Paul Pierce was out. Jameer Nelson was back. They were playing the Magic in Orlando, a team that beat them without Jameer Nelson, their starting point guard in Boston. None of that mattered to Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics.
Rajon played with a red headband that made for a festive look combined with his green uniform on Christmas Day. He was simultaneously Ebenezer Scrooge and Santa Claus, depending on which side you root for. To the Magic, he was more like the evil Leprechaun from the movie of the same name.
Rajon Rondo continues to establish himself as a big game player. Ragin’ Rajon scored 17 points, pulling a Scrooge imitation by grabbing 13 rebounds, while handing out gift baskets on 8 assists in a close encounter with a triple double, leading the Celtics to victory. The more he gave, the more the Celtics received. He was the Salvation Army all by himself.
It was another defensive battle between two great defensive teams locked in year long combat for dominance of the Eastern Conference. The Celtics shot 43% and held the Magic to 33% overall, but only 25% in the first half as the Celtics overtook an early 10-4 Orlando lead to open up an 11 point half time lead, 38-27. The Magic’s 27 points tied a franchise low and Orlando’s 8 point second quarter set a new franchise low.
That Rondo was able to impact the game the way he did was a giant step forward for the diminutive guard. Rondo was criticized by his coach and others for delivering a somewhat disappointing performance against Rafer Alston and Anthony Johnson in the playoffs last season. He followed that up with another mortal performance (3-11 shooting, no foul shots, 6 points, 6 assists) in the two teams first meeting this season against off season addition and newly ‘unretired’ 34 year old Jason Williams. With Jameer Nelson back this time, Rondo delivered big time.
Teams with strong defensive front lines have been a problem at times for Rondo. Though he is without much help, Dwight Howard is a strong front line all by himself. Rondo was able to penetrate, score, dish, and generally control the game.
Ray Allen led the Celtics with 18 points on 5 of 12 shooting, but grabbed 6 rebounds and distributed 4 assists to the cause.
The starting guards were rebounding hard, perhaps with extra intent. Kevin Garnett returned to play after sitting one out with a bruised thigh and Kendrick Perkins would be busy shutting down Dwight Howard.
Perkins Working Holiday Overtime
As we have come to expect, Perkins plays Lex Luther to Howard’s Superman. Dwight was Kryptonited by Kendrick Perkins once gain with a 1 for 7 shooting performance. Howard has already admitted that Perkins gives him trouble, while that was made nationally known in the May series last season.
It’s apparently easier to hold Dwight in check on the offensive end. Howard grabbed 20 rebounds, blocked 4 shots and altered numerous others. But he scored only 5 points, his lowest total this season and the lowest in over a year, when he scored 4 points on November 16, 2008.
A combined effort by Perkins, Garnett, and Rasheed Wallace kept Dwight off his favorite spots deep in the paint all night.
KG played 32 minutes, adding 10 points and 7 boards while showing why he is the anchor to a strong defensive Celtic team. Their defense on Orlando in the first half was superb. They held the Magic to 10 made shots on 40 attempts, including 2 of 13 from the three point line.
Rasheed Wallace logged 32 minutes, adding 11 points, 8 rebounds, a block and two steals in a solid performance.
Both teams had way too many turnovers with Rondo leading the way with 8. But at least 3 of those were offensive fouls of the charging kind. Dwight Howard added 7 turnovers. The Celtics had 20 total while the Magic had 18.
Orlando was still up 25-20 early in the second quarter when Boston went on a 18-2 run to close out the quarter and first half. Orlando scored 2 points in the final 7:23 of the first half. Rondo scored 13 of his 17 points in the opening half, but had zero assists at the half and 6 of his turnovers.
Orlando was held to 8 second quarter points and tied a franchise low 27 for the half.
Boston held serve as Orlando played catch up the rest of the game.
Tony Allen played yet another strong game as he started for Paul Pierce and contributed 16 points and 4 rebounds in 21 plus minutes.
Perkins numbers were as modest as his defense was strong on Howard. Kendrick added 4 rebounds, 6 points and 3 blocked shots in just 20 minutes.
The Magic exited the floor to the tune of Blue Christmas, as the Celtics, dressed in green as Grinches, stole their Christmas defensively. The Celtics sent a strong message that they would be ready for all challenges to their quest for a second title in the Garnett Era.
Speaking of Garnett, all was well until he had a hard fall right near the end of the game. It looked like he landed on his tail bone, and he appeared to be in some pain. He did not return to the game. Doc Rivers later reported that it was a bump on the head. Apparently it was not serious, as reported in the Globe…
Doc Rivers….
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Garnett mostly had a bruise on his head. Garnett said he was fine.
“If he grew some hair, it wouldn’t hurt so much,” Rivers joked.
The Celtics are now 23-5. They are 14-1 over the last 15 games. They are a league leading 13-1 on the road. The win establishes a 2 game lead for home court advantage over Orlando. The Cavaliers beat the Lakers and are 1.5 games behind the Celtics.
The Celtics head west for three games starting with the L.A. Clippers on Sunday.
