#FlashbackFriday: Rajon Rondo, Clutch Free Throw Specialist

At the end of each week, MercerJersey.com observes the venerable tradition of #FlashbackFriday.  Today we look back to 2006-2007, a.k.a. the last season during which the Celtics were unquestionably "reloading" rebuilding.  On March 26, then-rookie Rajon Rondo helped guide us to a win over the T.J. Ford-led Raptors at the Garden, making the C's the last team in the league to clinch a 10th home-court victory that year (ESPN recap/box score).

Notes

• Paul at 0:40... OOF.
• The black shamrock patches to commemorate Red's passing were so big and depressing-looking.  But fitting, I suppose.
• Rondo wore his jersey so much baggier back then!  A lot's been made of how much styles have changed in the NBA off the court (see: Westbrook, Russell) but they've changed a lot on the court, too.  Kobe is to baggy jerseys today what Stockton was to tight shorts 10, 15 years ago.
• Wait... This video was posted by the Celtics' official YouTube account, so why am I listening to some goons from Toronto instead of Tommy & Mike???
• At 2:40: THE coolest slow-mo highlight of a called-back jump ball you'll see this week.  #HOPS
• I know he didn't want to go through rebuilding again anyways, but there would've been something kind of cool and poetic about it if Pierce hadn't been traded, stayed with the C's even after KG retired, and became the noble veteran leader on another crappy young team.  No?  Alas.
• Holy double-flop at 4:15!  #WhyThereAreFinesNow
• Just before the 6-minute mark –  Big Al on the fast break!  Remember right after we acquired Ray and KG, and there were legitimate (if secondary) discussions about whether we'd thrown away a promising future built around Al and Gerald Green?  Lolz.
• That being said, I still think Delonte could have been a great, career-long backcourt mate for Rondo in an alternate universe.  (The same one in which I imagine Ron Mercer became Chauncey Billups' Celtics-Rip-Hamilton?)
• And finally, Rondo brings us home with ICE in his veins at the stripe.  A sign of things to come!  Well... partially.