with the general consensus being he would be done for the year. To everyone's complete shock Rondo found his way back to the Celtics bench just a few minutes later.

Rondo had returned to his team and even if he had just sat on the bench to show his support he would have been commended for his strength. Instead he did the unthinkable; a man who had dislocated his elbow only moments before stepped on to the court determined not to let his team down. He was more effective playing with one hand than most of the players on either of the two teams.

Fans stared in awe as Rondo used his injured arm to steal the ball from Chris Bosh and break away at half court for a strong one handed dunk. Then he kept playing even better, recording assists and baskets as if he didn't even need his left arm to control the offense. Watching Rondo drive to the basket and swing the ball around Lebron James for a lay up was enough to prove to me that Rondo can do anything he tries.

Rajon Rondo proved to everyone that he had heart and that he would never let down his team, even when almost everyone knew Boston had very little chance of surviving the rest of the series with him injured. He created more than just a win in the game, he created a moment that will stand out in the minds of most Boston Celtics fans for the rest of their lives. This could be a career changing event for Rondo; he may have proved to himself and the world that he is strong enough to lead and inspire this team to get through any challenges they may face. 

Bonus: Rajon Rondo's Amazing T-Shirt (NBA 2K11 Commercial)

Rajon Rondo always seems to show that he believes he is better than any player to challenge him. Rondo's shirt says it all: Rondo is and always will be a better point guard than Derrick Rose. I wouldn't take any other point guard in the league over him.  

Rajon Rondo: Highlights from the 2010-2011 Season

Looking back on the season, Rajon Rondo really did prove to everyone how great he is as a player and how well he can provide anything that his team needs in order to win. Although he seemed off during the second half of the season, he returned to his explosive style of play in the playoffs in an attempt to will his team past the Miami Heat. I believe that Rajon Rondo will have the best season of his career next year and prove to the league that he is the best point guard in the NBA.