Dwight Howard Leads Magic Past Celtics In OT

Dwight Howard (Photo by Keith Allison)

Dwight Howard finally earned his All-NBA First Team honors, scoring 32 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in game four. The Boston Celtics now lead the Orlando Magic three games to one.

Paul Pierce paced the Celtics with 32 points and 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as the Magic won the over-time period 10-6 for a final score of 96-92.

Jameer Nelson had 23 points and 9 assists to help the Magic avoid elimination. Nelson’s banked three pointer in over-time put Orlando ahead for good. He followed that up with another trey just moments later.

A last second shot by Glenn “Big Baby” Davis was too little, too late. Rajon Rondo, the Celtics best player so far this post season, was held to 9 points and 8 assists.

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Is Rajon Rondo This Good?

We have all heard the line. 29 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists. He also somehow had the energy to get two steals and play solid defense. His youth allowed him to play 47 of the 48 minutes and not seem too tired.

So can Rajon Rondo be this good?

At 6′1″ and 171 pounds he plays much bigger than his frame should allow. In the first two rounds of the playoffs he is averaging 17.9 points, 11.4 assists and 7.1 rebounds. The first two numbers aren’t that shocking. Players increase their production in the NBA playoffs all the time, but his rebounding numbers are ridiculous.

Rajon Rondo (Photo by: Chris Nelson)

On the season Rondo averaged 4.4 rebounds. In comparison, Deron Williams, everyone’s fashionable pick for best NBA point guard, averaged only 4 rebounds for the season. Williams is two inches taller and outweighs the relatively scrawny Rondo by thirty pounds.

What it might come down to is effort and opportunity. Maybe Rondo tries harder on the boards. You have to also look at the fact that Williams has a few beasts on the interior with Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, and Paul Millsap who averaged a combined 25.1 rebounds during the season.

The Celtics’ top three rebounders averaged a combined 19.3 during the regular season. That includes Rondo’s contribution. The fact is that Rajon has more opportunities because his teammates are not doing their job.

I am in no way trying to take anything away from Rajon Rondo. I think he is one of the top point guards in the NBA, but his absurd rebounding numbers are a product of not only his intensity and desire, but his teammate’s inability to grab boards themselves.

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NBA Daily: 1-10-10

Ah, it was another wonderful weekend in the NBA. A triple double in a Celtics win and a certain King scored 31 points in the first half last night. When the night was nearing it’s end the Lakers were able to win despite a rough effort by the Mamba. All in all it was a great night for NBA fans.

NBA Stars of the Night

Rajon Rondo, Boston. He’s the only Celtic playing like an All-Star this year and last night was no exception. 22 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists (yes that would be a triple double) and just because he got bored, he threw in 4 steals. Remember when people wondered if Rondo was the right point guard to run the team for Garnett, Pierce and Allen? Yeah, I think those questions are answered.

Lebron James, Cleveland. Lebron had 31 points in the first half and finished with 41 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. The Cavaliers were up big in the first half, but Portland went on a big run in the 3rd quarter. That is when Lebron took over again, with key passes and buckets in the 4th.

Chris Paul, New Orleans. Paul had 26 points, 14 assists and 3 steals. The Hornets guard must have heard me calling him out as an elite-player-wanna-be, because all of a sudden his team is on a roll. New Orleans is now 3 games above .500 and you can thank Paul, who is averaging 12.6 assist over the last 5 games.

NBA Dud of the Night

Milwaukee Starters. Only one Bucks starter scored in double figures last night. Let’s just say the Lakers took advantage by holding them to only 77 points. The lone guy to score ten points scored just that, exactly 10 points. That would be Brandon Jennings who shot 4-of-17 from the field. The rest of the starters combined for 13 points.

International Player of the Night

Manu Ginobili, Argentina. Because of injuries, you can’t expect nights like these from Ginobili all the time. However he will throw down games like this (21 points, 8-8 FT), when the Spurs need him to. If the Spurs are going to compete in the West, they need Manu to be a more consistent contributer.

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