How will the Celtics fare without Rondo?

Whilst the Boston Celtics were in the midst of ending their seven game losing streak, courtesy of the Miami Heat, news filtered through that Celtics All-Star Rajon Rondo had perhaps torn his ACL.

Many were in disbelief, there were no apparent signs of such severe damage to Rondo. In fact, he had warmed up with the team prior to the game just hours earlier, no-one suspected an ACL injury, an injury which can ruin athlete’s careers.

The reports were confirmed as Boston toppled Miami in a double over-time thriller, leading to a bitter-sweet atmosphere around the TD Garden. Many realised this was the end of Boston’s championship hopes this season, however, the injury represented more than that.

Rondo’s injury signifies the end of the Kevin Garnett era in Boston. The ‘Big 3’ consisting of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett was assembled in 2007 with the intention of winning multiple championships. That goal was partially fulfilled with a championship in 2008. Last year, the ‘aging’ Celtics were just one game away from the NBA Finals with a squad that was deemed too old. In 2010, Boston forced a Game 7 in the NBA Finals with an injured Garnett, an aging Paul Pierce and a Rondo who struggled to score. They are accustomed to the underdog role and overcoming the odds. However, the current squad simply do not have the tools required to make one last charge for the NBA Finals.

One option facing Celtic’s GM Danny Ainge is to ‘Blow it up’, meaning overhaul the current roster with hope of contending for a title in the future. A new roster would be constructed around the future franchise centrepiece, Rondo, with players that are able to supplement his strengths and weaknesses. This would require trades which would be difficult to make, such as trading away the longest serving Celtic Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett who has a no trade clause in his contract – meaning Garnett would have to agree to any proposed trade before he is dealt.

If the Celtics opt to take another route by sticking with the current roster then this season will not be a complete disaster. The plethora of poor teams in the basement of the Eastern Conference means it will be near impossible for Boston to get a decent lottery pick in the upcoming draft, as a result, it would be wise for them to attempt to make the playoffs rather than rebuilding just yet. Such a goal is certainly possible without their star point guard. Many Boston fans will inform you that there is a ‘National T.V. Rondo’, who dominates the game and demands attention during big games, yet during regular season matchups against mediocre opponents his effort sometimes falls into question.

In fact, on average the Celtics score 99.7 points per 100 possessions without Rondo, Pierce and Garnett on the court, yet when these three take to the court they score 97.5 points per 100 possessions, which is only greater than Washington. The numbers indicate Rondo actually makes the Celtics worse on offense, but this may be down to him facing sterner competition due to being a starter. However, it certainly suggests there is still life yet in this Rondo-less Bostonian side.

Even more promising for fans is that the Celtics have always been among the league’s best shooting team, however, they struggle to get to the foul line and get few fast break points-coaching and small personnel tweaks can solve such issues within a single season.

The Celtics now have to decide whether to make a push for the playoffs- which is certainly a possible goal- or start rebuilding the roster immediately, in preparation for Rondo’s return. A compromise between the two may result in no playoffs and a fringe lottery draft pick, which is where few teams want to be.