Chicago Bulls: When Given The Chance, Rajon Rondo Steps Up
Things between the Chicago Bulls and Rajon Rondo may have started out on the wrong foot, but the veteran is still dedicated to winning.
At 35-39 with only eight games left in the season, the Chicago Bulls may not be able to call their 2016-17 campaign a success.
However, as of Tuesday, they are still steadily making a playoff push. Ninth in the Eastern Conference after a Sunday afternoon win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Bulls are only half a game out of the eighth spot.
With the current fifth through seventh slots all possessing the same records, standings in the East are anyone's for the taking.
Rajon Rondo is very much aware of this and even though, the guard just a few weeks ago alluded to management wanting to tank, he is still doing everything he can to get the team on its feet.
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That is, when he is given a chance to actually play.
Among head coach Fred Hoiberg's curious roster decisions this year was a five-game benching of Rondo in January for seemingly no reason at all.
While the veteran was given a suspect answer of the coaching staff simply trying to save him from himself, an explanation was never really provided. So, the 31-year-one just had to grin and bear it.
Fast forward to March 13 and Rondo was not only back in Chicago's rotation, but a part of the starting lineup as well. Curious, maybe. But certainly a good decision.
Because despite the superstar's obvious displeasure of how he had been treated by both the front office and Hoiberg, he was not going to give up on the team itself. Especially not now, when playoff contention is so within reach.
"I'm a competitor. I love the game. I still give a lot to the game. This stage is a little bigger, but I got benched (in college) at Kentucky once. It's not a big deal. You have to fight through it and know the cream always rises to the top."
And how does it do that? Through the grind, of course.
"I feel like if I'm not the hardest worker on the team, I'm one of them. Hard work pays off. I stayed disciplined, took care of my body and stayed positive for the young guys because they looked up to me. They couldn't see me not working or not doing what I was doing when I was starting versus when I got taken out of the lineup. I tried to be the same all year."
Now, Rondo's numbers may be at their lowest since his rookie season, but they do not tell the entire picture. Although he is averaging just 7.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists a game in 26.5 minutes of play, his level of talent becomes clearer on a game-by-game basis.
For example, the veteran recorded 24 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals in 40 minutes in a 122-120 loss against the Toronto Raptors a week ago. This includes shooting 4-of-7 from downtown.
Similarly, Rondo had 18 points, nine assists and nine rebounds in 34 minutes against the Bucks.
In fact, he has been averaging 10.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists a contest so far in the month of March.
It is true that even his improvement in performance, may not signify that Rondo and the Bulls are the best fit for one another. Whether or not the guard will be around next year is still up in the air. However, it is great to see all hands on deck during the final stretch of the regular season.
Unfortunately, it will take more than just Chicago's efforts alone to ensure them a spot in the postseason. With the East being so tightly packed, the Bulls' immediate future will also rely on what teams like the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers end up doing.
But one thing remains clear: Rondo will continue to put it all on the line.