Why are all these comments regarding Rondo's attitude being leaked to the media?

[Brickowski]

IMHO certain members of the media are trying to create controversy-- and hence a story-- where none really exists. The Celtics are relevant again and it comes with the territory.

These Rondo articles are becomeing as tiresome as the ones about Garnett's knee.

[Roy Hobbs]

IMHO certain members of the media are trying to create controversy-- and hence a story-- where none really exists. The Celtics are relevant again and it comes with the territory.

These Rondo articles are becomeing as tiresome as the ones about Garnett's knee.

While I hear what you're saying, it's not the media that is forcing Doc and Danny to question Rondo's game, his attitude, his relationship with his teammates, and his maturity.  If Danny and Doc said "no comment", or "we're very happy with Rondo as our starting point guard", I've got to think there would be a lot less controversy.

I mean, Rondo's agent called out Danny Ainge for his words this off-season.  Yes, the media delivered the message, but it was Danny that said it.

[dark_lord]

i dont know why.....but it sucks

[jdpapa3]

IMHO certain members of the media are trying to create controversy-- and hence a story-- where none really exists. The Celtics are relevant again and it comes with the territory.

These Rondo articles are becomeing as tiresome as the ones about Garnett's knee.

So...we have our head coach insinuating that the team possibly HATES playing with their point guard and that's not a story???

[BASS_THUMPER]

i like to joke and all but if rondo wasnt apart of the puzzle he wouldnt be here. we dont have time for half steppers. rondo is talented and myself wont let rumors make me think any diffrent. i cant see a ring without him.

[Chris]

IMHO certain members of the media are trying to create controversy-- and hence a story-- where none really exists. The Celtics are relevant again and it comes with the territory.

These Rondo articles are becomeing as tiresome as the ones about Garnett's knee.

While I hear what you're saying, it's not the media that is forcing Doc and Danny to question Rondo's game, his attitude, his relationship with his teammates, and his maturity.  If Danny and Doc said "no comment", or "we're very happy with Rondo as our starting point guard", I've got to think there would be a lot less controversy.

I mean, Rondo's agent called out Danny Ainge for his words this off-season.  Yes, the media delivered the message, but it was Danny that said it.

Right, but Doc has been saying the same things Danny said for years now.  Just no one was paying attention. 

Danny might have been a little more outspoken about it, but it really was no different from what they have been saying since Rondo got here.  Rondo is incredibly talented, but hard-headed and immature, and he still has some holes in his game that can really hurt the team at times.  This is nothing new.  It just has been ignored by the press, because it wasn't a story until trade rumors started.

[moiso]

IMHO certain members of the media are trying to create controversy-- and hence a story-- where none really exists. The Celtics are relevant again and it comes with the territory.

These Rondo articles are becomeing as tiresome as the ones about Garnett's knee.

While I hear what you're saying, it's not the media that is forcing Doc and Danny to question Rondo's game, his attitude, his relationship with his teammates, and his maturity.  If Danny and Doc said "no comment", or "we're very happy with Rondo as our starting point guard", I've got to think there would be a lot less controversy.

I mean, Rondo's agent called out Danny Ainge for his words this off-season.  Yes, the media delivered the message, but it was Danny that said it.

Right, but Doc has been saying the same things Danny said for years now.  Just no one was paying attention. 

Danny might have been a little more outspoken about it, but it really was no different from what they have been saying since Rondo got here.  Rondo is incredibly talented, but hard-headed and immature, and he still has some holes in his game that can really hurt the team at times.  This is nothing new.  It just has been ignored by the press, because it wasn't a story until trade rumors started.

I don't know about this.  The press reports EVERYTHING that people may find interesting.  The press reports quotes as it gets them.  For instance, I know that Baron Davis frequently ignores Dunleavy's play calls and does whatever he wants to do.  I hope Rondo isn't doing this kind of thing.

[Roy Hobbs]

For instance, I know that Baron Davis frequently ignores Dunleavy's play calls and does whatever he wants to do.  I hope Rondo isn't doing this kind of thing.

Do you have insider (or get ESPN the Magazine)?  It doesn't say that Rondo ignores Doc, but it does say that he challenges him a lot.  Apparently, Rondo never just says "okay, coach" -- he needs to be convinced why his preferred method isn't just as good.  I guess that can be frustrating / a distraction at times.

I can see both sides of that particular issue.  I think players need to listen to their coach, but I also understand why things sink in better when you understand the reasoning behind them.  In the end, so long as the player understands it's not a democracy, I think a little give-and-take can be okay.  However, from the article it sounds like Rondo goes a bit over the line (which is why he's been considered difficult to coach in high school, college, and now the pros.)

[BballTim]

Repeatedly and consistently this off-season, stories have been questioning Rajon Rondo's attitude and maturity.  These stories include quotes from both Danny and Doc, and more than one has said that teammates had issues with Rondo's attitude, as well.

The question is, why?  Why are Danny and Doc publicly questioning their franchise point guard, who both have said is a centerpiece of the team for the next decade?  Why are stories coming out about teammates hating Rondo, and failed team meetings from last season?

  I think a lot of it's "eye of the beholder" stuff. I wouldn't really classify that interview Danny did on the radio as overly negative or critical of Rondo. I think that he gave an honest assessment of Rondo and addressed rumors that were already out there, but most of the criticism got reported and much of the praise fell by the wayside. Doc's been more critical of Rondo but that's to be expected from his coach. Also, look at some of the criticism: is it negative when Ainge says Rondo's not a max player? Even when Rondo said the same thing? Is it negative if Doc says Rondo is a fantastic defender but still needs to improve? Clearly they have both said a few things that were truly critical (like discussing how Orlando wasn't guarding him the last few games of the series) but I think reporters have just played up anything that's remotely negative.

