Please Don't Ever Say Again Rondo Doesn't Turn it On and Off

[Moranis]

Rondo plays at a high level most of the time, especially in the playoffs. Part of the reason people don't always see this is because he doesn't have a set role on the team, which is unique among players of his caliber. He's also primarily a distributor, which means he can get his team good shots but look unproductive if they miss those shots.

  But beyond that, Rondo's evaluated by a much different standard than other players on his level. Rondo's played 14 playoff games thus far. He's scored 13 or more 12 times. He has 5 or more rebounds 9 times, 4 or more 12 times. He has 10 or more assists 11 times. In 8 of his 14 games he's had more assists than any other player's had in any single game in the playoffs this year. He's leading the league (in the playoffs) in minutes, assists and triple doubles, he's tied for the lead in double doubles, he's 3rd in steals per game, he's leading all point guards in rebounding and he's in the top 20 for scoring in the playoffs.

  But that's not considered playing at a high level or being consistent because he'll have a few bad defensive possessions in his 40+ minutes or because he'll have a quarter or two during the game where he isn't very productive. Does Chris Paul keep his man in front of him on almost every possession? Does Durant ever have a quarter or a half when he isn't very productive? Does Wade ever go through stretches where he just isn't playing with the same energy that he has when he take over games for stretches? I think that most people here don't really notice when those things invariably happen to anyone else, but when they happen to Rondo it will be the main point of discussion no matter how solidly he plays the rest of the game.

I agree with pretty much everything you say here, I just believe he needs to be the #1 guy and take over games offensively like he did in game 2.  That is the Celtics only shot at winning games in this series because the old men are playing like old men (aside from KG, though he even can't go full bore the whole game).  Rondo needs to be a 25/8 type player for Boston to have any shot, not a 12/12 type player.  That was the guy he was in game 2 where he was looking to shoot and drive as a first option and pass as the second option.  With this team as it is construed, Rondo needs to score first and pass second.  Sad, but just the way it is.  If he has that mentality and goes for it (even if he misses shots), then Boston can win games and frankly I'd be less inclined to move him going forward than I currently am.  I just don't know if he has it in him. 

[CoachBo]

The fact is, Rondo on Wednesday night elevated the bar for the expectations surrounding his game.

He does indeed need to score more, and the way he does that is by attacking defenses.

As a result, any tolerance which some of you so happily hand out because you love him dearly evaporates.

Rondo was fabulous Wednesday night. Now, the onus is clearly on him to repeat it, night in and night out. Zero tolerance here, in the past or now, for taking games, nights and possessions off.

[Yogi]

People need to seriously re-evaluate their perspectives in this forum.  Think about the greatest thing you've accomplished in your career... ask yourself why you don't do that night in and night out.  You inconsistent people, you guys are worse than that Tim Duncan scrub who totally took the game off yesterday and cost his team the victory.

[Donoghus]

People need to seriously re-evaluate their perspectives in this forum.  Think about the greatest thing you've accomplished in your career... ask yourself why you don't do that night in and night out.  You inconsistent people, you guys are worse than that Tim Duncan scrub who totally took the game off yesterday and cost his team the victory.

You do realize that this is a fan messageboard and that people on here are going to continue to be critical of Rondo as well as other members of this team (which I think some overlook and simply think its only attacks on Rondo)?

If you can't handle seeing the criticism of a player, I'm not sure what to tell you.  It's going to be here to stay.  Learn to deal with it.

[BballTim]

Rondo plays at a high level most of the time, especially in the playoffs. Part of the reason people don't always see this is because he doesn't have a set role on the team, which is unique among players of his caliber. He's also primarily a distributor, which means he can get his team good shots but look unproductive if they miss those shots.

  But beyond that, Rondo's evaluated by a much different standard than other players on his level. Rondo's played 14 playoff games thus far. He's scored 13 or more 12 times. He has 5 or more rebounds 9 times, 4 or more 12 times. He has 10 or more assists 11 times. In 8 of his 14 games he's had more assists than any other player's had in any single game in the playoffs this year. He's leading the league (in the playoffs) in minutes, assists and triple doubles, he's tied for the lead in double doubles, he's 3rd in steals per game, he's leading all point guards in rebounding and he's in the top 20 for scoring in the playoffs.

  But that's not considered playing at a high level or being consistent because he'll have a few bad defensive possessions in his 40+ minutes or because he'll have a quarter or two during the game where he isn't very productive. Does Chris Paul keep his man in front of him on almost every possession? Does Durant ever have a quarter or a half when he isn't very productive? Does Wade ever go through stretches where he just isn't playing with the same energy that he has when he take over games for stretches? I think that most people here don't really notice when those things invariably happen to anyone else, but when they happen to Rondo it will be the main point of discussion no matter how solidly he plays the rest of the game.

