Here is what I had to say about the Boston Celtics on Thursday shortly after it was announced that Avery Bradley would likely be out for the remainder of the postseason:
"However, the Celtics will still need an extraordinary performance from it's Big 4 (this includes Rajon Rondo because I refuse to call them the Big 3 and leave out the team's best young talent) if they want to eliminate the surprising 76ers and keep their title hopes alive."
That line about Rajon Rondo couldn't have been said at a more appropriate time.
Don't get me wrong, Rondo had already cemented his status as a member of the "Big 4" well before Saturday's Game 7 performance against the Philadelphia 76ers.But with Paul Pierce having just fouled out, the lead trimmed all the way down to three points, and the KG/Ray Allen/Pierce/Rondo Celtics regime possibly playing together for the last time, Rondo put the franchise on his shoulders and willed them to victory and on to the next round against the Miami Heat.
Rondo notched his third triple-double of this postseason (the ninth of his playoff career) with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals.
But the most important stat of his game won't be found on any regular box score: The fact that he dropped nine straight points for the Celtics after Pierce fouled out with 4:16 remaining and stretched that three point lead to a double digit one.
Rondo scored a total of 11 points in the fourth quarter, including hitting his first three pointer in five games (and having a second one ruled a two-point shot after review), and sank all four of his free throws down the stretch to finish off the Sixers' impressive playoff run.
Doug Collins had this to say of Rondo's performance after the game:
"I don't look at them as the Big Three. I look at them as the Championship Four," the Philadelphia coach said. "Because if you're going to leave Rondo out, you're making a huge mistake."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
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