Doc concerned with opposing PG's production

[Chris]

Rondo has trouble fighting over picks set by opposing bigs too. This is not something he can solve, for he has not the body to fight it. I think he should get better help.

Well, there is a difference between having trouble fighting over picks, and getting caught up every time.  Yes, he needs better help defense from the bigs, but he also needs to learn how to get through picks to limit the damage.  He is too quick to be getting caught up on very pick. 

[Chief]

I'll take Rondo's strengths over his weaknesses. In time, hopefully, his defense will improve. Until then, help defense is a priority.

[moiso]

It's funny how all the experts say Rondo is an elite defender, and all the bloggers think his defense needs a lot of work.  Hollinger has him in his top 5 for defensive player of year.

[Chris]

It's funny how all the experts say Rondo is an elite defender, and all the bloggers think his defense needs a lot of work.  Hollinger has him in his top 5 for defensive player of year.

Because a lot of the experts are idiots?  Or they just don't watch him play every night. 

[Fafnir]

It's funny how all the experts say Rondo is an elite defender, and all the bloggers think his defense needs a lot of work.  Hollinger has him in his top 5 for defensive player of year.

I think many of the experts have a bit more perspective on his overall defensive talents and impact when compared to other PGs.

Also a lot of Rondo's defensive value comes from his overall disruptive talents, not his man to man defense.

[PLamb]

It's funny how all the experts say Rondo is an elite defender, and all the bloggers think his defense needs a lot of work.  Hollinger has him in his top 5 for defensive player of year.

Because a lot of the experts are idiots?  Or they just don't watch him play every night. 

Or bloggers just don't get to watch the play of all the other PGs every night to compare Rondo to

Or maybe a little bit of both

[moiso]

It's funny how all the experts say Rondo is an elite defender, and all the bloggers think his defense needs a lot of work.  Hollinger has him in his top 5 for defensive player of year.

Because a lot of the experts are idiots?  Or they just don't watch him play every night. 

Or bloggers just don't get to watch the play of all the other PGs every night to compare Rondo to

Or maybe a little bit of both

True.  And it's easy to nitpick but there aren't many point guards that you would rather have defensively.  I can't think of one.  Imagine if we had someone like Mike Bibby and we had to watch opposing points blow by him like he's in quicksand time after time. 

[Fan from VT]

http://www.82games.com/0910/0910BOS5.HTM


Take with a grain of salt, but considering how much energy Rondo has to spend on offense with Ray and Paul noticeably regressing a bit, our defensive PER vs. point guards is pretty good.

[Eeyore III]

What needs to happen is someone needs to light a fire under Rondo, and convince him that if he does not work harder on defense, then this team is not going to succeed.  Of course that is tough to do when you don't have a viable option off the bench.

I couldn't agree more. 

[Chris]

It's funny how all the experts say Rondo is an elite defender, and all the bloggers think his defense needs a lot of work.  Hollinger has him in his top 5 for defensive player of year.

Because a lot of the experts are idiots?  Or they just don't watch him play every night. 

Or bloggers just don't get to watch the play of all the other PGs every night to compare Rondo to

Or maybe a little bit of both

That's fair.  But I could care less of how terrible the other PG's are.  This team needs to play elite defense if they are going to win.  Right now, Rondo is not playing up to his capabilities, and it is causing a problem.  I don't care if by comparison, he is the best in the league (which I don't believe for a second...I do watch a lot of basketball), the fact is, he is not doing the job for this team right now, despite the fact that we have seen that he is capable of it.

[Who]

Russell Westbrook is the only starting point guard that I think plays better defense than Rondo.

Raymond Felton is a close call though.

[Who]

Russell Westbrook is the only starting point guard that I think plays better defense than Rondo.

Raymond Felton is a close call though.

Out of backup guards -- Kyle Lowry and George Hill are right there too. Rodrigue Beaubois. Oh, I forgot Kirk Hinrich. Starting at SG these days. He's a very good defender.

Possibly -- Keyon Dooling and Shannon Brown.

Anyway, I think Rondo is clearly in the top tier of defenders at his position. And in terms of starting PGs, I think he's either the second or third best in the league (Westbrook is #1).

[guava_wrench]

Why doesn't Doc talk about Ray's defense?  That's been killing them too.  He's quick to talk publicly about young players, but he won't mention the lack of defense, etc. by one of the vets.  Wasn't it Ray that was guarding Miller a lot in the Portland game?

That being said, Rondo needs to be better defensively.

It is pointless to mention these things unless the person can improve. Rondo can improve. Ray is what he is at this point in his career.

Sometimes you have to accept the things you can't change.

[Chris]

Russell Westbrook is the only starting point guard that I think plays better defense than Rondo.

Raymond Felton is a close call though.

Deron Williams is a better defender IMO.  Chris Paul is pretty even with Rondo.  They both get burned a lot, but get a ton of steals.  Chris Duhon is a better defender.  Tony Parker is comparable.  Tyreke Evans is close, as is Rodney Stuckey.  Derek Rose is also solid.

[Who]

Russell Westbrook is the only starting point guard that I think plays better defense than Rondo.

Raymond Felton is a close call though.

Deron Williams is a better defender IMO.  Chris Paul is pretty even with Rondo.  They both get burned a lot, but get a ton of steals.  Chris Duhon is a better defender.  Tony Parker is comparable.  Tyreke Evans is close, as is Rodney Stuckey.  Derek Rose is also solid.

If Stuckey played with more focus + effort defensively, he'd be a lot better than Rondo.

Stuckey is extremely impressive when he's locked in defensively.