No, I'm talking about the right years. If Rondo was out in 2012 that team wouldn't have gone far because it wasn't "loaded".
it wouldn't have but if the reverse were true, Rondo wouldn't have gone far either without them.
I mean, honestly, which of these scenarios would have been the most remarkable:
a) 8th seeded Sixers, with Iggy as their best player, making it to the ECF
b) 1st seeded Bulls, despite losing their best player on the first game of the playoffs, making it to the ECF
c) Celtics at full strength with Rondo, PP, KG and RA making it to the ECF
The Celtics weren't at "full strength". Green was out, Wilcox was out, Steimsma was playing through foot problems, Bradley's shoulders were popping out of socket a couple of times a series, Ray was gimping around on a bad ankle, PP was dealing with a sprained MCL. The only regulars besides Rondo that were healthy were KG and Bass.
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so answer me, which of those scenarios would've been the least and most remarkable? I'd still say the Celtics were in a better state than the 8th seed sixers and the Rose-less Bulls.
KG and PP were the 2nd and 3rd best players on those teams. I've been giving them the credit they deserve all along.
and so you do agree that the team had multiple stars?
because it all stems back as to why Rondo having accomplished this at 27 is even relevant at all.
the 2003 KG-scenario is a good example why it isn't relevant.And picture this. Next year, Rondo will be 28 and in all likelihood, his postseason successes would've remained stagnant. The year after, Rondo will be 29 and unless the C's successfully makes an extremely fast rebuild, his postseason success will remain stagnant again. And then he'd be 30, and again, the rebuild to contender status might not yet be done. And so on and so forth.
So going back to your main point, if you then truncate the careers of players at age 30, then how many have achieved postseason success the way Rondo did? The list grows and grows. That's why postseason success by a certain age is not a relevant metric.
Rondo's postseason success is a product of how good his teams were and honestly, not many players have had the teammates Rondo has had so early in his career. Yes, he played a major role on them but that's why he's recognized as a star.
But for him being able to do well on a good team by age 27 is nothing special nor noteworthy for a star. Stick 27-yr old CP3 (who has never made a WCF) in that 2012 C's team and i guarantee we would be beating the 8th seeded sixers in a series too. Give Rose his MVP-health back, and the Bulls would've beaten us in the 2nd round.