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The legend of “Playoff Rondo” still lives on, perhaps even more so after an impressive first-round sweep of the series against the Portland Trail Blazers. Rajon Rondo put up an impressive 11.3 points and a league-leading 13.3 assists per game in four games against the Blazers, quarterbacking this team to very convincing wins against a higher No. 3 seed.
Yet the mercurial point guard insists he's not a fan of the nickname, even if he does elevate his play in competitive situations.
“I hate it,” Rondo told Marc Stein of The New York Times. “It’s BS.”
“There’s no such thing as ‘Playoff Rondo,’” Rondo insisted at the Pelicans’ practice facility this week.
Yet the 32-year-old claims his showtime performances aren't due to a change of attitude or perspective, but rather the opportunities that present in front of him and how he takes advantage of them.
“I’ve done what I’ve done in the past,” Rondo said. “I let my game speak for itself. I feel like, when I get a certain amount of minutes and when the coaches allow me to be me on the court, I’m Rondo. There’s no ‘Playoff Rondo.’”
“Ask any player. You’re only as good as your coach allows you to be.”
Rondo has always had a never-ending battle with coaches, but for once, it appears that Alvin Gentry had proved to be the right fit to his cerebral approach to the game, allowing him to take full rein of this team and lead them to the promise land.
With his post secured as the team's floor general, the New Orleans Pelicans now have another weapon on offense in Jrue Holiday, who is coming off posting 27.8 points per game in the first round.
