Sports Redux: Utah Gets Rondo'd, And Maybe The World Does Too

Let's talk about Rajon Rondo. Everyone else is. Our plucky point guard is the lead story on ESPN, Bob Ryan goes into full gush mode, and the Herald mines quotes from his Celtics teammates.

In other news, Rondo is HOT right now. "He's like a little Speedy Gonzalez," says Paul Pierce. "Paul told me never to play that man in HORSE and I had to learn the hard way," adds Kevin Garnett. When Bob Ryan asked Brian Scalabrine what point guard Rondo reminds him of, Scal said, "I'm going to have to give you an answer on a different day. That's a research question." But the quote that matters also came from KG, who said Rajon "took control of the game at both ends" last night, as the Celtics dusted off a resilient Utah team 100-91 to run their record to 23-2 (they're three away from tying the best start ever).

Rondo finished with a game-high 25, eight assists and nine rebounds. He frustrated Utah superstar PG Deron Williams, who spent much of the game in foul trouble and struggling to get going offensively. And Rondo put the cherry on top with 43 seconds left, flipping up a sweet layup that bounced all over creation before settiling into the basket. It's a shot that would have cost KG 50 bucks in a HORSE game. And setting up the transition game - well, we'll leave that to Bob Ryan, who declares Rondo "without question the best rebounding 6-foot-1-inch point guard the NBA has seen since Norm Van Lier." Maybe there's your answer, Scalabrine.

Some bad news: Pierce hobbled off the court and into the tunnel in the final minute. But he says he's fine and ready to play tomorrow in Atlanta. And there was an attempt at a Wave at the Garden last night. Don't make us come over there.

What an awful time for a break in the schedule for the Bruins. They've been ripping people apart just as regularly as the C's have, but have to keep their heels cooled until Thursday, when the Maple Leafs come to town. In the meantime, read SI's Darren Eliot, who's totally sold on this year's B's team. And call to congratulate Phil Kessel, whose insane week earned him the NHL's #1 Star of the Week Award. The Globe breaks down the numbers.