The first round of the 2026 NBA postseason wasn’t very kind to two recent champions and a future Hall of Famer.

The Denver Nuggets entered the Western Conference playoffs as the No. 3 seed and armed with arguably the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic. Denver lasted just six games and were eliminated by undermanned Minnesota for the second time in three years.

Since winning the NBA title in 2023, Jokic and the Nuggets are just 15-15 over the last three postseasons.

The Boston Celtics, boosted by the return of All-Star Jayson Tatum, entered the Eastern Conference playoffs with the fourth-best odds to win a championship. Boston took a 3-1 series lead against division rival Philadelphia, only to watch it evaporate and ended up being on the wrong side of history. The 76ers completed the dramatic playoff comeback, winning Game 7 in Boston.

When asked during his post-game press conference what was the turning point in the series, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pointed to the return of Joel Embiid.

“What changed in the series was Joel Embiid came back, and they’re a completely different team,” Mazzulla said of the Sixers center, who came back in Game 4 after missing almost a month after undergoing emergency appendectomy.

Philly was the 14th team to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in the playoffs. Less than 24 hours after the Sixers’ win, the Detroit Pistons became the 15th team to overcome a 3-1 deficit. Thanks to the heroics of Cade Cunningham, top-seeded Detroit avoided losing to eighth-seeded Orlando with a convincing win at home in Game 7.

Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets weren’t considered championship contenders heading into the postseason, but they had a favorable matchup in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, who was missing Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (rib).

But the Rockets found a way to turn an advantage into a disadvantage as the 2014 NBA MVP missed Game 1 with a knee injury he suffered in practice. Durant returned in Game 2 but suffered a sprained right ankle in the second half that ultimately forced him to miss the remainder of the series.

The Lakers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead. After a couple of hiccups in Game 4 and Game 5, L.A. closed out the series with a blowout win in Game 6.

Detroit rides MotorCade to reach conference semifinals

After Orlando took a 3-1 series lead, Cade Cunningham put his hard on and went to work.

The Pistons’ All-Star guard dropped 45 points (5-for-8 on 3-pointers) in Game 5 and followed it up with 32 points and 10 rebounds in the next game, forcing a Game 7.

In Game 7 in front of a fired up Detroit crowd that included Pistons legends like Rip Hamilton and Ben Wallace, Cunningham calmly led the Pistons to a 116-94 win. His 32 points and 12 assists helped secure Detroit’s first playoff series victory in 18 years.

Cunningham became the second Piston to score 20-plus points and dish out 10-plus assists in a Game 7. The other Piston to pull it off was Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who was in the building to witness Cade’s brilliant performance under pressure.

“It’s an honor to be in the same sentence as a legend like IT,” Cunningham said. “I’m glad he was here. I’m glad he was able to watch … just being able to talk to him, pick his brain, and have his support. It’s amazing. I feel extremely lucky to have that.”

No joke: Jokic gets ‘punked’ in playoff loss to Timberwolves

When you’re a three-time NBA MVP, expectations are high and losing in the first round is not an acceptable result.

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, were eliminated in six games by the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team missing their best player (Anthony Edwards), starting guard (Donte DiVincenzo), and one of its top reserves (Ayo Dosunmu).

The Timberwolves had just eight players available for Game 6, but still managed to pull out a victory.

Denver’s early exit prompted some pundits like ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins, to call out Jokic for his poor postseason performance following another triple-double regular season in which he became the first player to lead the league in rebounds (12.9) and assists (10.7).

Perkins on ESPN’s “First Take” said the Joker got “punked” in the Minnesota series as Rudy Gobert made him look human. Jokic shot 44.6% from the field and 19.4% from 3-point range, both well below his season averages. Perkins added that Jokic’s recent play suggests he may be stuck with just one championship for his career.

“We were so ready to put this man above all-time greats because of certain numbers he was putting up in the regular season. He has one NBA championship. Matter of fact, I don’t think Jokic is going to win another NBA championship. He got exposed,” Perkins added. “So when we talk about top-five this and top-five that. We need to sit back and keep cool.”

Denver heads into the offseason with a lot of question marks, including the future of their all-world center. But according to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Nuggets plan to secure a long-term contract extension for Jokic, who is eligible for a $290 million max deal.

“The expectation on both sides is Nikola Jokic will be signing that when he’s eligible in July, and they’re gonna move forward,” Charania said on “Inside the NBA.”

He added: “But beyond that, there’s going to be real roster changes coming to Denver to identify how they can surround Nikola Jokic with the right pieces to get this team over the top.”

Houston, we have a KD problem

A fluke knee injury kept Kevin Durant out of Game 1 against the Lakers. He reportedly bumped knees with one of the team’s two-way players in practice as they both went for a loose ball. Durant returned in Game 2 but suffered a sprained right ankle in the second half that ultimately forced him to miss the remainder of the series.

The Rockets’ implosion started back in February. The infamous “KD files” — Durant’s alleged social media burner account slamming Rockets teammates — created a major, unresolved distraction.

During a stretch in which the Rockets lost seven of nine games entering the All-Star break, allegations surfaced that Durant criticized teammates — including sharp jabs at Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. — while using a burner account on X.

Durant is one of the best to ever pick up a basketball. Once he’s done with his career, he’ll be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. But his off-the-court drama isn’t helping clean up his image.

Durant never discussed the matter in any detail publicly, calling it “Twitter nonsense.” But it’s hard to imagine his most recent social media tiff didn’t impact the Rockets. Houston appeared disjointed, and the team actually played better when KD was in street clothes sitting on the bench.

Since his split with the Golden State Warriors, Durant has had some conspicuous stops in Brooklyn and Phoenix. Houston gave up a ton of assets to bring him in, but now they may be regretting the move.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

Tom Thibodeau did something no New York Knicks head coach hadn’t been able to do in 25 years. Make the Knicks relevant again.

In his fifth season, Thibodeau led New York to a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference. However, the playoff run ended in disappointment, as the Knicks fell to Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals.

