It aint easy being brilliant...

Rajon Rondo had 18 points and 14 assists as the Boston Celtics picked up their 2nd victory of the season over the Washington Wizards.

Rondo’s 12.5 assists per game lead the NBA.

2011-12 Record: 39-27

Playoffs: Lost to Miami Heat in Eastern Conference Finals, 4-3.

Key losses: Ray Allen

Key additions: Jason Terry, Leandro Barbosa, Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo

Those crying about “the big three breaking up” when SG Ray Allen bolted the C’s for their Eastern Conference rival, the defending champion Miami Heat are wasting tears.

True, Allen is a true warrior, the NBA’s all time leader in 3 point field goals, and is still among the league’s most feared shooters even at 37. But in my opinion, the Boston Celtics actually got better this offseason.

The pick that I have chosen for this preview isn’t spectacular or attention grabbing in any sense of the word, but in my opinion, it tells the story of the current Boston Celtics team perfectly. The main reason that Allen’s departure isn’t as big a deal as many are making it out to be, is that this team was no longer about the “big three” anyway.

This is Rajon Rondo’s team, now.

And Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are at a stage in their careers in which they are more than prepared to accept that.

To replace Allen, the C’s have added one of the few players in the league as notoriously clutch as he is in former 6th man of the year, Jason Terry, and former 18 point a night scorer Leandro Barbosa to the mix. Terry, who has THRIVED inthr 6th man roll for years now, may very well end up starting, but the addition of Barbosa truly means that the C’s gould go either way with it.

I LOVED the draft selections of young big men Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo, and what better big man could they have to teach them how to play with the big boys at their respective positions than Kevin Garnett?

Paul Pierce, despite a little age and a few nagging injuries that tend to creep up on him every year may very well still lead the team in scoring this season, but the additions of Terry and Barbosa could very well take some of the scoring load and a few of the minutes away from a veteran that is far more valuable to the C’s come playoff time.

Do not despair, Celtics fans.

If ANY team cvan bump the Miam Heat off of their Eastern Conference throwns and represent the conference in the NBA Finals, it’s THIS Boston Celtics team.

Prediction: 57-25, 2nd in Eastern Conference.

and the Heat STILL lost.

I picked the Heat to win the series in 6 before it kicked off, and I’m man enough to admit to you now that I am most likely going to be wrong.

Game 6, IN Boston, and do any of you REALLY think that Allen, Rondo, and Pierce are gonna stink up the gym like that, 2 games in a row??

Look for the C’s to close out the Heat in Game 6.

You can’t call out the Heat players for walking up and down the court bitching to the refs, and then walk up and down the court bitching to the ref yourself.

I think it’s just best to ignore the bitching and except that this is the Eastern Conference Finals and EVERYBODY wants the calls.

It IS a little crazy that LeBron James hadn’t fouled out of a single basketball game since 2007 until Game 4, however……

Rajon Rondo had 15 points and 15 assists in a 93-91 overtime victory over the Miami Heat at the TD Garden on Sunday.

The Celtics victory tied the series at 2 games apiece, and Rajon Rondo continues to look like a modern day Magic Johnson.

Win, win.

Rajon Rondo is now the best player on the Boston Celtics accomplished roster. Plain and simple.

Sure fire hall of famers Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen now follow the lead of a 26 year old floor general.

Forget the “Big Three.”

That term should no longer apply in Beantown.

In my opinion Boston Celtics fans are now looking at a starting lineup that contains FOUR future hall of famers.

Forget his regular season stats. At this point in time, the triple doubles he has consistently banged out over the past few seasons do absolutely NOTHING to cement his legacy.

It has often been said that superstars and their legacies are MADE in the PLAYOFFS.

So sit back and enjoy the masterful beginning of a legacy, C’s fans.

Rondo’s days with the “Big Three” may be coming to an end, but…

His time is NOW.

I mean, WOW!

44 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals.

16-24 from the field, 2-2 from three, 10-12 from the line.

Oh yeah, he played ALL 53 minutes, as well.

One of the great individual performances in Boston Celtics playoff history.

AND THAT is saying something.

Yet despite ALL of that, the C’s failed to come away with a win.

On the line means it was a two!

Ugh…I know that!

My post was to point out that BECAUSE they credited him with 2 rather than 3, that was ONE additional point they would not have.

Dwyane Wade CLEARLY clubbed Rondo in the head on that layup attempt.

Dude should’ve been on the line for 2.

Instead, EASY transition dunk for the Heat as Rondo was unable to get back on defense.

WOW.

His foot was on the line.

Do NOT underestimate just how important that ONE point could end up being….

This is UNREAL!

37 points!

Almost ALL of them on jump shot attempts, including the 3 he just hit, too.

FEW have been as critical of Rondo’s jump shooting abilities as I have, too.

The man has played all 51 minutes.

THIS is what the postseason is ALL about.

EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF THE BOSTON CELTICS OWES RAJON RONDO AN EXPENSIVE ASS STEAK DINNER!

Or clam chowded, or whatever it is they eat in Boston…

Has there EVER been a smaller player who FILLS UP the stats sheet more effectively than Rajon Rondo??

I mean, seriously, there are crack heads in your local PJ’s that are bigger and stronger than Rajon Rondo!

Yet, you look up at the screen and see that Rondo as I’m typing this, has 30 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds.

If you look at the great triple double machines of all-time, what do they all have in common?

Size, speed, and athleticism, ESPECIALLY for their respective positions.

Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Oscar Robertson IMMEDIATELY come to mind.

Rondo is amazing.