Rajon Rondo is easily the key to the Celtics offense.  If he is playing well, then the Celtics are really tough to stop, if he isn’t playing well then the Celtics look average at best.  In game six, the Lakers were able to slow Rajon Rondo and as a result they were able to hold the Celtics to just 67 points.  Here is how they did it:

Ignoring Rondo In The Halfcourt

The Lakers were able to stop Rajon Rondo in the halfcourt by basically ignoring him as his defender (Kobe Bryant for the most part) played about 10-15 feet off of him the entire game, whether he had the ball or not.  It was as if the Lakers were saying, “If Rajon Rondo beats us with jump shots, then so be it.”

The above play is a perfect example of the Lakers’ strategy working as planned.  Here, the Celtics run a screen and roll with Rajon Rondo coming off of a screen set by Kendrick Perkins.  The Lakers switch the screen, and Pau Gasol ends up being forced to cover Rondo.  This is usually a point guard’s dream, and the way a point guard normally attacks this is by pulling the ball out and then just blowing by the big man covering him.  In fact, Rajon Rondo does try to do this, but Pau Gasol doesn’t take a step in Rondo’s direction and he stays in the paint.  Rondo is basically left with only one option (the pass to the mismatch isn’t there because Gasol is clogging the passing lane), and that is to take an awkward jumper that he misses.

Off the ball, it is more of the same strategy:

The Celtics run a pick and roll with Kevin Garnett setting the screen and Paul Pierce as the ball handler.  The Lakers quickly trap the screen in the corner, so Paul Pierce kicks it out to Kevin Garnett, who he thinks is wide open.  However, once Pierce dribbles the ball into the corner, Kobe just leaves Rajon Rondo to play free safety and he is able to come up with the steal.

In Transition

While stopping Rajon Rondo in the halfcourt is key, the most important aspect of Rondo’s game that you want to contain is his transition game, and the Lakers were able to do that:

In this first play, as soon as Rajon Rondo gets his hand on the rebound the Lakers retreat.  You don’t see anyone trying to cut off the basketball or anything like that.  The four Lakers back on defense (Pau Gasol falls and takes a while to get back up) pack in the lane, and then when the pass is made Kobe doesn’t return to Rondo, he just stays in the lane.  This prevents Pierce from driving and it is ultimately what leads to the turnover.

The Lakers also switched up looks they gave Rondo when he got the rebound.

Here, Rondo grabs the board and two Laker defenders quickly trap him, forcing the ball out of his hands.  I don’t know about you, but if I am the Lakers, I take Nate Robinson running the fastbreak over Rondo any day.

Adjustments

While the Lakers executed their defensive strategy on Rajon Rondo to perfection, I think some of the blame for his bad game falls squarely on his shoulders.  Rajon Rondo was far too passive for most of this game.  I say most because for the first few minutes, Rajon Rondo looked like he was going to play a major role in helping the Celtics win the championship.

Rajon Rondo really needs to make Kobe pay for floating around and not recovering quickly when he catches the ball.  Here, Rondo makes the catch and he doesn’t hesitate as he attacks the hoop strong before Kobe can get back to him and this allows for Rajon to get close enough to hit the floater.

In addition to that, Rondo needs to start moving and cutting when the basketball isn’t in his hands.  When he is standing around that makes it so much easier for Kobe Bryant to leave him, because he knows all Rajon Rondo is doing is just standing there.  Remember that play where Kobe leaves Rondo and gets the steal?  Well, let’s take a look at that again real quick:

With Kobe leaving Rajon Rondo to go play free safety and everyone else matched up with there man, a lane opens for Rajon Rondo to cut through opens up right in front of the basket.  Even more importantly, the cut would have been right in front of Pierce’s face, making it an easy pass.  In game seven, any time Kobe turns his head and leaves Rajon Rondo, he needs to cut right off of his back.  If he makes the catch he will either get a lay-up or force rotations to free up his teammates.  Even if he doesn’t get the ball, cutting like this will force Kobe to think twice before leaving Rondo.

Rondo’s lack of aggression also hurt him in transition:

The mistake Rajon Rondo makes here is he passes the ball entirely too early, and that kills the entire fast break.  What do I mean by passing too early?  Well, the Celtics have a three on two fast break with everyone else trailing them, and Rajon Rondo has the ball in his hands going full speed.  That should be a basket right?

But look at where Rondo stops his dribble.  He is close to 35-40 feet away from the basket.  He doesn’t force one of the two Lakers defenders to make a decision of who to cover, as he essentially makes the decision for them.  Rondo needs to keep his dribble alive and attack until a defender stops him THEN pass it, and if no defender steps up it’s an easy lay-in.

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Two adjustments for Rajon Rondo.  Be more aggressive and cut off of Kobe’s back when he leaves him.  They might sound like small little things, but they are very important to the Celtics’ success in game seven.  I am not saying that this will win them the game, but it will keep things close and then who knows what happens?