Just as Thibs seemed poised to lead the Knicks back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, the rug was pulled from under him. In a major shift, the Knicks fired the defensive-minded Thibodeau and replaced him with Mike Brown, a coach known for favoring a faster tempo. Brown, a disciple of Steve Kerr’s pace-and-space methodology that powered the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships in eight years, brings a new approach.

Brown takes over a Knicks squad led by reigning Clutch Player of the Year Jalen Brunson.

Brunson, who averaged 26.0 points and 7.3 assists per game last season, is the unquestioned leader of the Knicks and arguably the franchise’s best star player since Patrick Ewing. Brunson, along with Knicks teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, played college ball at Villanova.

In Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks have one of the best guard-center combos in the league, and Brown will lean on both to help him establish a more diversified offensive attack.

Towns fit in seamlessly with the Knicks and earned a fifth All-Star selection. OG Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart formed a sturdy perimeter wall, locking down opposing wings and bringing toughness on both ends of the floor. The Knicks, with their core under contract for the next few years, are well-positioned to contend for a championship. The last time the Knicks won an NBA title, “The French Connection” won Best Picture at the Oscars. That was 54 years ago.

OneManFastBreak projects the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference.

1-New York Knicks — Devastating Achilles’ injuries to Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton open the door for the Knicks to climb into the top spot and become beast of the East. The addition of free agents Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele should bolster the Knicks bench.

2-Cleveland Cavaliers — The Cavs won 64 regular-season games a season ago but got bounced early in the postseason. The pressure is on All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to help the Cavs rebound from last season’s disappointing finish.

3-Detroit Pistons — Cade Cunningham took his game to a new level under J.B. Bickerstaff. Motor Cade got a taste of the postseason last season, and another year under his belt will only increase his stock. Jaden Ivey returns to the lineup after missing 52 games due to a knee injury.

4-Milwaukee Bucks — Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming off a superb summer, leading his Greek national team to a bronze medal at EuroBasket. As long as the Greek Freak is healthy and happy, the Bucks will always be a threat.

5-Orlando Magic — The addition of shooting guard Desmond Bane should make life a little easier for Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. Wagner is coming off a sensational summer after helping Germany win a gold medal at EuroBasket.

6-Atlanta Hawks — The Hawks opted not to offer point guard Trae Young a max extension. Trae will be highly motivated to show the Hawks that he’s worth the $229 million investment.

7-Miami Heat — Heat Culture took a hit last season, winning only 37 games and finishing 12th in the conference. Erik Spoelstra won’t let it happen again, and he’ll have a new spark plug in Norman Powell to fire up the offense.

8-Boston Celtics — Tatum’s Achilles’ tear drastically alters the Celtics’ plans for this season, but it doesn’t mean they are going to tank. Finals MVP Jaylen Brown is still on the roster, and expect expanded roles for Payton Pritchard and Derrick White.

Play-In teams: Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid posted a question on social media after the Boston Celtics took a 3-0 lead in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.

“Did the Bucks give them the championship?” Embiid said referring to the offseason move that led to Damian Lillard coming to Milwaukee and sending Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, who later traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics acquired Holiday in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two-first round picks.

Even though the actual deal that brought Holiday to Boston went through Portland, Embiid squarely put the blame on the Bucks for letting Holiday, one of the main contributors to Milwaukee’s 2021 NBA title, walk away and allow chief conference rival Boston to snag him and be a difference-maker in its championship run. Holiday was a two-way standout in the Celtics’ convincing 4-1 series win over the Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Holiday’s role with the Celtics was far different than his role with the Bucks. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are Boston’s two primary scorers and the ball is in their hands the majority of the time. Holiday adjusted to his new role, playing off the ball more and playing in the dunker spot more than he’s ever had his entire career. What Holiday didn’t change was his lockdown defense.

The six-time All-NBA defensive player put on an absolute clinic on how to play on-ball defense, especially in the NBA Finals against Kyrie Irving. Irving entered the Finals smoking hot as he averaged 27 points per game in Western Conference finals. With Holiday as the primary defender on him, Irving struggled mightily against the Celtics. Irving was held to 12, 16, and 15 points in three of the five games, and he was unable to shake free from Holiday’s grip.

Holiday was the catalyst of a smothering Boston defense that held the Mavericks under 100 points four times — all Celtics victories.

On Draymond Green’s podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” the Golden State Warriors forward said the Celtics were gifted a title thanks to the Bucks’ lack of foresight, the Blazers’ tanking, and the creative mind of general manager Brad Stevens.

Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were the two big acquisitions by Stevens during the offseason. Both were instrumental in helping the Celtics produce a league-best 64 wins and the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason. They were significant upgrades from Robert Williams and Marcus Smart. Both were members of Boston’s 2022 Finals runner-up team.

“We knew we need to make some changes. Brad [Stevens] brought in Jrue and KP, and we were able to raise banner No. 18,” Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck said while accepting the 18th championship trophy in franchise history.

Smart won NBA defensive player of the year in 2022, but he was more of a terrific help defender than a straight-up shutdown defender. He is also a world-class flopper, which hurt his team more than it helped. Holiday, by contrast, is arguably the best one-on-one defender in basketball and flopping is not in his vocabulary. A true lockdown perimeter guard who can be left on an island and be able to shut down his man with little help.

Holiday’s impact wasn’t just felt on the defensive end. His leadership and voice in the huddle were immeasurable, helping Tatum and Brown navigate through tense moments in the postseason. Holiday’s calming voice — something Smart couldn’t provide because he wore his emotions on his sleeve — was exactly what the Celtics needed to get over the hump after multiple trips to the conference finals and falling one game short of a title in 2022.

“I think there’s some other things Milwaukee could have done to keep Jrue. But yes, they did [give Boston the championship] … Joel Embiid’s question that he knew the answer to is absolutely correct,” Draymond said on his podcast. “It did give them the championship and Boston has done the job of putting it together. You got to give those guys credit … but he gave it to them.”

Even Tatum couldn’t believe the Celtics were able to acquire Holiday.