I agree with pretty much everything you say here, I just believe he needs to be the #1 guy and take over games offensively like he did in game 2.  That is the Celtics only shot at winning games in this series because the old men are playing like old men (aside from KG, though he even can't go full bore the whole game).  Rondo needs to be a 25/8 type player for Boston to have any shot, not a 12/12 type player.  That was the guy he was in game 2 where he was looking to shoot and drive as a first option and pass as the second option.  With this team as it is construed, Rondo needs to score first and pass second.  Sad, but just the way it is.  If he has that mentality and goes for it (even if he misses shots), then Boston can win games and frankly I'd be less inclined to move him going forward than I currently am.  I just don't know if he has it in him. 

  I don't think it's just Rondo. I think Doc needs to see this as well. If you look at the Heat, they're designed to let James and Wade do as much as they can and the rest of the team (including Bosh) complement them. The Celts, to a certain extent, are set up to try and have Rondo wring as much production as possible out of the big three. Rondo needs to change his mindset, so does Doc.

  So does PP, btw, to accept a more complementary role on offense the way Ray and KG have.

[BballTim]

The fact is, Rondo on Wednesday night elevated the bar for the expectations surrounding his game.

He does indeed need to score more, and the way he does that is by attacking defenses.

As a result, any tolerance which some of you so happily hand out because you love him dearly evaporates.

Rondo was fabulous Wednesday night. Now, the onus is clearly on him to repeat it, night in and night out. Zero tolerance here, in the past or now, for taking games, nights and possessions off.

  If the new expectation for Rondo is to take 25 shots a game and go 10-12 on outside shots, be prepared for a lot of disappointment. Most people won't expect him to repeat it night in and night out because they realize that no player in the history of the sport is capable of playing one of the best games of their lives every night. And people don't "happily hand tolerance out because they love him dearly", they simply realize that Rondo deserves the same amount of slack that the other players in the league get.

[Yogi]

People need to seriously re-evaluate their perspectives in this forum.  Think about the greatest thing you've accomplished in your career... ask yourself why you don't do that night in and night out.  You inconsistent people, you guys are worse than that Tim Duncan scrub who totally took the game off yesterday and cost his team the victory.

You do realize that this is a fan messageboard and that people on here are going to continue to be critical of Rondo as well as other members of this team (which I think some overlook and simply think its only attacks on Rondo)?

If you can't handle seeing the criticism of a player, I'm not sure what to tell you.  It's going to be here to stay.  Learn to deal with it.

I criticize Rondo all the time, when he deserves it.  But to make claims like, ok so he just had one of the greatest performances of all time for any point guard.  Now let's see him do it again.  Or why doesn't he have a triple double every game? is delusional.  There hasn't been a player as consistently good for the Celtics this entire year.  He came out blazing hot to start the season and he has even taken it to another level in the playoffs.  It's like people forget he was the 21st pick when he came in to the league, and was a role player when we won the championship.  Now all of a sudden if a 6 foot guard is not putting Lebron, or Magic numbers every single game he's inconsistent?

[Moranis]

Rondo plays at a high level most of the time, especially in the playoffs. Part of the reason people don't always see this is because he doesn't have a set role on the team, which is unique among players of his caliber. He's also primarily a distributor, which means he can get his team good shots but look unproductive if they miss those shots.

  But beyond that, Rondo's evaluated by a much different standard than other players on his level. Rondo's played 14 playoff games thus far. He's scored 13 or more 12 times. He has 5 or more rebounds 9 times, 4 or more 12 times. He has 10 or more assists 11 times. In 8 of his 14 games he's had more assists than any other player's had in any single game in the playoffs this year. He's leading the league (in the playoffs) in minutes, assists and triple doubles, he's tied for the lead in double doubles, he's 3rd in steals per game, he's leading all point guards in rebounding and he's in the top 20 for scoring in the playoffs.

  But that's not considered playing at a high level or being consistent because he'll have a few bad defensive possessions in his 40+ minutes or because he'll have a quarter or two during the game where he isn't very productive. Does Chris Paul keep his man in front of him on almost every possession? Does Durant ever have a quarter or a half when he isn't very productive? Does Wade ever go through stretches where he just isn't playing with the same energy that he has when he take over games for stretches? I think that most people here don't really notice when those things invariably happen to anyone else, but when they happen to Rondo it will be the main point of discussion no matter how solidly he plays the rest of the game.

