The Celtics dropped a game to the Pelicans on Sunday that required overtime to be decided, and was really anyone’s game down the stretch of both regulation and the extra session.
Rajon Rondo didn’t do a lot offensively to contribute to his team’s chances, finishing just 3-of-14 from the field in 45 minutes on the floor, which included two misses in overtime -- a makable floater in the lane, and a three-pointer he had to launch to beat the shot clock that wasn’t really close.
Rondo is one of the more well-rounded point guards in the game, however, and does other things to help his team. He finished with 14 assists against only two turnovers, and also grabbed eight rebounds. But his lack of offense seemed to bother him after this one, and Rondo attempted to take the blame for the loss.
From A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com:Rajon Rondo understands his role as the Boston Celtics’ leader is to deliver when it matters most.
But for the second straight game, the Celts came up short in the closing seconds of a game that was indeed anyone’s for the taking. And while the responsibility should be spread liberally across the roster as well as the coaching staff, Rondo once again put much of the blame for Sunday’s 121-120 overtime loss to New Orleans on his shoulders.
“We keep coming up short,” Rondo told reporters following Sunday’s loss, which extended their road losing streak against Western Conference teams to 19. “I have to do a better job of finishing plays. I pretty much blame this on myself again.”
The Celtics are rebuilding, and Rondo is there to provide veteran leadership -- so these comments don’t come as much of a surprise. But there’s one problem with his logic, despite the game’s closeness.
He wasn’t guarding Anthony Davis.
The Pelicans big man was completely unstoppable, finishing with 40 points and 21 rebounds, while adding three assists and three blocked shots. When someone on the opposing team has a statistical outing like that one, it’s a little silly to to blame oneself.