“I don’t know how they let us get him, but I’m so happy we got Jrue on our team and we’re so fortunate,” Tatum said after Game 3 in an interview with NBA TV.

The Celtics certainly wouldn’t have beaten the Mavericks in the NBA Finals without Holiday, now a two-time NBA champion.

“I’m just about winning, and I want to win, whatever it takes,” Holiday told Fox Sports. “It doesn’t matter if I score. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if I’m on the court. If I’m handing people water bottles and towels, and if that’s helping us build our confidence and good chemistry and getting us wins, then I’ll do it.”

To make sure Holiday is not going anywhere, the Celtics signed him to a four-year extension worth $135 million. The contract will keep Holiday in Boston through the 2027-28 season.

Celtics are not making the same mistake the Bucks made.

Christmas Day for basketball fans is the unofficial start of the “real season,” when contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders.

Seven of the top 10 teams and seven of the 10 best players in the NBA are playing on Christmas Day. There’s no shortage of star power when ABC starts its live marathon live coverage at noon ET.

But this year there’s major competition.

The NFL has a three-game slate on Dec. 25. Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers take on the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. ET followed by the Denver Broncos-L.A. Rams at 4:30 p.m. ET. The prime-time game at 8:20 p.m. ET features Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Arizona Cardinals.

Football is king when it comes to TV ratings, so the NBA will have to compete for viewers on a day when it usually owns the viewing audience. To help solve this viewing dilemma, OneManFastBreak.net has tagged three must-see NBA games. The other two games, well, let’s just say you’re fee to switch channel to the NFL games.

Must-see games
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks (noon ET, ABC/ESPN) — The Knicks enter Christmas Day as one of the hottest teams in the league. They’ve won eight in a row and now currently sit among the top six teams in the Eastern Conference. The offseason acquisition of point guard Jalen Brunson has solidified New York’s once shaky backcourt. Brunson is the perfect tough-as-nails leader head coach Tom Thibodeau has been seeking since his days with the Chicago Bulls. Brunson takes the pressure of forward Julius Randle and knows how to win close ballgames, which was a big problem last season. The Sixers have been coasting so far, but they still have MVP candidate Joel Embiid. When Embiid decides to take over a game, there are few people on planet Earth who can slow him down. Madison Square Garden will be rocking for this sexy matchup.

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — This could very well be a preview of the East finals. Both teams enter the colossal showdown with their full compliment of players. Khris Middleton, who missed last year’s playoff series with a knee injury, is starting to get back into shape. Middleton is the Robin to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Batman. The Celtics welcome back center Robert Williams, who was vital to their run to the NBA Finals last season. Jayson Tatum is enjoying an MVP season and his running mate, Jaylen Brown, is making a strong case to make the All-NBA squad. Celtics had owned the league’s best record until a rocky West Coast trip tripped them up and allowed the Bucks to gain ground in the standings. The Bucks’ game in Milwaukee starts at 5 p.m. ET, well after the kickoff for Packers-Dolphins game. Wisconsin fans will be able to watch their Packers and their Bucks on Christmas Day.

Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — The Suns-Nuggets game is the last NBA game on the Christmas Day schedule. The first quarter of Suns-Nuggets might be a skip since most of us will be watching the end of the Buccaneers-Cardinals game when Brady leads the Bucs to victory over a depleted Cards squad. Once the NFL prime-time game is over, you can tune in to Suns-Nuggets. Both teams don’t like each other. During the 2021 playoffs, the Suns swept the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic was ejected in the clincher for a hard foul on Cameron Payne. Jokic and Devin Booker had to be separated after a heated exchange. Jokic’s brothers got involved in the bruhaha when they yelled at Booker from the stands. We could see fireworks again.

Skip these games
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — A once promising matchup turned into a sour showdown after reigning Finals MVP Steph Curry injured his left shoulder and will be sidelined for a few weeks. Without Curry, the Warriors are a shell of themselves. There’s some bad blood between the Grizzlies and Warriors, so this could have been spicy. The Dubs-Griz game will be going head-to-head with Bucs-Cards, and we all know America will always choose football over basketball. It’s OK. This game could get ugly, anyways.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) — Not even LeBron James and Luka Doncic can save this awful matchup. The Lakers won’t have All-Star Anthony Davis and the Mavericks are struggling to find four other guys to play with Doncic. If LeBron was playing Luka one-on-one, then this game actually be interesting. But as currently constructed, it’s a battle of two teams closer to the bottom of the conference.

Bill Russell, who died on July 31, 2022 at the age of 88, didn’t need to remind folks how great he was. The man had a championship ring for each of his 10 fingers plus 1 more for good measure.

If owning championship rings is the standard in recognizing the greatest basketball player of all time, then William Felton Russell was the greatest of all time.

When Russell was snubbed by LeBron James in his mythical Mt. Rushmore of all-time great players, Russell didn’t throw a fit. He simply reminded LeBron, and the rest of the basketball world, his legendary credentials.

“Hey, thank you for leaving me off your Mount Rushmore. I’m glad you did,” Russell told TNT’s Craig Sager back in 2014. “Basketball is a team game, it’s not for individual honors. I won back-to-back state championships in high school, back-to-back NCAA championships in college, I won an NBA championship my first year in the league, an NBA championship in my last year, and nine in between. That, Mr. James, is etched in stone.”

In fairness to LeBron, his Mt. Rushmore included Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson. Those four are hard to knock. But not having a center in that group is a huge slap in the face to Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. They made the NBA what it is today, and was very instrumental in paving the way for Jordan, Magic and Bird.

Over the course of NBA history, championships are won by dominant big men. And nearly all the great championship teams had a great center: Russell (11 titles), George Mikan (5), Chamberlain (2), Abdul-Jabbar (6), Hakeem Olajuwon (2), David Robinson (2), Tim Duncan (4) and Shaquille O’Neal (4).

