Heat vs Celtics: Handling Rondo

Here we go again. The Heat lose a game they could have won and everyone is ready to doubt them. I have heard reporters all talk and write about how the Heat have a serious problem that needs to be addressed and how this will put their whole season in jeopardy. Enough. If any other team in the league lost a game like that we would be talking about how great Utah played. However, since we are talking about the Heat, it must therefore be the end of the world as we know it. I don't buy that for one second. These guys have played EIGHT games together. Mistakes will be made, and the Heat have the leadership and coaching they need to learn from them.

Having said that, there is an issue that needs to be addressed. You all know what I am talking about. The three losses the Heat suffered had one thing in common; great point guards having big games. Deron Williams and Chris Paul are amazing point guards, and Rajon Rondo fits into the Celtics line up better than any point guard ever has. The goal for tomorrow remains the same as the goal for last night; keep Rondo locked up.

Rondo, however, has one major weakness. He cannot shoot. Period. This guy has a weak jump shot and although he has worked on it, it is still not at the level it needs to be to do some significant damage.

Having said that, the Heat can give him room, but not too much. Miami will have to worry about Rondo's eyes just as much as his feet. You need to give him tough looks in the passing lanes, and make those lanes stay closed. Once he gets into the lane with players like KG and Davis slashing to the whole there will not be much Miami can do.

Rondo is a tough guard for any player, and he is having a career season in the assist department. Boston has had years to understand each other completely, and this will be a tough game for Miami. In order to win the Heat need to cut off the head of the snake, and that head is Rondo. If he cannot get into a rhythm the Heats odds of winning quadruple. Miami needs to throw Arroyo at him, and then maybe give LeBron and Wade some looks at him. Give him traps, double teams, and everything you can to get him out of sync and keep him there. With Rondo on his heels, the big 3 in Boston have no one to feed them, and the whole offense goes out of whack.

Tomorrow's game is a big one for many reasons. To start, we know that the Celtics are not big Wade/James fans, and I am pretty sure that feeling is mutual. There have been some heated games in the past between the Celtics and Heat as well as the Celtics and Cavaliers. I will make a particular exception to my "its just the beginning of the season" rule for this game. This one is big. The Heat have to show Boston that their first meeting was a fluke.

Due to how big this game is I will be putting up a few more posts specifically focused on this match up leading up to tomorrow night. The battle of the Big 3's cannot possibly fit in one post.