Rondo-less Celtics: Playoffs or Not?

During a Post-game Interview With Doris Burke, Paul Pierce is Told of Rondo's Torn ACL.

The look on Paul Pierce’s face as he learnt of his teammate’s injury sums up perfectly how all Boston Celtics fans, Rajon Rondo fans, and NBA fans felt when the news was broken that Rondo had torn his ACL.  Pain, heartbreak and loss of hope.

With Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo out for the season with a torn ACL, the Boston Celtics will inevitably become a weaker team.  With the league leader in assists per game now out, and Avery Bradley, Leandro Barbosa and Jason Terry manning the point guard, the Celtics championship window appears to be closed.  For good.  Avery Bradley is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, but his ability to play point guard is questionable and untested and Jason Terry while able to play the 1, is more accustomed and suited to play shooting guard.  That leaves Leandro Barbosa, who while a solid contributor and scorer coming off the bench (won the 2007 Sixth Man of the Year Award), is not the man I would want filling in my perennial all-star’s spot, not to mention his eagerness to be traded away from the green and white.

This brings up the next issue.  The Playoffs.  As of today, the Celtics are sitting in the 8^th spot in the Easter Conference with a disappointing record of 22-23, and are 2-0 without Rondo, but I do not expect them to be able to hold up without him for much longer.  One spot behind them in the standings are the Philadelphia 76ers, who are 19-26.  Led by young and rising point guard Jrue Holiday, a first time all-star this year, and with All-NBA big Andrew Bynum’s return on the horizon, the core of youthful and promising players may bump off the Celtics and take the final playoff spot. 

While both of these teams are sub-par this season, the chase for the final playoff spot will be tightly contested.  Who makes the playoffs depends on 2 factors.

1.   Boston Celtics blowing up their roster and starting a rebuilding process, or trading aging veterans for young up-and-comings.

2.  Philadelphia 76ers centre Andrew Bynum’s return.  The sooner, the better the chance of post-season action.

If Boston can pull off a trade for a young all-star, they may gain an edge over the 76ers, but if Philly’s big man can come back fully healthy, soon, and adjust to the system change, they will get the upper hand.  For the time being we’ll just have to wait and see.