Where does Rondo rank among NBA PGs today?

[PJ Martinez]

Ok, big picture. Let's look at some other stats. For example, Rondo grabs rebounds at twice the rate of most point guards (like Parker, Harris, Billups, Nash). His steal rate this season was top 7 in the league, so was his assist/turnover ratio. His assist rate was top 5. And while he's not a high-volume scorer, he's very efficient.

So he can't shoot from outside very well and didn't score that much during the regular season. When you look outside of ppg, Rondo outclasses most point guards. It's pretty clear to me he falls somewhere in the 5-10 range of top NBA point guards, and I would argue he's a lot closer to 5 than 10 (though reasonable people can disagree about that... I wouldn't say the Rondo vs. Nash debate is open and shut).

By the way, Rose's PER in the first round was 13.3. He had one great game, but hardly scored "at will." Sure, he got 20 ppg, or close to it, but not very efficiently (he had a ton of turnovers, e.g.). Rose has a very, very bright future, but he ain't there yet.

[LarBrd33]

Ok, big picture. Let's look at some other stats. For example, Rondo grabs rebounds at twice the rate of most point guards (like Parker, Harris, Billups, Nash). His steal rate this season was top 7 in the league, so was his assist/turnover ratio. His assist rate was top 5. And while he's not a high-volume scorer, he's very efficient.

So he can't shoot from outside very well and didn't score that much during the regular season. When you look outside of ppg, Rondo outclasses most point guards. It's pretty clear to me he falls somewhere in the 5-10 range of top NBA point guards, and I would argue he's a lot closer to 5 than 10 (though reasonable people can disagree about that... I wouldn't say the Rondo vs. Nash debate is open and shut).

By the way, Rose's PER in the first round was 13.3. He had one great game, but hardly scored "at will." Sure, he got 20 ppg, or close to it, but not very efficiently (he had a ton of turnovers, e.g.). Rose has a very, very bright future, but he ain't there yet.

Rondo's my 2nd favorite player on the Celtics.  Love him.  And yeah... he can't shoot at all. Even in the playoffs he's only shooting 42% (and I can't even imagine how low his percentage is on jump shots).   He gets rebounds, but I wonder how much of that is a result of Perk and Obese doing their job boxing out. 

I don't really know.  I think Rondo has been terrific.  He was solid all season.  I'm just not trying to lose my head over a few games.  5-10 range seems right for now. 

[BballTim]

I appreciate the non-homerism, LarBrd33, especially here in the homer-friendly forums, but Steve Nash just may be one of the worst defensive PGs in the NBA at this point. Rondo is one of the best. I think that gulf outweighs the significant advantages Nash has on offense.

everyone stinks at defense until they play in Boston.

  Rondo was an above average defender before KG got here. And coming to Boston turned Mikki Moore into a defensive wiz, right? And during the season Rose scored 14.3 ppg on 43% shooting vs Rondo and 22 a game on 67% shooting vs Nash.

[Rondo_is_better]

I appreciate the non-homerism, LarBrd33, especially here in the homer-friendly forums, but Steve Nash just may be one of the worst defensive PGs in the NBA at this point. Rondo is one of the best. I think that gulf outweighs the significant advantages Nash has on offense.

everyone stinks at defense until they play in Boston.

  Rondo was an above average defender before KG got here. And coming to Boston turned Mikki Moore into a defensive wiz, right? And during the season Rose scored 14.3 ppg on 43% shooting vs Rondo and 22 a game on 67% shooting vs Nash.

Tim, I think Rondo is top 5, but you can't use Mikki Moore as an argument because 1. Mikki might be the worst player in the league and 2. He never got the chance to play with KG on the floor.

[Birdbrain]

Ok, big picture. Let's look at some other stats. For example, Rondo grabs rebounds at twice the rate of most point guards (like Parker, Harris, Billups, Nash). His steal rate this season was top 7 in the league, so was his assist/turnover ratio. His assist rate was top 5. And while he's not a high-volume scorer, he's very efficient.

So he can't shoot from outside very well and didn't score that much during the regular season. When you look outside of ppg, Rondo outclasses most point guards. It's pretty clear to me he falls somewhere in the 5-10 range of top NBA point guards, and I would argue he's a lot closer to 5 than 10 (though reasonable people can disagree about that... I wouldn't say the Rondo vs. Nash debate is open and shut).

