Per many on Twitter including Marc Spears. Incredible turn of events. Apparently he suffered it in Game 2 but when??
Wait, Schefter broke this???So, you're saying there's a chance?
Rondo fractured his thumb and is out indefinitely. That surely changes the series, as he was playing very well.
Nice.No. Rondo.
It was inviting a beating to have IT and Rondo on the court at the same time. Engaged Rondo has one huge hole in his game - outside shooting. Not defending him into that weakness allows him to be elite.Nice.
IT will still be giving up 5 inches to Grant, but he's nowhere near the threat Rondo is, meaning IT doesn't need as much help.
How many minutes could IT possibly have played in these two games without Rondo on the floor?@max_lederman
Isaiah Thomas: 11 TO w/ Rondo on court ... 0 w/ Rondo on bench this series. IT's Net Rating is 20.4 w/out Rondo, -12.9 w/ him #CelticsTalk
Not a hell of a lot, but even if the 20.4 is SSS, the -12.9 isn't. That alone is a big help.How many minutes could IT possibly have played in these two games without Rondo on the floor?
That's a fair point. Rondo played 26:59 the first game and 40:22 in game 2. Thomas played 38:00 in game 1 and 41:47 in game 2. So game 1 is at least 11 minutes, but I'm not sure where to find the actual number.How many minutes could IT possibly have played in these two games without Rondo on the floor?
According to that link, Rondo averaged 33.7 minutes/game, and 31.6 of those were with IT on court.I'm not sure how to read this. If I filter through stats.nba.com, I can get their head to head matchups. It says they averaged 31.6 minutes on the court and 2.1 minutes off the court over two games. So that is 4.2 minutes total off the court between the two, but there are at least 12 minutes where they have to be off the court. Does anyone know what the discrepancy is from?
Thanks. I haven't played around with that tool.According to that link, Rondo averaged 33.7 minutes/game, and 31.6 of those were with IT on court.
Conversely, IT averaged 39.9 minutes, and 31.6 of those were obviously with Rondo on court.
So, IT averaged 8.3 minutes/game without Rondo on court.
The booing struck me as odd as well. Other than Ray Allen, I can't think of any Celtic from the Pierce-KG teams that deserves being booed. Certainly not Rondo.Pity the Bulls wont be at full strength tonight.
And if and when the series comes back to Boston, it's definitely not a pity that the Garden crowd will be spared another chance to embarrass themselves with the silly booing.
This was pissing me off the first two games. IT should know to play off Rondo and dare him to shoot. Watching IT up tight and getting turnstiled was maddening.It was inviting a beating to have IT and Rondo on the court at the same time. Engaged Rondo has one huge hole in his game - outside shooting. Not defending him into that weakness allows him to be elite.
This changes everything if he can play effectively.....the ball movement that forces the defensive rotations which allowed the Bulls to kill us on the offensive glass in the first two games is again in play.Shams CharaniaVerified account @ShamsCharania 1m1 minute ago
Vertical Sources: Chicago's Rajon Rondo preparing to attempt to play in Game 5 against Boston. Final decision TBD, but there's chance.
I can't imagine he'll be able to pass and dribble easily with his broken thumb. And how well will he be able to shoot? Seems like a horrible decision in the long term to play. With that said IT has been also very different in 3 and 4 (confidence and attitude wise). As goes IT so do the celts.This changes everything if he can play effectively.....the ball movement that forces the defensive rotations which allowed the Bulls to kill us on the offensive glass in the first two games is again in play.
I don't know how you play effectively with a fractured thumb but I'd still prefer he not play. His defense really bothered IT those first 2 games.This changes everything if he can play effectively.....the ball movement that forces the defensive rotations which allowed the Bulls to kill us on the offensive glass in the first two games is again in play.
Shooting is not the concern. Dribbling a basketball with a taped up and injured thumb is not easy.how well is he able to shoot even with a healthy thumb? He's better than the other alternatives.
And yet even with the elbow injury, Rondo helped the C's win game 3 and get to overtime in game 4 against the Heat in that 2011 series. All things considered, I'd rather game 5 go off sans Rondo.I remember Rondo trying to play a playoff game with a dislocated left elbow. It wasn't pretty.
Accusing him of palming the ball?If this were hockey the first two shifts would result in a slash or three to the hand, what is the basketball equivalent?
Good one! I heard one of the talking heads say that fouling Rondo early was a good idea, not just to aggravate the injury, but also because he is such a bad free throw shooter even with a functional thumb.Accusing him of palming the ball?
It will certainly add to the drama of a Game 5 in a 2-2 series. Rondo reportedly worked out in the weight room during the day then held a private late night workout on the floor which was the first time he touched a ball since the injury.I don't know how you play effectively with a fractured thumb but I'd still prefer he not play. His defense really bothered IT those first 2 games.
I don't know if this would be considered underhanded, but whacking his right hand several times early ("reaching for the ball") would really make life difficult for him.Good one! I heard one of the talking heads say that fouling Rondo early was a good idea, not just to aggravate the injury, but also because he is such a bad free throw shooter even with a functional thumb.
C. Mike Gorman said on T&R this morning that he is basically always lying and engaging in head games.I remember reading or hearing an interview with RR just the other day, probably from after G4, where he said that he couldn't even use a knife and fork. And now he can play??
A. He was exaggerating on Sunday (a different sort of "pulling a Roethlisberger")
B. He's lying now or engaged in some gamesmanship
C. He will suck in G5
It's what Dwayne Wade would do if he were playing against him. Take from that what you will.I don't know if this would be considered underhanded, but whacking his right hand several times early ("reaching for the ball") would really make life difficult for him.
If they use this strategy, half the Celtics will be in foul trouble by the 4th quarter. They pick up enough fouls against Jimmy Butler.C. Mike Gorman said on T&R this morning that he is basically always lying and engaging in head games.
If he does play, you need to force him to take FT nonstop as others have said.
If we see James Young check in, we'll know his job.If they use this strategy, half the Celtics will be in foul trouble by the 4th quarter. They pick up enough fouls against Jimmy Butler.
Just a firm "welcome back" handshake before the opening tip should do the jobI don't know if this would be considered underhanded, but whacking his right hand several times early ("reaching for the ball") would really make life difficult for him.