There are a few exceptions, of course, such as Jordan’s Bulls, LeBron’s Heat, Isiah Thomas’ Pistons, and Stephen Curry’s Warriors. But Jordan couldn’t have won without the dirty work of power forwards Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman. LeBron would be ringless without the help of Chris Bosh. Isiah needs to thank Bill Laimbeer, James Edwards and Rick Mahorn for having his back. And Curry would not have multiple championships without Draymond Green, who may not have the ideal size for a center (6-6) but he does exactly what a center does.

Russell was also considered undersized compared to other dominant big men. He was listed at 6-foot-9, which is almost two inches shorter than his main counterpart Wilt Chamberlain (7-1).

Russell was ahead of his time. We often use the term “icon” whenever describing a superstar. Russell was truly an icon. He was also a pioneer. A defensive genius. A winner. A champion on and off the court. He was arguably the greatest champion in the history of team sports. He figured out during the infancy of his basketball journey that defense was the best path to winning. By focusing much of his attention defending the basket, Russell made a seismic shift and changed the game of basketball forever. Russell took the famous football adage “defense wins championships” from legendary Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and applied it to basketball.

Russell won more championships than any athlete in team sports because he mastered the art of blocking shots and rebounding. He won two NCAA championships as the center of the San Francisco Dons and won 11 NBA titles in 13 years as the anchor of the Boston Celtics dynasty.

Russell understood that winning games eventually come down to which team can get the most stops. Shooting comes and goes, but playing defense is consistent and more sustainable.

Basketball was played horizontally until Russell entered the picture. Because of his otherworldly athletic talents — he was an Olympic-level high jumper — Russell made basketball a vertical game. He turned defense into an offensive weapon. Nobody know how to block a shot in basketball until Russell came along. When he blocked a shot, he kept the ball in play and often triggered a fastbreak. The Celtics, under head coach Red Auerbach, was the first team to use the fastbreak as a primary source of offense, and at the center of it was Russell’s ability to defend and rebound.

Blocks didn’t become an official statistic in the NBA until the 1973-74 season, four years after Russell retired. There’s no telling how many blocked shots Russell would have had in his illustrious career, but some believe he could have averaged eight blocks per game.

Where does Russell rank among the all-time best defensive players in NBA history? OneManFastBreak.net has Russell at the top. Here’s OMFB’s top 10 all-time defenders:

10) Ben Wallace — The Detroit Pistons captured the NBA title in 2003-04 using a suffocating defense anchored by Big Ben. In the NBA Finals, Wallace (who stands just 6-7, but 6-9 with his massive afro) guarded 7-1 Shaquille O’Neal and held his own without much of a double team and absorbed the beating from the 300-plus pound Shaq Diesel. Wallace was one of just two players in league history to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) four times.

9) Michael Jordan — Jordan’s offensive skills were well documented, but his defense was vastly underrated. Jordan took pride on being a two-way player, making him one of few all-time great scorers who defended his position as well as anyone. MJ never backed down from a challenge, and he often volunteered to guard the other team’s best player.

8) Gary Payton — Nicknamed The Glove for the way he smothered his opponents, Payton won DPOY in 1996 and amassed 2,445 steals during his 17-year NBA career that included stints in Seattle, Milwaukee, L.A., Boston and Miami. The Glove was also one of the league’s best trash talkers, which gave him a huge psychological edge.

7) Draymond Green — Draymond may be the most important player on the Golden State Warriors outside of superstar guard Steph Curry. Green won’t blow you away with his individual statistics, but he brings a ton of intangibles that leads to winning. Green won DPOY in 2017, and should have won another in 2022 if it wasn’t for an injury that caused him to miss games. Green’s versatility is one of his best attributes, being able to guard all five positions, and does whatever his team needs in crucial situations.

6) Kevin Garnett — Garnett was a stat-sheet stuffer during his Hall of Fame career. He tallied 14,662 rebounds and 2,037 blocks. KG could guard all five positions and played each game with an intensity level that was off the charts. After serving as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ meal ticket for the first 12 years of his career, The Big Ticket joined the Celtics in 2007 and became the centerpiece of Boston’s 17th championship team. Garnett made the all-defensive team 12 times and won DPOY in 2008.

5) Tim Duncan — San Antonio won five NBA titles in Duncan’s 19-year career — all with the Spurs. Duncan was a phenomenal two-way player, who played power forward and center under head coach Gregg Popovich. The Big Fundamental was named to the NBA all-defensive team 15 times, and he is one of only two players in league history with over 15,000 rebounds (15,091) and over 3,000 blocks (3,020). Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the other player in the 15K and 3K club.

4) Dikembe Mutombo — At 7-3 with arms as long as a redwood tree, Mutombo was a dominant rim protector. Few tried to challenge Mt. Mutombo at the rim. Those who challenged him found rejection and was the recipient of an embarrassing finger wag — Mutombo’s signature diss for anyone who dared to dunk on him. Mutombo blocked 3,289 shots in his career, second most in league history. He also won defensive player of the year four times.

3) Hakeem Olajuwon — Hakeem The Dream is the NBA’s all-time leader in blocked shots, rejecting 3,830 shots during his remarkable Hall of Fame career. Olajuwon and Michael Jordan were the only two players in league history to win MVP and defensive player of the year in the same season. Olajuwon won both in 1993-94, while Jordan pulled off the feat in 1987-88. Olajuwon is also the only center to rank in the top 10 in career steals (2,162).

2) Dennis Rodman — During his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, Rodman admitted that all the glitz and glamor was an act. Underneath the body ink and the fancy outfits was a hard-working man who came from nothing and amounted to something. In the 1996 NBA Finals, then Seattle Sonics coach George Karl said Rodman could have easily been named the MVP of the Bulls-Sonics series. Karl pointed out that Rodman almost single-handedly won two games for the Bulls in the series with his energy and defense. His former Pistons teammate, Joe Dumars, said that Rodman may be flamboyant off the court but on the court he was all business.