By the way, Rose's PER in the first round was 13.3. He had one great game, but hardly scored "at will." Sure, he got 20 ppg, or close to it, but not very efficiently (he had a ton of turnovers, e.g.). Rose has a very, very bright future, but he ain't there yet.

Rondo's my 2nd favorite player on the Celtics.  Love him.  And yeah... he can't shoot at all. Even in the playoffs he's only shooting 42% (and I can't even imagine how low his percentage is on jump shots).   He gets rebounds, but I wonder how much of that is a result of Perk and Obese doing their job boxing out. 

I don't really know.  I think Rondo has been terrific.  He was solid all season.  I'm just not trying to lose my head over a few games.  5-10 range seems right for now. 

Thank you for this post.  It proves what I longed believed.  That most people even if completely proven wrong on so many levels will never change their opinion.  And continue to post that opinion as well without embarrassment.  Hey to each his own I guess.

[BballTim]

Ok, big picture. Let's look at some other stats. For example, Rondo grabs rebounds at twice the rate of most point guards (like Parker, Harris, Billups, Nash). His steal rate this season was top 7 in the league, so was his assist/turnover ratio. His assist rate was top 5. And while he's not a high-volume scorer, he's very efficient.

So he can't shoot from outside very well and didn't score that much during the regular season. When you look outside of ppg, Rondo outclasses most point guards. It's pretty clear to me he falls somewhere in the 5-10 range of top NBA point guards, and I would argue he's a lot closer to 5 than 10 (though reasonable people can disagree about that... I wouldn't say the Rondo vs. Nash debate is open and shut).

By the way, Rose's PER in the first round was 13.3. He had one great game, but hardly scored "at will." Sure, he got 20 ppg, or close to it, but not very efficiently (he had a ton of turnovers, e.g.). Rose has a very, very bright future, but he ain't there yet.

Rondo's my 2nd favorite player on the Celtics.  Love him.  And yeah... he can't shoot at all. Even in the playoffs he's only shooting 42% (and I can't even imagine how low his percentage is on jump shots).   He gets rebounds, but I wonder how much of that is a result of Perk and Obese doing their job boxing out. 

I don't really know.  I think Rondo has been terrific.  He was solid all season.  I'm just not trying to lose my head over a few games.  5-10 range seems right for now. 

  Rondo is shooting poorly in the playoffs yet he's still been one of the best players in the league for these games. He's one of the few players that can dominate a game without scoring. If he were shooting 60% from the field and hitting most of his outside shots you could call what you're seeing a complete aberration. He's not. Yet he's clearly been the best pg in the playoffs. His shooting is a valid knock on him, but I think he's shown that his shooting doesn't prevent him from being a major contributor on a championship contender, possibly their most important player.

[Rondosadvocate]

How about looking at performance in this years playoffs.

Rondo
18.3 pts, 11.9 asst, 2.8 TO, 9.6 reb, 2.7 stl, 42% FG
[Top Defender]

Paul
16.6 pts, 10.4 asst, 4.8 TO, 4.4 reb, 1.6 stl, 41.1% FG
[Top Defender]

Williams
20.2 pts, 10.8 asst, 4.2 TO, 3.8 reb, 1.8 stl, 41.4% FG
[Mediocre Defender]

Billups
19.6 pts, 7.3 asst, 1.7 TO, 3.7 reb, 1.6 stl, 45.0% FG
[Good Defender]

Parker
28.6 pts, 6.8 asst, 4.2 TO, 4.2 reb, 1.2 stl, 54.6% FG
[Weak defender, poor asst to TO ratio]


Playing head to head during the regular season, the ONLY point guard Rondo hasn't made  look silly is Chris Paul.

When Rondo "older" PG like Nash, Kidd, Billups etc, he made them look like "has beens".

Also keep in mind Chris Paul was first team and Rondo on the 2nd team for NBA all-defensive teams this season. [I think Rondo should have been #1, but Paul won mostly due to reputation, not performance.]

[RedsCeltics34]

I have him 4th in the top 5.

1. Williams
2. Paul
3. Billups
4. Rondo
5. Parker