Boston is not a better team without Rondo. He's a great player and one of the best at his position in the league. However, they are on a tear since he went down. Why? Because the team plays harder now, they share the ball more effectively and their defense has been better.
I think the Knicks have a similar problem when Melo is on the court. They tend to stand around and watch him try to do something instead of moving. On defense, he needs to bring it every night, which he hasn't since December.
Look at the Utah game. They are not a horrible team, but we destroyed them with suffocating D, great ball movement and open looks.
The moral of the story is the Knicks need to play this same way when Melo is on the floor....like he's just another cog in the machinery. It's not entirely up to him. The team has to play hard around him.
On defense, he needs to match this intensity they've showed when he returns.