1) Bill Russell — The 1960s began and ended with Russell walking off the court a champion. The Boston Celtics dynasty was built on defense, and Russell was front and center. He finished his career second all-time in rebounds with 21,620 and turned the blocked shot into an art form. Blocks weren’t kept during Russell’s playing days, but if they were he would easily rank in the top five. What made Russell a great shot-blocker was the way he kept the ball in play, which often ignited a Celtics fastbreak. Even though he lost the majority of his one-on-one battles with his nemesis Wilt Chamberlain, Russell’s Celtics teams often walked away ahead in the scoreboard. Great defensive centers are often compared to Russell, but the five-time NBA MVP was a once-in-a-lifetime player.

Joel Huerto is the publisher and editor of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

Kawhi Leonard’s Raptors and Kyrie Irving’s Celtics will compete for top spot in the East. (AP)

When LeBron James left The Land and took his talents to Hollywood to play with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Eastern Conference finds itself in virgin territory. Teams from the East are finally free from the chokehold King James has put on the conference the last eight years.

The floodgates are wide open and the team is breathing the biggest sigh of relief has to be the Toronto Raptors. The Raps have had their hearts broken by LeBron in each of the last three postseasons. And last season was arguably the most painful of them all as LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers ended the Raptors’ historic season – a year in which they owned the East’s best record at 59-23 – with an embarrassing 4-0 sweep.

Now that The King has moved West, there will be a new king of the East and the West just got even tougher – unless you’re the Golden State Warriors.

OneManFastBreak.net predicts the eight playoff teams in the East for the 2018-19 season.

Eastern Conference

1-Toronto Raptors – General manager Masai Ujiri made a couple of big moves this offseason. First, he fired the reigning Coach of Year Dwane Casey and elevated assistant Nick Nurse to head coach. The second big move Ujiri made was trading All-Star DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs for All-Star forward and former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard. The move was definitely an upgrade as Leonard brings toughest to a Raptors team that at times plays a bit soft. The Kawhi addition should only make a 59-win team only better. The Raptors could end up with the best regular-season record, but it doesn’t mean they will represent the East in the NBA Finals because the team right below might be more battle tested. Prediction: 60-22

2-Boston Celtics – Speaking of that battle-tested team …. Brad Stevens showed why he’s the best coach in the NBA by taking a patchwork Celtics roster to the conference finals and got within one win of reaching the NBA Finals despite losing Gordon Hayward minutes into the season and having Kyrie Irving for only 60 games. Stevens will have his roster intact for this season, with another year under the belts of young studs Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Boston has one of the best benches in the league, a scrappy unit that includes Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Aron Baynes, and Marcus Morris. Prediction: 58-24

3-Philadelphia 76ers – The Sixers will go as far as Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid will take them. The duo got the young Sixers to the conference semifinals before getting schooled by the Celtics. Embiid is predicting an MVP season, while Simmons looks to build off his Rookie of the Year season. The big question for Philly is solving the Markelle Fultz puzzle. His well-chronicled shooting woes aside, the 2017 No. 1 overall pick seems like a bad fit in Philly. He is struggling to find his shot within the offense and his lack of outside shooting restricts what the Sixers can do when he’s on the court with Simmons and Embiid. Prediction: 55-27

4-Milwaukee Bucks – New head coach Mike Budenholzer’s first order of business is to find second and third option to take some pressure off his superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who made second team All-NBA last year. If the Bucks can get more production from Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton, the Bucks could be in the hunt for one of the top four spots in the conference. Prediction: 49-33

5-Indiana Pacers – The Pacers grew a ton after their epic seven-game playoff series against LeBron’s Cavs. Victor Olapido is an emerging star and coach Nate McMillan has some nice supporting pieces to work with in Myles Turner, Bojan Bogdanovic, Darren Collison and Domantas Sabonis. The acquisition of Tyreke Evans didn’t make headlines offseason, but it’s a subtle but smart move that could pay off in the long run. Prediction: 48-34

6-Detroit Pistons – A full training camp and preseason should help Blake Griffin get more comfortable in Detroit. If Griffin can return to his all-star form, he and center Andre Drummond form arguably the best center-power forward tandem in the East. Dwane Casey takes over a squad that underachieved under Stan Van Gundy. Van Gundy’s heavy handed approach didn’t work, so the Pistons are hoping Casey can connect better with players, especially Griffin and Reggie Jackson. Prediction: 46-36

7-Miami Heat – The Heat are good enough to make the playoffs, but not enough to make a major dent in the East. They have a borderline star in Goran Dragic, but he’s not good enough to carry the team on his back. For the Heat to be elite, center Hassan Whiteside has to step up and be the dominant force he was pegged to be when the team signed him to a $98 million deal. Prediction: 42-40

8-Charlotte Hornets – This is a big year for point guard Kemba Walker. The Hornets have not locked him up to a long-term deal, waiting to see if he’s worth the money. Walker will be motivated to show Michael Jordan and the Hornets brass that he is a franchise player and should get a max deal. Prediction: 41-41

Last two teams out: Washington Wizards, New Jersey Nets.

The Lakers’ future looks bright with Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma. (Getty Images)

When ESPN released its annual statistical model projecting win totals for the upcoming NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers were left out of the playoff picture.

That had many basketball experts scratching their heads because the Lakers enjoyed the best offseason of any NBA team this summer, landing the most coveted free agent on the market. But the acquisition of four-time MVP LeBron James wasn’t enough for ESPN to put the Lakers in the 2019 playoffs. Instead, it projects the 16-time NBA world champs to finish ninth in the ultra-competitive Western Conference with 41 wins. That win total seems way too low for a team that finished 35-47 last season, and could have easily topped 41 wins if not for a rash of injuries to some key players. Second-year forward Brandon Ingram missed 23 games last season and rookie point guard Lonzo Ball, the second overall pick in the 2017 draft, missed 30 games.

According to this site, the teams most likely to go up against one another in the Finals are the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics. The same site has the Lakers among the favorites to reach the Finals, which means there is a very good chance L.A. will win more than 41 games in the 2018-19 season, and 5o-plus wins is not completely out of reach.

