The Kids are growing up......

[Kefa461]

“The young guys are kind of catching up to the stars on our team,’’ Ainge said yesterday. “They are contributing on a lot more equal basis.’’

Heading into last night’s games, Perkins (.649) was leading the league and Rondo (.535) was 16th in field goal percentage as the Celtics (20-4) became the first team to reach 20 wins.

Perkins, who turned 25 last month, has played in 388 career regular-season games, and Rondo, 23, has played in 259.

“Rondo has had a terrific season,’’ Ainge said. “He’s going to have good games and bad games, like everybody. But what I’ve been impressed with is his consistency. I’ve never been worried about his confidence - with shooting, that comes and goes. But he looks like he is playing with more maturity and confidence, and that leads to him playing freer. And that helps his shooting and decision-making. He knows how he is supposed to play.’’

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... ltics+news

[BRUNiNHO91]

When we traded for Ray and KG, and everybody said we had a 3-4 year window because the big three would all decline soon, they didn't expect our young guys to get half as good as they currently are. Who knew Big Baby was going to step into KG's spot, and play so well last year?Or that Perk was going to turn into a monster defender, with a decent inside game? Or that Rondo would turn into an elite PG? Hah..So much for 'after the Big Three retire your team will suck for another 20 years arrogant Boston fans'...

[JSABleedsGreen]

Of the 3 young kids though, Rondo is the only Star. Perkins is All Star caliber because he's got the other 3 HOF players next to him so defenses can play him one on one. If Perkins was the #2 offensive option behind Rondo, he would struggle. It's kind of like Wes Welker on the Pats, he's absolutely great but he's $hit without Moss. The type of Coverage Moss demands let's Welker operate. Same thing here. If it were just Rondo, Perk & Baby......Perk would struggle the most out of the 3.

Nevertheless the kids are growing up. Rondo is awesome. Perk is solid and baby well....we'll see how he does when he comes back. Perk reminds me of Parish in a way, he's stiff but he gets it done. My only thing with Perk is that he still commits at least a stupid foul or two per game other than that i must admit that Perk has over achieved on what I thought the player he would become. So kudos to Perk for raising his level to a level I didn't think he could reach.

[Kefa461]

Maybe the Big 3 nickname doesn't apply anymore........

Rondo's play turning Boston's 'Big Three' into a 'Big Four'

Making this season go easier was the $55 million contract extension the team negotiated with him at the deadline this fall. The incongruity of such a valuable piece in what Boston hopes is an 18th NBA championship puzzle playing toward free agency, the ball in his hands but distractions in his head, seemed to click for all involved. The deal got done, Rondo is in the long-term blueprint and Boston is 20-4, on an 11-game win streak and Larry O'Brien dreaming again.

"I don't know, I thought he was good before the deal," Rivers said. "I thought he came into camp with an amazing attitude, an amazing approach to the game. He's become a leader on our team. That's the step he's taken this year. Last year he was a player; this year he's a leader. Our guys now want to follow him -- that's huge."


http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/s ... ef:nbahpt1

[MJ6RINGS]

I still think in order for Rondo to be at an all-star level he is going to need shooters around him. The Cs are going to have to find a younger Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and KG in order for Rondo to produce at a high level. A lot of is ast. has to deal with him being around some pretty good shooters. The question is does Rondo make Ray, Paul and KG better players or do they make him a better player? The kids are growing up but they aren't ready to be the parents. Not just yet!