Rajon Rondo was ejected late in Game 1 of the Boston Celtics’ first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks Sunday night, and a crippling suspension could follow.
Rondo appeared to have chest bumped a referee, a move that essentially cost the Celtics the game, and rendered his status for Game 2, and beyond, questionable.
Though its a Best of 7 series, each and every game is of the utmost importance, especially after losing the first. Rondo, the poster-boy for aggressive serenity, has seriously endangered the once scorching Celtics’ chance of emerging from this series the victor.
Boston already has a Ray Allen fiasco on their hands, and the absence of Rondo, even for just one game, cripples their ability to remain genuinely competitive.
Like it or not, Rondo is now the heart and soul of this team. No matter how well Paul Pierce, Avery Bradley or Kevin Garnett play, none of them are the orchestrator or facilitator that Rondo is. And his ejection, and possible suspension, brings to light the significance of maintaining one’s cool, even amidst the passionate game we call playoff basketball.
Had Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James gone off on a referee late in the game in a manner that provoked suspension, their devotion and commitment to their respective team’s cause would have been questioned. That simply won’t happen in the case of Rondo.
There is no one in the league more unselfish and committed to their teammates than Rondo. This was an isolated incident where he allowed his emotions to get the best of him.
However, intentional or not, suspension or not, his reaction crossed a line, and preached the art of turbulent peace.
NBA athletes are passionate and competitive by nature, and to ask them to stand idly by and ignore their emotions is unreasonable. That said, a balance between passion and composure is imperative, especially during the postseason.
Because Rondo lost his cool, Boston finds itself waiting with bated breath, hoping that its star of the future doesn’t dash their championship aspirations for right now.
Yes, its only one game, but what if Rondo’s suspension is more? What if the Celtics find themselves down two or three games to none? What happens then?
The NBA playoffs are all about exuding consistency and the will to win over an extended period of time, yet it only takes one game, one play to sway an entire series’ momentum.
That’s what happened Sunday night, as Rondo walked off the court with less than a minute remaining. In a span of just seconds, he potentially altered the outcome of an entire series.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His basketball musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