The Lakers were already trending up prior to the addition of LeBron. Ingram, 20, was coming into his own as a scorer while Ball, 20, was part of an impressive draft class that included NBA All-Rookie first-team selection Kyle Kuzma, 23, and Josh Hart, 23.

Ingram made an incredible leap from year one to year two. After a pedestrian rookie season, the 6-9 forward with the length and game that has been compared to Warriors star Kevin Durant bumped up his points-per-game average from 9.4. to 16.1. He also pushed his field goal percentage from 40 percent to 47 percent. You could just see Ingram’s confidence growing by the minute, so much so that the Lakers’ coaching staff often put the ball in his hands during crunch time.

Ball’s rookie season was cut short by an assortment of injuries. But before he was shut down for the season, the former UCLA standout was having a solid campaign. His breakout game came in his second game as a pro as he scored 29 points to go along with 11 rebounds and nine assists in a 132–130 overtime win at Phoenix. He became the youngest player in NBA history to complete a triple-double when he had 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds against the Milwaukee Bucks before he turned 20. Philadelphia’s Markelle Fultz would later break that record when he pulled off a triple-double at 19 years old and 317 days.

Ball’s shooting woes — along with the constant drama surrounding his father, LaVar Ball — overshadowed what was actually a very solid first year. His final stats (10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists) were comparable to Jason Kidd‘s when he won Rookie of the Year in 1994-95. But because Ball shot just 36 percent from the field and 30 percent from behind the 3-point line, many overlooked the beauty of his overall game.

Kuzma was the steal of the 2017 draft as the 27th overall pick out of Utah exploded onto the scene like a Falcon 9 rocket.

He was the first NBA rookie to compile at least 330 points, 120 rebounds, and 30 made 3-pointers in his first 20 games. The 6-9, 220-pound forward scored a career-high 38 points in a 122–116 win that ended the Houston Rockets’ 14-game winning streak, and he notched 27 points in a 113–106 loss to Golden State.

Kuzma can score from anywhere on the court. He has an array of shots that stretches all the way back to the 3-point line. He finished the season averaging 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 45 percent from the field. Those numbers could have been vastly better if he had started more than 37 games.

“Kuzma should have been a lottery pick. Kuz is a problem,” Durant said about the Lakers’ rising star.

Kuzma recently told ESPN that the rest of the league should take notice and ignore some of the noise surrounding the Lakers’ latest veteran acquisitions that seem to suggest that the young core is not ready to take over the program.

“We think that a lot of people are underestimating us. It is definitely going to be fun playing with all these new guys,” Kuzma said. “A lot of people say we got a lot of different people, a lot of new people. But change can be a good thing. It is not necessarily always a bad thing. There’s a lot of teams in the NBA that need to work on their chemistry.”

He added: “I don’t know why people kind of just rule us out because we are young. We are hungry. We are competitive. Anybody that watched us play last year, we were in a lot of games.”

Former Villanova standout Hart came on strong late in the season once he was given increased playing time. He really took off this offseason as he led the Lakers’ summer league squad to the championship game in Las Vegas. He was named the MVP of the NBA summer league in Vegas.

Now, add LeBron to that young core and the Lakers should zoom past last year’s win total.

Given LeBron’s recent history, 50 wins is well within striking distance. When LeBron first left Cleveland in the summer of 2010, the Cavaliers went 19-63 and endured an ugly four-year slide. When LeBron came back for the 2014-15 season, the Cavaliers went from a 33-win team to a 53-win team. It was the beginning of a four-year run that saw the Cavaliers advance to the NBA Finals four straight years and never dipped below 50 wins.

When Ball, Kuzma, Hart and Ingram were clicking, the Lakers were among the league leaders in points in the paint and points per game (108.1, 11th overall). Only the Rockets and Warriors played at a faster pace. The Lakers were also in the top-15 in defensive efficiency. They were 25th in points allowed, but the addition of LeBron, a former first-team All-Defense, Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee should fix some of the problems on the defensive end.

The Lakers not only have the roster to compete for a championship they’re also built to beat the Warriors.

Lakers coach Luke Walton has hinted that LeBron may play some center, which could present some big-time problems for the rest of the league. The Lakers could potentially roll out a finishing lineup of Ball, Hart, Ingram, Kuzma and LeBron. All are 6-5 or taller with LeBron anchoring the backline. The Lakers’ version of “small ball” could rival the Warriors’ famed “Hampton Five.”

Celtics acquired Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward during the offseason. (AP)

If you need to know why Kyrie Irving left Cleveland for Boston, just listen to LeBron James’ press conference on media day. James, the man many consider as the best player on the planet, runs the show in Cleveland. He’s the king of Ohio. He’s got the ball in his hands on the court, he’s got coach Tyronn Lue’s ear, and he has major input on all basketball-related roster moves. On paper, Koby Altman has the title of general manager. But every final decision needs King James’ stamp of approval.

Kyrie knows Cleveland will never be his town. Kyrie knows the Cavaliers will never be his team. As long as LeBron is running the Cavs’ household, Kyrie will always be the “kid” seeking parental approval. And that’s how LeBron see’s Kyrie. Even though they only have a seven-year age gap, LeBron treats Kyrie as “the kid.”

“I tried to do whatever I could do to help the kid out and be the best player he could be. Tried to help him be a better leader, be a better scorer, a better floor general, a better defender, a better passer, getting guys involved, a better leader vocally,” James said. “I tried to give him everything and give him as much of the DNA as I could.”

LeBron sounded like a parent teaching his son on how to grow up to be a man. Well, that “kid” is all grown up now and ready to fly on his own.

“The only thing I’m upset about is that he took a lot of the DNA and the blueprints up to Boston, that’s the only thing I’m upset about really,” James said. “Other than that I wish the kid great health. The kid wanted to do what was best for his career and I give credit to our GM, Koby (Altman), and our ownership for granting that for him. Other than that, I don’t have much more to say. It was so many different emotions. I tried to do whatever I could to help the kid be as great as he could be. That’s it.”

LeBron remains in Cleveland. Kyrie is now in Boston. Battle lines have been drawn for two basketball alpha males. The Celtics and Cavaliers are on a collision course in the postseason and NBA fans can’t wait to see it.