  Same with the team meeting story. Is it critical of Rondo? Some people think so, others don't. He tried to solve a problem and his solution didn't work. I don't see the issue.

[Brickowski]

IMHO certain members of the media are trying to create controversy-- and hence a story-- where none really exists. The Celtics are relevant again and it comes with the territory.

These Rondo articles are becomeing as tiresome as the ones about Garnett's knee.

So...we have our head coach insinuating that the team possibly HATES playing with their point guard and that's not a story???

Well,the insinuation was created by the journalist.

I think Rivers is challenging his young point guard-- call it "tough love" if you will. Maybe he thinks Rondo is too full of himself and needs to be brought down a peg. Coaches do that all the time.

But it's a huge leap to conclude from that behavior that the Celtics don't want Rondo or are using criticism as a tactic in contract negotiations.

If the Celtics were, in fact, shopping Rondo there would be at least a dozen takers, because he's the 3rd or 4th best young pg in the league.

[pengaloo]

IMHO certain members of the media are trying to create controversy-- and hence a story-- where none really exists. The Celtics are relevant again and it comes with the territory.

These Rondo articles are becomeing as tiresome as the ones about Garnett's knee.

I'd have to agree. Maybe it's not so much that stuff is being leaked, but rather the media is making a big deal out of nothing.

This is what Tommy had to say about some of the Rondo criticism from a few days ago:

Heinsohn: "[The perception that Rivers has an issue with Rondo is] ridiculous. Doc’s not knocking the kid, he’s an ex-point guard trying to get the best out of him. Rondo has terrific confidence, he’s 23 years old, he has Hall of Fame potential. So what if he doesn't have a 3-point shot. He has a terrific basketball mind. He's the best athlete on the team. Making a big deal [out of Rivers’s comments] is just talk-show stuff, something to flap about. Rondo’s the closest thing the Celtics have had since [Bob] Cousy. He’s a master of the offense, he's aggressive, he controls the pace. Without him, this team goes nowhere, all right?

"You write this: ‘Tommy says leave the kid alone!' "

[moiso]

For instance, I know that Baron Davis frequently ignores Dunleavy's play calls and does whatever he wants to do.  I hope Rondo isn't doing this kind of thing.

Do you have insider (or get ESPN the Magazine)?  It doesn't say that Rondo ignores Doc, but it does say that he challenges him a lot.  Apparently, Rondo never just says "okay, coach" -- he needs to be convinced why his preferred method isn't just as good.  I guess that can be frustrating / a distraction at times.

I can see both sides of that particular issue.  I think players need to listen to their coach, but I also understand why things sink in better when you understand the reasoning behind them.  In the end, so long as the player understands it's not a democracy, I think a little give-and-take can be okay.  However, from the article it sounds like Rondo goes a bit over the line (which is why he's been considered difficult to coach in high school, college, and now the pros.)

yes.

[Brickowski]

Pengaloo, I was about to post the same quote from Heinsohn, but you beat me to it.

[billysan]

For instance, I know that Baron Davis frequently ignores Dunleavy's play calls and does whatever he wants to do.  I hope Rondo isn't doing this kind of thing.

Do you have insider (or get ESPN the Magazine)?  It doesn't say that Rondo ignores Doc, but it does say that he challenges him a lot.  Apparently, Rondo never just says "okay, coach" -- he needs to be convinced why his preferred method isn't just as good.  I guess that can be frustrating / a distraction at times.
I can see both sides of that particular issue.  I think players need to listen to their coach, but I also understand why things sink in better when you understand the reasoning behind them.  In the end, so long as the player understands it's not a democracy, I think a little give-and-take can be okay.  However, from the article it sounds like Rondo goes a bit over the line (which is why he's been considered difficult to coach in high school, college, and now the pros.)

yes.

After a little lite research, it is easy to finding references to this type of behavior with Rondo. Apparently he did it frequently with Tubby Smith at Kentucky. He admitted it in one interview that I saw, but went back to Smith at seasons end to discuss it. Rondo saying he felt like it was just two opinions but that 'the coach was right' at the end of the day. Tubby also later that same year advised Rondo to go into the NBA Draft, telling him he was ready.

Some Kentucky Wildcat bloggers made comments on how Rondo did his own thing if he didnt agree with Smith and that was a source of frustration. He was accused of not following the game plan and therefore being responsible for several losses because of it. This is just opinon of course by Wildcat fans and is not factual but often where there is smoke there is fire.

[ForexPirate]

If Rondo shows up just in time for practices and games so that one little traffic jam makes him late just so he doesn't have to mix with his team mates, that's a problem. 1) As the leader of the team, he needs to build relationships not just know where his team mates like to get the ball.  2) His team mates know that he needs more work on his game but Rondo doesn't come early to work on those things.  3) Sometimes he goes all out, some times he doesn't.  There was a saying that as Rondo goes, so does the team.  Rondo doesn't show up every game.  I think his team mates would like him a lot more if he showed that he cared enough to create relationships and work on his game and compete every night. Rondo is too stubborn in his ways to do what is necessary to be great. Rondo has huge potential but he isn't doing enough to reach that potential.  I don't think he is a cancer, just a festering wound that is too stubborn to heal.