I agree with pretty much everything you say here, I just believe he needs to be the #1 guy and take over games offensively like he did in game 2.  That is the Celtics only shot at winning games in this series because the old men are playing like old men (aside from KG, though he even can't go full bore the whole game).  Rondo needs to be a 25/8 type player for Boston to have any shot, not a 12/12 type player.  That was the guy he was in game 2 where he was looking to shoot and drive as a first option and pass as the second option.  With this team as it is construed, Rondo needs to score first and pass second.  Sad, but just the way it is.  If he has that mentality and goes for it (even if he misses shots), then Boston can win games and frankly I'd be less inclined to move him going forward than I currently am.  I just don't know if he has it in him. 

  I don't think it's just Rondo. I think Doc needs to see this as well. If you look at the Heat, they're designed to let James and Wade do as much as they can and the rest of the team (including Bosh) complement them. The Celts, to a certain extent, are set up to try and have Rondo wring as much production as possible out of the big three. Rondo needs to change his mindset, so does Doc.

  So does PP, btw, to accept a more complementary role on offense the way Ray and KG have.

that is all true and it needs to happen tonight or Boston might very well get swept. 

[Celtics18]

Rondo plays at a high level most of the time, especially in the playoffs. Part of the reason people don't always see this is because he doesn't have a set role on the team, which is unique among players of his caliber. He's also primarily a distributor, which means he can get his team good shots but look unproductive if they miss those shots.

  But beyond that, Rondo's evaluated by a much different standard than other players on his level. Rondo's played 14 playoff games thus far. He's scored 13 or more 12 times. He has 5 or more rebounds 9 times, 4 or more 12 times. He has 10 or more assists 11 times. In 8 of his 14 games he's had more assists than any other player's had in any single game in the playoffs this year. He's leading the league (in the playoffs) in minutes, assists and triple doubles, he's tied for the lead in double doubles, he's 3rd in steals per game, he's leading all point guards in rebounding and he's in the top 20 for scoring in the playoffs.

  But that's not considered playing at a high level or being consistent because he'll have a few bad defensive possessions in his 40+ minutes or because he'll have a quarter or two during the game where he isn't very productive. Does Chris Paul keep his man in front of him on almost every possession? Does Durant ever have a quarter or a half when he isn't very productive? Does Wade ever go through stretches where he just isn't playing with the same energy that he has when he take over games for stretches? I think that most people here don't really notice when those things invariably happen to anyone else, but when they happen to Rondo it will be the main point of discussion no matter how solidly he plays the rest of the game.

I agree with pretty much everything you say here, I just believe he needs to be the #1 guy and take over games offensively like he did in game 2.  That is the Celtics only shot at winning games in this series because the old men are playing like old men (aside from KG, though he even can't go full bore the whole game).  Rondo needs to be a 25/8 type player for Boston to have any shot, not a 12/12 type player.  That was the guy he was in game 2 where he was looking to shoot and drive as a first option and pass as the second option.  With this team as it is construed, Rondo needs to score first and pass second.  Sad, but just the way it is.  If he has that mentality and goes for it (even if he misses shots), then Boston can win games and frankly I'd be less inclined to move him going forward than I currently am.  I just don't know if he has it in him. 

  I don't think it's just Rondo. I think Doc needs to see this as well. If you look at the Heat, they're designed to let James and Wade do as much as they can and the rest of the team (including Bosh) complement them. The Celts, to a certain extent, are set up to try and have Rondo wring as much production as possible out of the big three. Rondo needs to change his mindset, so does Doc.

  So does PP, btw, to accept a more complementary role on offense the way Ray and KG have.

Surprisingly, I disagree with you on this.  I still think this team is at its best when Rondo is getting everybody involved and everybody is hitting shots.  If the rest of the guys are unable to get to a place where they are bringing consistent offense, then we'll be ending the season as Eastern Conference Finalists and definitely not as Eastern Conference Champions.

I also think that we still need Pierce to be a guy with the ball in his hands who creates offense off the dribble at times.  If you look at the other teams left in the playoffs, none of them have only one guy who is a real threat with the ball in his hands.  

I'm not interested in seeing this just turn into the Rondo show.  He can probably continue to get big numbers for himself, but I don't think we are advancing that way either.  I think he's got to keep trying to "wring production" out of the big three, and everybody else for that matter.  

 Those who are critical of Rondo seem to not like him  because they don't think he can lead a team to a title by himself.  I think it's pretty clearly established, however, that there's no player in the league these days good enough to win a title by himself.  

To me, if we want to have a shot at building a team that can compete for championships eschewing the superstar model and using the total team model instead, then Rondo is the perfect guy to start with to try to accomplish that.  That's what I want to see going forward (and for the rest of these playoffs.)