You could tell Rajon Rondo was trying to hold back the tears.
The Boston Celtics honored Rondo with this tribute video in his first game back in Boston since he was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks in December. He wasn’t sure how to handle the emotion of being shipped from the only franchise he’s ever been a part of.
If there were any tears, emotions or jitters, they weren’t shown in the first quarter. In the first quarter, it was a Rajon Rondo that is known for showing up in big moments when the lights are on bright.
This version of Rondo is the one the Mavericks were begging for when they traded for him. I’ve still yet to figure out if the shooting was in the heat of the moment or he has figured out how to shoot again, but Rondo let the Celtics know how bad of an idea it was to not build around him.
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All it took was 12 minutes.
Matter of fact, all it took was six shots in those 12 minutes.
Rondo took six shots in the first quarter. He made all six. He scored 15 points in the first quarter. The Celtics, as a team, had 17. He finished with a season-high 29 points. The three players sent to Boston in the Rondo deal (Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder and Jameer Nelson) shot a combined 2-for-15 and scored 11 points.
That was the kind of night the Mavs had, and that was the kind of night Rondo had. His five 3-pointers were a career-high, and he also chipped in with six rebounds and five assists.
Just another day at the office, and he didn’t even need the headband for a night like this.
I mentioned, while breaking down Rondo’s impact in this new Dallas offense, that he wasn’t brought to the Mavericks to be an offensive force. He’s never been considered that. If his shot is falling, it’s just a bonus that gives Dallas more opportunities to break the scoreboard.
The Mavericks needed every bit of those 29 points from Rondo on Friday night. He was the only starter for Dallas who shot over 50 percent from the floor. Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 points, but he had a rough first half. Monta Ellis had 22 points but also wasn’t consistent in the first 24 minutes. Chandler Parsons had a quiet 13 points that included a couple of 3-pointers.
All alone, on his night, Rondo showed he still has some big-game traits that he could bring to the Mavericks when they get to the playoffs. Yes, the Celtics are bad now that Rondo is gone. Yes, they’re a sub-.500 team. But this game was big on the premise that Rondo put his emotions aside and played his best game this season.
This is the kind of Rondo that Dallas is hoping shows up in April. Not the one that scores 25 points, but the one that can show up when the pressure is on. Whether people want to admit it or not, the pressure was on Rondo to deliver on Friday night. This was the same Boston team the Mavericks played on Nov. 3, and Dallas nearly lost after blowing a 30-point lead.
He’s a player that’s meant for the big stage, and all he wants is to win a championship. Rondo might not get a better chance with this Dallas team, especially if he plays like he did Friday night.