BOSTONYou can add one more to the big-game legend that we've come to know is deeply embedded in the DNA of Rajon Rondo.
The Boston Celtics' playmaker once again delivered an impressive performance on a national stage in leading the C's to a 91-72 win over the Miami Heat.
Boston (30-22) had five double-digit scorers, but the story after this game - after most national games with the C's frankly - was Rondo.
He finished with 16 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for his 18th career triple-double. Of those 18 triple-doubles, 14 have come in nationally televised games.
"We're just going to tell him we're playing on (national TV) every day," quipped C's coach Doc Rivers. "
After the game, Brandon Bass had some fun with it as well.
"See how you got these cameras on me? Rondo like the cameras, the TV cameras," Bass said. "He really steps it up."
Bass added, "I don't know if it shows, but I think he told me that."
There's really no need for Rondo to speak about it.
His play says it all.
When the lights are most bright, the stage is big, Rondo more often than not, delivers.
"I think my teammates put a spotlight on me more than the media," Rondo said.
As much as Rondo relishes big-game moments, the game plan facing Miami called for him to be more assertive than usual.
Boston recognized that Rondo matched up against Mario Chalmers, was a matchup that the C's had to exploit.
In the first quarter, the C's bolted out to a double digit lead which included Rondo scoring 10 of his 16 points in the first, in addition to racking up four assists and four rebounds.
Going into the game, Celtics coach Doc Rivers told Rondo that they needed him to be more of a scorer.
Sothat's what he did.
"Coach (Rivers) ordered it," Rondo said. "I was just trying to get it done."
Rondo's scoring seemed to pave the way for the rest of the C's to get their offensive games on track.
"He (Rondo) set the tone at the beginning of the game by doing that, and I thought that loosened it up for everybody else to get into the game."
Rondo is used to tallying big assists games, and of late many have come via Avery Bradley cutting to the basket.
But on Sunday, Bradley had some company in the cutting-to-the-hoop department.
"I saw what Avery was doing, how he was getting easy baskets and all. I said, 'well let me join in,'" said Bass, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double this season.
And with the win, the Celtics will surely be seen by some as joining in on the discussion about teams that could make some serious noise in the playoffs.
"Statement or not, we did what we're supposed to do, which is to win on our home court," said Rondo, who helped the C's extend their home winning streak to eight in a row. "We're playing pretty good of late."
Especially Rondo, who tallied his 13th straight game with 10 or more assists.
Kevin Garnett has been one of Rondo's biggest supporters during what has been an atypical year for Rondo which began with him being offered up in a trade for Chris Paul, and included him suffering an injury that cost him eight games and later a two-game suspension for throwing a basketball at a referee.
"Nine (Rondo) is nine," Garnett said. "He got beat up a little bit in the trade talks and all that. As his big brother, I been there, telling him positive stuff, keeping positive with himhe's been picking up whatever's been slacking. I know there are other good point guards out there, but this kid is something special."