OneManFastBreak.net projects which eight teams will make the Eastern Conference playoffs:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1-BOSTON CELTICS: The Celtics were ahead of schedule when they finished with the best record in the East (53-29) last season. Isaiah Thomas and Co. reached the conference finals, but got dispatched by LeBron and the Cavs. Cleveland exposed Boston’s weaknesses during the series and that playoff loss got the ball moving on a blockbuster deal that could shift the balance of power in the East. Team executive Danny Ainge charged up his cellphone and got to work. His first major move was signing free agent Gordon Hayward. Hayward, who played for coach Brad Stevens at Butler University, is a 20-plus scorer who is just entering his prime. Then Ainge made shockwaves across the basketball landscape by trading Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and a couple of draft picks to Cleveland for superstar point guard Kyrie Irving. Essentially, it was Thomas for Irving. Armed with two bonafide All-Stars in Irving and Hayward, two superb role players in Al Horford and Marcus Smart, and two young studs in Jaylen Brown (20) and Jayson Tatum (19), the Celtics could threaten the Cavs as the top dog in the East. Prediction: 55-27

2-CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: For someone who just lost his All-Star running mate and months removed from a stinging NBA Finals loss to the Warriors, LeBron James seems to be in a good mood these days. He was seen working out at UCLA with his new BFF Kevin Love and has been reunited with his old BFF, Dwyane Wade. Must be good to be The King. The Cavs completely retooled their roster during the summer. Aside from the megadeal with Boston, they also added veteran guard Derrick Rose. Even though D-Rose and D-Wade are past their prime, they’re still capable scorers who can carry the offense when LeBron sits. Jae Crowder is a solid two-way player who can play either forward position. The big question mark is the health of Isaiah Thomas. The former Celtics guard is scheduled to return in January. If he is anything close to the Isaiah Thomas in Boston, then the Cavs could roll out a lineup of five All-Stars that could destroy the East.  If not, then the Cavs drop a peg and chase Boston for the best record in the conference. Let’s assume Thomas will be back close to form. Prediction: 54-28

3-WASHINGTON WIZARDS: John Wall gave Wizards fans a taste of playoff drama when he sank a walk-off 3-pointer against the Celtics. Now Wizards fans expect a little more out of their superstar point guard and backcourt partner Bradley Beal. Wall and Beal have flourished in Scott Brooks’ Princeton-style offense. Washington’s dynamic duo both averaged 23.1 points per game, but Wall greatly improved his player efficiency rating (23.2) and became a much better playmaker as he got more comfortable in Brooks’ system. The Wizards ranked fifth in scoring (109.2) in 2016-17, but if they’re going to challenge Boston and Cleveland they need to improve on their 21st ranking on defense (107.4). Prediction: 52-30

4-TORONTO RAPTORS: If it weren’t for the Cavs, we may be talking about the Raptors in a different light. The Cavs are the Raptors’ No. 1 nemesis, losing twice to LeBron and Co. in the postseason. Toronto lost 4-2 to Cleveland in the 2016 playoffs and got swept 4-0 in the 2017 playoffs. This season the Raptors will get a Cavs reprieve. But the end result should be the same. This time they’ll get bounced in the second round by the Celtics. Prediction: 49-33

5-MILWAUKEE BUCKS: The Bucks will go as far as MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo takes them. Giannis, 22, made great strides last season as face of the franchise. The Greek Freak carried Milwaukee to the playoffs, raising his scoring average to 22.9 and posting career highs in rebounds (8.8), assists (5.4), steals (1.6), and blocks (1.9). Scary part is Giannis still has room to grow. If coach Jason Kidd can find a consistent second scorer to help Giannis, the Bucks could challenge the Raptors and Heat for the fourth spot in the conference. Shooting guard Khris Middleton is healthy again and forward Jabari Parker is targeting February for his return from ACL surgery. When all the pieces are there, the Bucks will be a tough out in the playoffs. Prediction: 48-34

6-MIAMI HEAT: Head coach Erik Spoelstra showed why he’s one of the best coaches in the NBA when he nearly got the Heat into the 2017 playoffs despite starting 11-30. Miami made a complete turnaround, finishing 30-11 and coming within a whisker of making the eighth seed. That late-season surge should carry over into 2017-18 as the Heat should finish in the top five. After getting spurned by the top free agents, Heat executive Pat Riley decided to keep it in-house and stay within the Heat family. Riley re-signed Dion Waiters and James Johnson to long-term deals, allowing the Heat to keep the core group that came together in the second half. Riley described Waiters as “a player that has no fear in taking the last shot.” If Waiters can fill the role of closer and learn how to consistently play off Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, the Heat has the potential to challenge the Raptors for the fourth spot in the conference. Prediction: 45-37

7-DETROIT PISTONS: After greatly underachieving the past two years, it’s time for the Pistons to finally grow up. It starts with 24-year-old Andre Drummond. This is Drummond’s fifth year in the league and if he’s truly one of the game’s best centers then he needs to carry the franchise on his back and lead it to the playoffs. Avery Bradley is a much-needed addition to the starting lineup. Bradley, considered by many experts as the best on-ball defender in the league, brings toughness, leadership and playoff experience to the Pistons. Bradley can lock down the opposition’s best guard, allowing coach Stan Van Gundy to hide Reggie Jackson on defense. Prediction: 38-44

8-CHARLOTTE HORNETS: The Hornets got some bad news during the preseason when swingman Nic Batum tore ligaments in his left elbow and is expected to miss six weeks. This puts a lot of pressure on point guard Kemba Walker, who is coming off a season in which he knocked down 240 threes and posted a career-best 23.9 points per game. The acquisition of center Dwight Howard should help improve an average defense. Prediction: 36-46

Last three out: Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks

Kyrie Irving could be the missing piece to the Celtics’ championship puzzle. (AP)

Whenever you have blockbuster trades in the NBA, the best way to evaluate who won and who lost is by asking this question: which team got the best player?

