Forget the trades. It's all about Rondo.

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Great observation by the OP.  I think a major shift will happen to Rondo next year, and it will require a personal adjustment on his part.  He's show he can be a competent PG in 2008.  He showed he can be a big time player in 2010.

But now he starts getting the big boy paychecks.  He's not there to complement the rest of the starters now.  He himself is now expected to win games for the team.  It shouldn't be about who he plays next to or how much the aged roster has declined, it should be about how Rondo will make them look 29 again by making the players around him better.  PP, Ray, and KG made Rondo look pretty good in 08.  It's his turn now.

Ray, Paul, and KG aren't carrying the team.  Heck, they can barely get their own shot anymore, at least not as good a look as they may have in the past (PP getting to the rim lately?  Pull-up and step-back jumpers, most likely.).  It's not on them, it's on Rondo, so...yes, it doesn't matter who the wings are as much, or whether we'll be able to get a great player. 

It's Rondo's job to make whomever ends up out there look great.

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I think it's unfair to put it all on Rondo's shoulders when the Big 3 make up about $45mil in salary.  Rondo is going to keep improving, just as he has every season.  But if any of the Big 3 make precipitous drops, the team is in trouble, no matter what Rondo is able to do next season.

True, but Rondo's getting paid this year, too, nearly as much as Ray.  The burden is evened out among the 4, IMO.

One thing with Ray and Paul, though:  They both seem to still want to make starter money.  I hope they can still play starter's minutes, too...

[wahz]

to steal a line from Doc, if Rondo develops an outside shot, its all over.

Want to be wildly optimistic? Start imagining if he was an outside shooter as good as Dennis Johnson was. DJ would make an open outside shot at a very high rate, but chose to use that to allow him to penetrate and dish. Rondo can p and d even when guys are off him.

Im going to agree with the idea here which is if Rondo can hit a jumper next year, and make 70% from the line, we have enough players even with a poor wing  pickup

[Bankshot]

Rondo is not only the key to this years team but for many, many more seasons. He is also this teams best player, and it's not even close. If, and to me it's really more of a when, this kid develops his shot more his growth will be phenomenal. Remember when he had that monster playoff game where only two other players had those numbers or better. Who were those two players, Wilt and Oscar? I know it was Wilt anyway. My point is, he is already in very elite company with some still serious flaws to his game. Wilt had one serious flaw and it happened to be free throw shooting too.

I'm sorry, but a player with no jumpshot and a lousy free throw shooter (and a liability to the team's offense more often than he should be) is not the best player on this team. PP and KG are both better, imo.  When he becomes consistent in his game (as well as improving his shooting), then he'll be the best player. He's not yet, imo.

[GreenEnvy]

I'd be pretty surprised if Rondo didn't come back next season with a much-improved jumper.

That would make him a complete player, and overall a better one obviously. But, will that make the Celtics THAT much better? Can you expect Pierce and Allen to have BETTER seasons than last? Can Perkins be BETTER than last season after this injury? Will the bench be BETTER than last, without 'Sheed and TA?

Teams have improved. Miami has potential for greatness. The Lakers replaced Farmar with Blake. Chicago is gonna come into play.

We can't be as good. We need to be better. Rondo has to be better. KG needs to be healthier and more confident. We need a quality Assistant Coach. And, most importantly, DA needs to get something of value for his MLE from last year, in the form of a quality wing player.


The summer is young.

[hpantazo]

I'd be pretty surprised if Rondo didn't come back next season with a much-improved jumper.

That would make him a complete player, and overall a better one obviously. But, will that make the Celtics THAT much better? Can you expect Pierce and Allen to have BETTER seasons than last? Can Perkins be BETTER than last season after this injury? Will the bench be BETTER than last, without 'Sheed and TA?

Teams have improved. Miami has potential for greatness. The Lakers replaced Farmar with Blake. Chicago is gonna come into play.

We can't be as good. We need to be better. Rondo has to be better. KG needs to be healthier and more confident. We need a quality Assistant Coach. And, most importantly, DA needs to get something of value for his MLE from last year, in the form of a quality wing player.


The summer is young.

problem is Rondo will play for team USA this summer, so he won't have as much time to work on his jumper or rest his body. He may actually be worse next season due to lack of rest.

[Carhole]

On Rondo: in the playoffs I was floored at how much improved his jump shot was in the playoffs. This guy just keeps getting better every year. And I look forward to seeing more.

Jumpshot improved, free throw shooting horrendous. What did he shoot, 25 percent from the line in the finals?

  And probably about 70% for the rest of the playoffs.

I do not understand  your point - so are we happy he shrunk when the pressure was on?

[Vermont Green]

When considering Rondo, you can't just consider his personal stats.  He gets his numbers, no doubt.  What doesn't show up in the box score is how hard he makes it for the other players when his man sags off him by 10'.

Rondo needs to get a jump shot not just for himself but for the team.

[BballTim]

On Rondo: in the playoffs I was floored at how much improved his jump shot was in the playoffs. This guy just keeps getting better every year. And I look forward to seeing more.

Jumpshot improved, free throw shooting horrendous. What did he shoot, 25 percent from the line in the finals?

  And probably about 70% for the rest of the playoffs.

I do not understand  your point - so are we happy he shrunk when the pressure was on?

  Yes, obviously, he can't handle pressure. That's why he always plays so poorly in the playoffs compared to the regular season. It's also why KG looked so bad in the first few games of the series, Ray was awful from downtown and Pierce had a few stinkers vs the Lakers. They all shrank when the pressure was on.

[Jon]

It goes without saying, but I really, really hope Rondo takes it to the next level.  Him becoming the best point guard in the NBA may be the only way we win #18 (it also may not be, since there's other things that could work out like a great trade, a rejuvenated Garnett and/or O'Neal, or Avery Bradley being amazing).

[Jaycelt]

On Rondo: in the playoffs I was floored at how much improved his jump shot was in the playoffs. This guy just keeps getting better every year. And I look forward to seeing more.

Jumpshot improved, free throw shooting horrendous. What did he shoot, 25 percent from the line in the finals?

  And probably about 70% for the rest of the playoffs.

Actually about 66% and that was with a first round around 80%.  He got progressively worse in each round.