A Closer Look - Rajon Rondo

Absolute stud.

Rajon Rondo has been the glue that has held the team together this season. Remarkably, Rondo has missed just one game all season long which is especially important when either Pierce or Garnett are out of the lineup. Rondo has emerged with a vengeance this season, proving that last season was no fluke; as the ink dries on his freshly signed five-year, $55 million extension, Rondo continues to establish himself as the engine that makes the offense run.

Despite injury woes, Rondo's 29 double-double's have aided the Celtics to many of their wins. First in the NBA in steals and second in assists, Rondo surprisingly also leads all point guards in field goal percentage at a 51.7% clip. After an offseason of working on his jump shot with renowned shooter Mark Price, Rondo's outside game has become more of a threat and has vastly opened up the floor for him.

The 21st overall pick in the 2006 draft, Rondo celebrated his first All Star Game appearance earlier this month. Receiving recognition from players and coaches around the league, his peers voted him in as a reserve. He was more than deserving, and probably should have been a starter, but as long as the fan vote remains the deciphering factor as to who starts, it will always be a popularity contest. A lot of people hate the Celtics, but can you blame them? The Celtics remain one of the strongest teams in the league and a fierce rival of many opponents.

Rondo has been sizzling over his last six contests and will need to continue his elevated level of play in order for the Celtics to have any sustained success. Rondo had 17 assists in the most recent embarrassing loss to the New Jersey Nets on Saturday afternoon and it still wasn't enough. Celtics fans have come to take it for granted that Rajon will drop ten dimes in a game because that's what is expected of him--he's just that good.

His ability to penetrate to the basket and his fantastic court vision make him an excellent candidate to run the Celtics offense. The team hopes to have the youngster in the fold for many years to come and will continue to rely on his outstanding production to be a lock night in and night out as they march forward in pursuit of their 18th championship.