Rajon Rondo Put on a Show for National TV Audience Once Again

The Celtics’ point guard seems to play his best when the most eyes are tuning in, and yesterday afternoon against the Miami Heat was a clear example of this. From the Boston Herald: “Rondo toyed with the Miami Heat in a 91-72 victory yesterday at the Garden with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists to record his fifth triple-double of the season. Fourteen of Rondo’s 18 career triple-doubles have come during nationally televised games. He has accounted for 35 percent of the 14 triple-doubles in the NBA this season. ‘We’re just going to tell him we’re playing on ABC every day,’ Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. ‘We told Rondo that we needed him to be a scorer, not necessarily a playmaker, a scorer.’ The production yesterday was no statistical match for his Garden show against New York last month, when he had 18 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists, but it was more proof Rondo seems to save his best for when more eyes are upon him. ‘I don’t know what it is,’ Rondo said. ‘My teammates put the spotlight on me more than the media. They tell me to be aggressive and just show them what a great point guard is.’ […] These virtuoso performances are not lost on the other veterans. ‘He’s been picking up where others have been slacking,’ Kevin Garnett said. ‘I know there are other point guards out there, but this kid is something special. I hope this city and fans gravitate to who he is. The same thing that makes you great is sometimes what makes people hate you.'”