Remember when I asked "what big 3?" My point wasn't that Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce were overrated so much as that they never played big in the same game. In their first 24 games, the Big Three had only once scored twenty or more points each in the same game.
Last night they all showed up, and that spelled doom for the Orlando Magic, as the Celtics won 103-91 at the Gah-den.
Paul Pierce led all scorers with 24 points, on 8-18 shooting from the field. He also added six assists and committed five turnovers. Kevin Garnett scored 21 points on 9-13 shooting, adding 12 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. Ray Allen again returned to early season form, scoring 22 points on 7-13 shooting, including 4-8 from international waters.
But the big story of the night was the fourth Celtic who joined the other three on center stage.
Rajon Rondo scored 23 points on 8-10 shooting, including a perfect 2-2 from beyond the arc. He also added six assists, four steals and four rebounds. Far from being a studio musician or session player, Rajon is quickly becoming the George Harrison of the bunch, showing the others that he's got his own gifts for the world to see.
Heading out West next week to play four games in five nights, the Celtics will need continued solid play from Rajon to win more than half of those games. After playing Sacramento on Wednesday and Seattle on Thursday in the first two games, the Celtics will close out the trip on Saturday against the Jazz and on Sunday against the Lakers.
Rajon had 10 points and six assists against Derek Fisher in the Celtics win over the Lakers at home, and I think we all expect Rondo to bring his best against Deron Williams, who is considered one of the best young point guards in the NBA. Blogosphere and traditional media banter about whether Rondo deserves to be mentioned in the same class as Williams should have eyes focused on that particular contest.
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