Rondo might turn out be at best a leandro barbosa type

[Triboy16]

Which is not a horrible thing. I just don't think he will ever be starting material for the rest of his career.

Rondo is definitely a unique player. He is not consistant enough but can single handedly be the difference maker on both ends of the court to steal you some games. He can't shoot well but can be that third forward and grab you key rebounds. etc

Two things a decent poing guard needs to be able to do though is to know how to direct a teams offense(not keep passing it to paul pierce on the key or pass it to kg in the paint, which is too predictable) and be able to shoot(does not have to be with a hand in the face but when free no hesitation type of shooting). Rondo is missing these two components(which can be learned only so much) and i'm begining to be not pessimistic but realistic he will be an important part of our team for years to come but as a leandro barbosa/6th man type of guy.

I'am pretty much also not sold on gabe pruitt(bad draft choice if you ask me) , eddie house, cassell are rental type guys.

If available at 30 i hope danny drafts lester hudson (http://nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/lesterhudson.html) who is compared to a rodney stuckey. And or we draft big and perhaps sign a serviceable pg (for example a mark jackson three years ago)

 

[ma11l]

He started this year on a 66 win team and he was nowhere near the weak link that some thought he would've been in the beginning of the year.  If anything the team suffers when his ball handling is on the bench.  He has made vast improvements from last year especially with his jump shot.  He is getting better and there is no reason to think that is stopped or he has peaked.  He will be a perennial all defensive player down the road and has the potential to make a few Eastern Conference All Star teams.  I'd love to get a better backup point guard but I am very comfortable with Rajon as our point guard in the future.

[Roy Hobbs]

Two things a decent poing guard needs to be able to do though is to know how to direct a teams offense(not keep passing it to paul pierce on the key or pass it to kg in the paint, which is too predictable) and be able to shoot(does not have to be with a hand in the face but when free no hesitation type of shooting). Rondo is missing these two components and i'm begining to be not pessimistic but realistic he could be an important part of our team for years to come but as a leandro barbosa/6th man type of guy.

1) Rondo is in his second year;

2) How he runs the offense is largely dictated by the coach;

3) Rondo really isn't that bad of a shooter, and he improved greatly from last year.  Check out these second year numbers:

Gary Payton: 45.1% FG%, .453 eFG%
Jason Kidd: 38.1% FG%, .433 eFG%
Tony Parker: 46.4% FG%, .503 eFG%
Rajon Rondo: 49.2% FG%, .496 eFG%

I'm not saying Rondo will be on that level, but the whole "point guards need to be great shooters" argument is a fallacy.

[Neurotic Guy]

22

[BigAlTheFuture]

I think Rondo is already a better player than Barbosa. He is also only in his second year. He improved a lot since last year and he is not even that bad of a shooter. He can only improve from hear on out. I would be very comfortable with Rondo as our future point guard.

[the_Bird]

Remember a few years back when the Spurs made a hard run after Jason Kidd because of Tony Parker's inconsistency in the playoffs?

That's where I see Rondo today.  Flashes of brilliance, followed by periods in which he looks completely overwhelmed.  That's OK, that's really pretty common for a young player.

Rondo's not having very many good road games, but neither is the team as a whole.  Let's not overreact, let's look at the body of what he's done this year and make some reasonable projections about how and where he might continue to improve his game.  He's gone from a complete nonshooter to having an OK outside shot; if he improves just a bit more (and keeps his confidence up), this won't really be a weakness anymore.  We know he's got the speed and quickness, and he GENERALLY makes pretty good decisions with the ball (less so when facing the pressures of playing on the road).  This is something that you would completely expect to improve with some experience.

So, no...  Rondo's the starter for the foreseeable future, and that's a very, very good thing for the Boston Celtics.

[Chris]

Two things a decent poing guard needs to be able to do though is to know how to direct a teams offense(not keep passing it to paul pierce on the key or pass it to kg in the paint, which is too predictable) and be able to shoot(does not have to be with a hand in the face but when free no hesitation type of shooting). Rondo is missing these two components and i'm begining to be not pessimistic but realistic he could be an important part of our team for years to come but as a leandro barbosa/6th man type of guy.

