Rondo is not an average point guard. Average players don't accomplish the things he has accomplished to this point.
Having said that, he has obvious warts to his game. Would I trade him for CP3, Deron Williams, or Rose, in a NY minute, but those guys are the best young PG's in the league. Rondo is not the problem. It's just because we are playing so terribly right now, its easy to pick on the "warts".
While I agree with the notion of Paul for Rondo, Williams and Rose are inferior players (Rose being the least productive of this quartet).
Rondo has actually outperformed Williams in productivity their last 4 seasons in the league (of course, you always have to pace-adjust for 48 minutes).
For example,
Rondo (rookie):
43.1% (Adj.FG%),
7.8 assists,
4.7 personal fouls,
13.1 points scored,
7.6 rebounds,
3.3 steals, and
3.7 turnovers;
posted a 0.189 wp48 in 06-07.
D-Will (sophomore):
49.6% (Adj.FG%),
12.1 assists,
4.2 personal fouls,
21.1 points scored,
4.3 rebounds,
1.3 steals, and
4.1 turnovers;
posted a 0.149 wp48 in 06-07.
When comparing their (per 48 minute) stats, one can see where Rondo and Williams were
below-average and
above-average.
While at first glance it does appear as if Rondo is the less productive player, when you actually measure the mean value (
above-average performance versus
below-average performance), the net sum of Williams' season is one that is slightly below that of (the rookie) Rondo's.
In their third season and fourth season (respectively), the disparity in production was even more noticeable.
Rondo (last season):
51.6% (Adj.FG%),
12.1 assists,
3.4 personal fouls,
17.3 points scored,
7.6 rebounds,
2.8 steals,
3.8 turnovers;
posted a 0.332 wp48 in 08-09.
D-Will (last season):
50.3% (Adj.FG%),
14.0 assists,
2.6 personal fouls,
25.3 points scored,
3.7 rebounds,
1.4 steals,
4.4 turnovers;
posted a 0.228 wp48 in 08-09.
This season, Rondo's play has declined somewhat (in comparison to last year), whereas Williams is playing slightly better.
Rondo though, is still the better point guard.
