When Celtics All Star Rajon Rondo was lost to a season ending injury he was dominating the NBA in triple doubles, even posting one in each of his final two games. In Boston’s first contest without Rondo, Paul Pierce managed a trible double of his own. During the C’s 5 game winning streak Pierce has continually put up some very Rondo-esque numbers. His scoring is down, but Pierce’s rebounds and assists are way up.
In the point guard’s absence the Captain is averaging 16.2 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. Rondo’s season averages? 13.7 points, 11.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds. In the 38 games Rondo played this year he led the team in both rebounds and assists 9 times (Bueller? Bueller?), but no other Celtic ever did. Since Rondo’s been gone Pierce has now managed that same feat on 3 of 5 occasions (all Boston victories).
For his career Pierce’s averages are 21.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per night. And now, halfway through his 15th NBA season, the Celtics #2 all-time scorer is drastically altering his game because that’s what the team needs to win.
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