Rajon Rondo may not like his “Playoff Rondo” nickname, but he’s more than earned it this year. The veteran guard has stepped up his game to an almost comical degree in the playoffs, and it’s paid dividends for the Lakers during their run to the NBA Finals.
In the regular season, Rondo averaged 7.1 points and 5 assists while shooting 41.8% from the field and 32.8% from three. The Lakers were 5.6 points per 100 possessions better when he sat than they were when he played.
During the playoffs, Rondo has averaged just under three more minutes per game, but massively increased his efficiency in that time, averaging 9.