Taking Stock: C’s – Heat Game 3

Taking stock
After each game, we'll be taking stock in each players… and maybe coach's… performance.  If we like what we see, we're buyin'.  If we don't, we're sellin'.  Or maybe we'll just hold onto our stock until we see more next game

Buy RAJON RONDO!!!!!!:  I can't say enough about this kid.  To come back from that injury and obviously play with one arm… and then to play like he did.  Wow.  It helps that his hands are twice the size of a normal man's… this way he could cradle it and whip one-handed passes off the dribble.  This kid is pure balls.  I said people owe him an apology?  Maybe that's not enough.  Maybe a steak dinner and a reach-around is more like it.  

The Big 3:  KG was a beast.  Paul Pierce had 27, 5 and 5.  And Ray chipped in 15 but was a game-high +21.  Rondo overshadowed some great performances from these guys… but these guys proved one simple thing:  The Celtics' Big 3 will be the reason this team wins or loses.  If they play great, the season will continue for longer than most people thought a few days ago.

Jermaine O'Neal:  Talk about overshadowed.  He did exactly what the Celtics needed by defending the rim.  He also was active boxing out… helping KG along to his 18 rebounds.  It's the kind of low-key, under-the-radar defensive game the Celtics need from him

Sell Shaq:  I was actually going to put this in as a "buy" simply for the guts he displayed getting out there.  But the bottom line is he's barely going to be able to give the Celtics 10 minutes a game right now.  I'll take it.  I'll take whatever it is because he changes the other team's game plan.  But I'd be suprised if we see any level of effectiveness out of him ever again.

Hold Delonte West:  Delonte woke up… and just in time.  His end of the half 3 to keep the game close was a huge psychological lift when you consider how Miami has been closing out quarters.  But considering the way this bench has been playing… I'm still in "wait and see" mode with Delonte.  The same goes for…

The rest of the bench:  Big Baby only played 11 minutes but he did grab 4 rebounds.  And who the hell woke up Jeff Green?  He actually played with a little bit of fire last night.  I'm begging Jeff for more of that.  Baby…. I'm wondering if Doc sees his ineffectiveness and is going in a different direction… at least in this series. 

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