Rajon Rondo: Your 2010-2011 NBA MVP???

[dark_lord]

its been 5 games. i know people are happy and excited about his play (i am too!), but its 5 games.  same goes for the bbd 6th man talk

[Bingbangbarros]

Hate to bash Rondo but I have a difficult time accepting someone as MVP when you really don't have to guard him unless he has the ball. I know we sort of blew it against LA but he was a big reason why we lost the series. Kobe could do whatever he wanted on defense, paying almost no attention to Rondo. He's definitely one of the top PGs but I don't think MVP's should have many flaws or negatives in their game and he has a few too many.

  The Lakers defense only worked because Ray missed 24 of his last 28 three pointers. If he'd have hit them at close to the same clip after Artest kneed him that he was for the rest of the playoffs we'd probably have won games 4 and 7 (if the series had gone that far.

You can always say what if? What if Ray didn't hit 8 of 11 3's in game 2. Maybe we would have lost that game.  He was 7-14 and 3-14 in the last 2 losses. The Celtics scored 67 and 79 points. Kobe did not have to guard Rondo. This made the offense suffer. This happens against good teams. I love Rondo but this shouldn't happen to an MVP.

I honestly think Rondo is a good shooter inside the 3pt line. When he shoots it off the dribble from about 17 ft and in, he's pretty successful. When he's left wide open he's not.

He's outstanding at just about everything else which makes up for his shortcomings but there's no way he'll win the MVP.

[2short]

it is way too early for such thoughts
  but if he keeps this up he has to be one of the 5 guys in consideration
kg defensive player of year
danny gm of the year
davis 6th man
von wafer most improved  i crack myself up sometimes

[mgent]

Hate to bash Rondo but I have a difficult time accepting someone as MVP when you really don't have to guard him unless he has the ball. I know we sort of blew it against LA but he was a big reason why we lost the series. Kobe could do whatever he wanted on defense, paying almost no attention to Rondo. He's definitely one of the top PGs but I don't think MVP's should have many flaws or negatives in their game and he has a few too many.

  The Lakers defense only worked because Ray missed 24 of his last 28 three pointers. If he'd have hit them at close to the same clip after Artest kneed him that he was for the rest of the playoffs we'd probably have won games 4 and 7 (if the series had gone that far.

You can always say what if? What if Ray didn't hit 8 of 11 3's in game 2. Maybe we would have lost that game.  He was 7-14 and 3-14 in the last 2 losses. The Celtics scored 67 and 79 points. Kobe did not have to guard Rondo. This made the offense suffer. This happens against good teams. I love Rondo but this shouldn't happen to an MVP.

I honestly think Rondo is a good shooter inside the 3pt line. When he shoots it off the dribble from about 17 ft and in, he's pretty successful. When he's left wide open he's not.

He's outstanding at just about everything else which makes up for his shortcomings but there's no way he'll win the MVP.

I think all the fouls made the offense suffer more than Kobe.

[greenpride32]

If Rondo averages 15 APG there is no way he'll get 14 PPG.  Not on this team.  We're not likely to average much more than 100 PPG as a team.

[Jon]

They talked about it on PTI the other day, comparing him to Steve Nash in terms of how much he helps his teammates.  Ultimately, the panel decided, though, that he wasn't the shooter Nash was, and thus couldn't win it.  

What they forgot of course is that Rondo is already twice (if not more) the defender that Steve Nash ever was.  And basketball is a two-direction game.  For that reason, I think Rondo deserves consideration.  He's a better defender than half the people in the MVP discussion.

Still, I ultimately agree with the general premise that he won't get it because he doesn't score enough.  Unfortunately, gaudy stats (with points being the most important) are usually what earns the award.  

[BballTim]

Hate to bash Rondo but I have a difficult time accepting someone as MVP when you really don't have to guard him unless he has the ball. I know we sort of blew it against LA but he was a big reason why we lost the series. Kobe could do whatever he wanted on defense, paying almost no attention to Rondo. He's definitely one of the top PGs but I don't think MVP's should have many flaws or negatives in their game and he has a few too many.

  The Lakers defense only worked because Ray missed 24 of his last 28 three pointers. If he'd have hit them at close to the same clip after Artest kneed him that he was for the rest of the playoffs we'd probably have won games 4 and 7 (if the series had gone that far.

You can always say what if? What if Ray didn't hit 8 of 11 3's in game 2. Maybe we would have lost that game.  He was 7-14 and 3-14 in the last 2 losses. The Celtics scored 67 and 79 points. Kobe did not have to guard Rondo. This made the offense suffer. This happens against good teams. I love Rondo but this shouldn't happen to an MVP.

  Kobe covering Rondo put Fisher on Ray, and Fisher couldn't cover Ray. He had a good first half in game 2, Kobe had to cover him and Rondo had a big second half. Ray got plenty of wide open threes with Kobe on Rondo and he was hitting about 44% of them before Artest kneed him in the thigh, 14% after. If players hit open shots when Rondo got them the ball the offense would have been good enough.

I honestly think Rondo is a good shooter inside the 3pt line. When he shoots it off the dribble from about 17 ft and in, he's pretty successful. When he's left wide open he's not.

  He's been left pretty open this year and from my point of view he's been fairly successful. I keep hearing about how tremendously difficult it is for the Celts to score in the half court with Rondo on the court, and then the games come on and I see the opposite.

