Dallas Mavericks: Rajon Rondo Played His Best Game Friday
If Rajon Rondo plays like he did Friday night, the sky’s the limit for him and the Dallas Mavericks.
The stats don’t jump off the page at first glance. Rondo did score 13 points, but only had three assists on the night. Definitely another lackluster night in that column for Rondo.
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But for the first time since being a Maverick, Rondo was patient with the basketball. He didn’t try to force the issue whenever he had the ball in his hands.
He let the game come to him. That’s what separates the Rondo that will get paid a ton of money this offseason compared to fickle change.
Rondo didn’t earn a max contract with this performance tonight. There’s a long way to go before we start judging what the appropriate dollar figure is to award Rondo this summer. But the potential was there. The thought of Rondo looking comfortable in this offense was there, and it hadn’t been since he was traded to Dallas.
Perhaps that’s why Rondo’s performance hasn’t been up to par with what Dallas fans expect of him. He thinks he has to do everything. The Mavericks made this big trade for him, and the pressure is on him to deliver the championship to Dallas.
If Friday was any indication whatsoever, in Dallas’ 111-100 win over the Houston Rockets at home, Rondo may have finally realized he doesn’t have to do everything. He doesn’t need to have the pressure of being the guy who carries this team to where it wants to be in June.
Yes, the six turnovers don’t look great. The 6-of-9 shooting does. And the best part for Rondo, is that he did it in a plethora of ways. He attacked the basket a lot in the first half, and even made a few jumpers in the third quarter that sparked Dallas’ big third quarter run that pushed the lead to 20 points.
With the understanding that Rondo doesn’t need to do everything anymore, hopefully he understands that he doesn’t need to beat teams with his jump shot. Even now, working with Dirk Nowitzki‘s shooting coach, Holger Geschwindner, Rondo doesn’t need to add the element of the jumper to his game with this offense.
He probably thought he did in Boston, but not anymore. Tonight was the first instance since the big December blockbuster trade that Rondo let the game come to him. He let his teammates do the work offensively, and he directed the show.
That’s the Rondo Dallas is going to need for the playoffs. Not the one who can score 40 points in a playoff game, but the one who can get everyone else involved. His ability to attack the basket opens up so many more avenues for guys like Dirk, Chandler Parsons, Monta Ellis and Charlie Villanueva.
And sooner or later, it’ll work wonders for guys like Tyson Chandler and Amar’e Stoudemire.
Rondo was certainly not the Player of the Game Friday night. That honor went to Al-Farouq Aminu with his 17-point, 12-rebound double-double in Dallas’ much-needed win. But when Rondo saw the floor, he was the guy Dallas hoped he’d be.
As long as he continue to be patient, it’s going to be a much smoother process for Rondo. That’s what Dallas needs: Smooth point guard play.
That’ll pay dividends later on in the year.