NBA Playoffs 2018: Grading the New Orleans Pelicans players

#1 Rajon Rondo: A+

Playoff Rondo

Mr. Playoff Rondo has been graded an A+ (a tied-first) because of the sheer all-round impact which he has had on the Pelicans playoff run this postseason. It would not be a stretch to say that the Pelicans would not reach the playoffs without his play.

He has played the role of a true point guard in this era of positionless basketball, ensuring the ball zips around, reaches the right man at the right time and freeing up others to do what they are best at.

Rondo has put to bed any doubts regarding whether he is still capable of contributing on a high level for a playoff team. After a fractious few seasons in the wilderness, he has come into his own dishing out assist after assist into the eager hands of Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Nikola Mirotic.

In the playoffs, he dished out a playoff-leading 12.2 assists per game across the two rounds. This includes a 17-assist game in Game 1 of the Round 1 matchup versus Portland, a 16-assist game in Game 4 of the series, and an incredible playoff franchise-record setting 21 assists versus the Warriors in Game 3 of the Conference Semis.

This entire postseason he has been setting up Anthony Davis for some of the most fearsome alley-oop dunks Davis has ever scored in his career.

Rondo's game this postseason has freed up scorer Jrue Holiday from most of his compulsory ball-handling duties, allowing Holiday to realize his potential as an excellent scorer. Also, once regarded as a player who could not hit jump-shots, Rondo has been hitting 42% of his shots from downtown.

A true floor general.