1) Rondo is in his second year;

2) How he runs the offense is largely dictated by the coach;

3) Rondo really isn't that bad of a shooter, and he improved greatly from last year.  Check out these second year numbers:

Gary Payton: 45.1% FG%, .453 eFG%
Jason Kidd: 38.1% FG%, .433 eFG%
Tony Parker: 46.4% FG%, .503 eFG%
Rajon Rondo: 49.2% FG%, .496 eFG%

I'm not saying Rondo will be on that level, but the whole "point guards need to be great shooters" argument is a fallacy.

Exactly, and based on how much his form has improved even since last year, it looks like he will become at least a decent shooter. 

He had absolutely horrendous form (mostly with his lower body) prior to coming to Boston, and it has been steadily improving.  The problem is it takes a long time to make that form a habit, and then to gain confidence in it. 

He may never be Chris Paul, but he could very easily be Tony Parker...with better defense.

[Scintan]

I think Rondo is already a better player than Barbosa. He is also only in his second year. He improved a lot since last year and he is not even that bad of a shooter. He can only improve from hear on out. I would be very comfortable with Rondo as our future point guard.

Let's not get crazy here.  Rondo isn't nearly as good as Barbosa, and he probably never will be. 

[ma11l]

Let's look at the year two stats between the two:

Barbosa:

63 G 6 GS
17.3 MIN
7.0 PTS
2.0 ASTS
2.1 REBS
1.4 TO
47 % FG
0.5 SPG

Rondo

77 G 77 GS
30 MIN
10.6 PTS
5.1 ASTS
4.2 REBS
1.9 TO
49 % FG
1.7 SPG


At this point in their careers Rondo has the better numbers and similar team success.  Barbosa's points jumped to 13 a game his third season.  I don't see why Rondo won't be able to do this as well.  I also believe he will continue to have a better all around game especially on the defensive end where Rondo can truly be special as he gains more experience.  He has more speed and length than Barbosa.

[Scintan]

Let's look at the year two stats between the two:

Barbosa:

63 G 6 GS
17.3 MIN
7.0 PTS
2.0 ASTS
2.1 REBS
1.4 TO
47 % FG
0.5 SPG

Rondo

77 G 77 GS
30 MIN
10.6 PTS
5.1 ASTS
4.2 REBS
1.9 TO
49 % FG
1.7 SPG


At this point in their careers Rondo has the better numbers and similar team success.  Barbosa's points jumped to 13 a game his third season.  I don't see why Rondo won't be able to do this as well.  I also believe he will continue to have a better all around game especially on the defensive end where Rondo can truly be special as he gains more experience.  He has more speed and length than Barbosa.

Barbosa is the fastest player in the NBA.  Nobody has more speed than he does, including Rondo.

[RebusRankin]

He's reminds me more of a young Parker than Barbossa.

Rondo is a pg, Barbossa is a short 2 guard.

[ziggen]

Rondo has a lot of potential... he just needs to think more before he does one of his crazy passes.

[ma11l]

He's reminds me more of a young Parker than Barbossa.

Rondo is a pg, Barbossa is a short 2 guard.

I agree with this comparison more.  I think at the worst he will be like Barbosa.  He has the potential to be as good as Parker.  Again I think when comparing players we all tend to look exclusively at offense.  Rondo averages a steal per game more than Barbosa.  He can pressure other guards far better than Barbosa can.

[Triboy16]

I don't know why alot of you is bagging on barbosa because he is a heck of a player.

I just feel it is taking rondo a year too long to be a decent pg. I feel out of any positions in the league a pg position especially can't be fully taught. Rondo definitely has a sg mentality trying really hard to be a pg.

Anyone can tell me in pressure key situations instead of driving when rondo has made that one or two passes to change the outcome of the game?? I really can't think of it

Rondo can be a really good backup point/6th guy maxing out at mid level potential.

[Roy Hobbs]

I just feel it is taking rondo a year too long to be a decent pg.

It's his second year in the league, and he's playing fourth-fiddle to three future Hall of Famers.  Our offense isn't point guard dominated.

A year too long?  To be "decent"?  Wow.