Rajon Rondo key to Celtics' post-season success

MIAMI (WHDH) -- This post season -- whether it's been a big game from Paul Pierce or Kevin Garnett -- a big reason for their scoring production has been Rajon Rondo's execution of the offense and creativity with the basketball. A triple double waiting to happen, Rondo needs to bring his A-game to the series against the Miami Heat.

“He’s the head of the snake on this team. We need him to come out with a vicious bite,” said Paul Pierce.

It almost sounds strange to say on a team with three future Hall of Famers, but Rajon Rondo could hold the key to the “Big Three's” basketball mortality.

“Rondo’s as important as anybody on this ball club. Obviously when he’s out there controlling the tempo, pushing the pace, rebounding and passing -- we ask him to do a lot out there. We almost ask him to try to get a triple-double every night,” said Pierce.

Rondo has three triple-doubles already this post season, and with a healthy elbow in this year's playoffs series against the Heat, the C's point man could do even more damage.

“As far as aggression, it doesn’t have to come from scoring. It’s just attacking the basket, finding open guys, pushing the ball in transition. That’s the type of aggression we need,” Pierce said.

“Regardless of how we feel, we go out there and compete every night. We’re a team with no excuses. We don’t bring up injuries or things that nag us. We just play the game,” Rondo said.

Playing in his third Conference finals with the Celtics, Rondo knows for this team, it’s not necessarily about his assists or Pierce's points, but how they play together.

“Regardless if we play our best basketball tonight we have to compete. You’re not going to play perfect every night, you’re not going to make shots, you might turn the ball over. But at the end of the day, you have to have resolve and continue to have discipline and compete and win,” Rondo said.