When the Philadelphia 76ers traded Wilt Chamberlain to the L.A. Lakers in 1968 for Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark and Darrall Imhoff, who got the best player in the deal? Without a doubt, the Lakers. They got Wilt.

When the Lakers traded Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat in 2004 for Caron, Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and a first-round pick (which turned into Jordan Farmar), who got the best player in the deal? Easy. It was the Heat because they got Shaq.

When the Cavaliers sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in August in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, Boston’s unprotected 2018 first-round pick, and (just to ease the minds of the Cavs about Thomas’ balky hip) a 2020 second-round draft pick, the Celtics got the better end of this blockbuster swap.

Boston could have kept sending more picks to the Cavaliers and it still wouldn’t tilt the trade. The Celtics were the clear winners because they got the best player in the deal in Kyrie. As much as we love Thomas’ scoring ability and fourth-quarter heroics and Crowder brings grit and toughness, the Cavaliers were still losing arguably the best one-on-one player in basketball who is just entering the prime years of his basketball career.

Kyrie, 25, is a true superstar. He is what Stephen A. Smith would call “box office.” He can bring people to the arena and pull in big TV ratings. And he’s got the game kids would love to emulate. He’s the best closer in the game. Period.

Thomas is fantastic player, without a doubt. But he greatly benefitted from Brad Stevens’ guard-friendly offense. Thomas was a 20-point scorer before he got to Boston. When he hooked up with Stevens, he became a 29-point scorer and an All-Star. The 28-year-old guard is also a liability on defense because of his 5-9 size (and that’s a generous listing).

The fear is that Thomas has already hit his peak as a player, while Irving’s arrow is still pointing upwards. And the hip injury is a major concern if you’re the Cavs. But even if Thomas is given a clean bill of health, he still can’t measure up to Kyrie. The Celtics know it. The Cavs know it. If Irving and Thomas were on par with each other, the Cavs would have been OK with a straight one-for-one swap. The fact that Boston had to add a role player and picks to sweeten the deal says it all.

Kyrie is already a proven 25-point scorer. With some tutelage from the brilliant mind of Stevens, Kyrie could turn into the most unstoppable scoring machine. Irving will now lead a Boston bunch that includes top free-agent acquisition Gordon Hayward, Al Horford and a pair of young guns in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The road through the Eastern Conference playoffs still goes through Cleveland, but the Celtics have closed the gap and could make things very interesting in the conference finals.

Rajon Rondo is traded to the Dallas Mavericks. (AP)

The Dallas Mavericks sent shockwaves around the NBA by trading for Rajon Rondo. The Mavs acquired the All-Star point guard by giving up role players Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson and draft picks to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics will reportedly receive a first-round pick in the 2015 draft and a second-rounder in 2016.

Rondo joins a Mavs squad that features future Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis, Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons. The new Dallas starting five easily becomes one of the most potent in the Association, and it gives Dallas coach Rick Carlisle another chess piece to work with.

Rondo could fill the Jason Kidd role that worked perfectly in 2011 when Dallas won the NBA title. Rondo does need to score to be effective. He’s a walking triple-double — just like Kidd — on offense and on defense he provides the Mavs a terrific on-the-ball defender who can stick guys like Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Chris Paul.

Carlisle should send his former Boston buddy Danny Ainge a Christmas card because the Celtics president of basketball operations just gift-wrapped him a wonderful holiday present. With Rondo, the Mavericks went from a very good team into one of the elite squads in the Western Conference.

“[This trade] puts [Dallas] in a position to win a championship,” ESPN analyst and former NBA player Jalen Rose said on The Grantland Basketball Hour. “They are going to be a terrific team in Dallas. [Rondo] is going to balance the floor. This guy is a floor general. He makes players around him better.”

The Mavericks are now loaded in the backcourt. Rondo and Ellis are the clear-cut starters; J.J. Barea will likely back him up at the point and Devin Harris can play either guard position. Raymond Felton is still on the roster, so Carlisle will have to make a decision who to sit because you can’t rotate five guards. It’s a nice problem to have.

If there’s a negative side to the deal it’s the Mavericks’ weakened frontcourt. Wright was a solid backup center who kept Tyson Chandler from having to play a ton of minutes. Now, Tyson will have to extend himself a bit more.

The trade ends Rondo’s nine years with the Celtics, a stretch that includes an NBA championship in 2008 and a trip to The Finals in 2010. Rondo carved out his niche in Celtic lore with some memorable playoff moments. None better than when he dislocated his left elbow in Game 3 of the playoff series against the Miami Heat in 2011. Rondo courageously returned to the game, arm dangling, and led the Celtics to an emotional win at the TD Garden.

But when the Celtics started peeling off their championship squad, Rondo — who is coming off ACL surgery last season — didn’t fit into the rebuilding process. The Celtics are clearly looking into the future, and Rondo was in the way of that plan. They drafted point guard Marcus Smart in 2014, which led many to believe was the beginning of the end of the Rondo era in Boston.

Rondo’s statistics declined in some key areas this season. His free throwing shooting percentage is a career-low .333 and his scoring average dipped to 8.3 points per game, his lowest since his rookie season of 2006-07, when he averaged 6.4.

“We all know what he does really well,’’ Celtics coach Brad Stevens told The Boston Globe. “There’s very few people in the game that can do some of the things he can do and you can probably extend that — the way he passes the ball and the way he gets other people the ball — you can extend that to the history of the game. He’s really done a lot of good things.”

Through 22 games this season, Rondo is leading the league in assists (10.8). He also is averaging a career-high 7.5 rebounds. He has also put up three triple-doubles. He has averaged 11 assists per game in four out of the last five seasons. He’s only 28 years old, so he is still in the prime of his basketball career.

“The last two years he was playing like a guy who didn’t want to get hurt,” said Grantland editor Bill Simmons, a longtime Celtics fan. “He’s gonna go to Dallas and he’s gonna be awesome. He always rose to the occasion. Now that he’s on this [Dallas] team, that’s perfect for him.”

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.