[Bingbangbarros]

Hate to bash Rondo but I have a difficult time accepting someone as MVP when you really don't have to guard him unless he has the ball. I know we sort of blew it against LA but he was a big reason why we lost the series. Kobe could do whatever he wanted on defense, paying almost no attention to Rondo. He's definitely one of the top PGs but I don't think MVP's should have many flaws or negatives in their game and he has a few too many.

  The Lakers defense only worked because Ray missed 24 of his last 28 three pointers. If he'd have hit them at close to the same clip after Artest kneed him that he was for the rest of the playoffs we'd probably have won games 4 and 7 (if the series had gone that far.

You can always say what if? What if Ray didn't hit 8 of 11 3's in game 2. Maybe we would have lost that game.  He was 7-14 and 3-14 in the last 2 losses. The Celtics scored 67 and 79 points. Kobe did not have to guard Rondo. This made the offense suffer. This happens against good teams. I love Rondo but this shouldn't happen to an MVP.

  Kobe covering Rondo put Fisher on Ray, and Fisher couldn't cover Ray. He had a good first half in game 2, Kobe had to cover him and Rondo had a big second half. Ray got plenty of wide open threes with Kobe on Rondo and he was hitting about 44% of them before Artest kneed him in the thigh, 14% after. If players hit open shots when Rondo got them the ball the offense would have been good enough.

I honestly think Rondo is a good shooter inside the 3pt line. When he shoots it off the dribble from about 17 ft and in, he's pretty successful. When he's left wide open he's not.

  He's been left pretty open this year and from my point of view he's been fairly successful. I keep hearing about how tremendously difficult it is for the Celts to score in the half court with Rondo on the court, and then the games come on and I see the opposite.

He definitely helps the offense especially when he has the ball.  I wish he had the ball in his hands more often against LA. He gets his teammates good shots. Things would have been different if Pierce, Allen or KG were hot.  When considering him for MVP, I just feel like there are so many times where good teams can play our scorers differently by playing off Rondo and in the half court that hurts the offense. If he's the MVP that shouldn't happen.

As far as his shooting, I wish he would shoot more. I feel like he does hit the open shots but the stats from Hollinger or Truehoop always seem to show differently. He would probably hit a better percent if he took more of them.

Right now he's passing way too much, going for assists and thats adding to his turnovers and botched fast breaks where he's passing off instead of scoring.

[BballTim]

As far as his shooting, I wish he would shoot more. I feel like he does hit the open shots but the stats from Hollinger or Truehoop always seem to show differently. He would probably hit a better percent if he took more of them.

Right now he's passing way too much, going for assists and thats adding to his turnovers and botched fast breaks where he's passing off instead of scoring.

  Of course, his highest point total this year, the game where he passed the least, was our only loss of the season.

[cornbreadsmart]

     I'll say this,as awesome as Kevin Durant is, it's crazy how he's being called almost the front runner to win the award this year.
     I think the Thunder will fight just to get in the playoffs. He is not close to Lebron right now.Lebron is a waaay better at defense(half of the game), better at dribble driving,passing. I would agree that Durant is a more fluid player. Lebron dominates more because of his freakish speed and strength so i guess I can see that argument. I think Kobe is clearly better than Durant as well.

[PosImpos]

Rondo isn't going to average 15 assists per game.

He may lead the league in assists, and possibly in steals, too.  But he won't win MVP.

He would need to develop a reliable jumpshot overnight and start scoring over 15 points a game while bringing in more than 5 rebounds a game.

It just isn't going to happen.  Rondo isn't the type of player who will win MVPs anyway.  Maybe someday he'll win Finals MVP.

[2short]

They talked about it on PTI the other day, comparing him to Steve Nash in terms of how much he helps his teammates.  Ultimately, the panel decided, though, that he wasn't the shooter Nash was, and thus couldn't win it.  

What they forgot of course is that Rondo is already twice (if not more) the defender that Steve Nash ever was.  And basketball is a two-direction game.  For that reason, I think Rondo deserves consideration.  He's a better defender than half the people in the MVP discussion.

Still, I ultimately agree with the general premise that he won't get it because he doesn't score enough.  Unfortunately, gaudy stats (with points being the most important) are usually what earns the award.  

tp
nash won 3? mvps in a row and his defense would hurt his team
rondo has to be considered one of the top 3 defenders in the nba at pg posistion

[BballTim]

Rondo isn't going to average 15 assists per game.

He may lead the league in assists, and possibly in steals, too.  But he won't win MVP.

He would need to develop a reliable jumpshot overnight and start scoring over 15 points a game while bringing in more than 5 rebounds a game.

It just isn't going to happen.  Rondo isn't the type of player who will win MVPs anyway.  Maybe someday he'll win Finals MVP.

  Is that the same jumpshot he needs to develop to become a decent starter in the nba, or even be considered for an all-star spot? Just curious.

[greenpride32]

  Is that the same jumpshot he needs to develop to become a decent starter in the nba, or even be considered for an all-star spot? Just curious.

It's the jumpshot that cost him a roster spot on the USA "B" team.  He may not even get invited to an A team tryout.  Don't get me wrong; I'm a Rondo fan.  But being a fan of his is one thing; thinking he is one of the best players in the league is another.  I've said it many times and I'll say it again, Rondo would not be a star at this stage of his career if he didn't play for a stacked team.  He doesn't need to shoot because everyone else on the floor can, so it covers his one glaring weakness.  Throw him on a team without talent and his weakness is exposed.  He is obviously very skilled and excels in other areas of the game; and is very fun to watch.  But he needs to be able to score from 10 feet out to be considered elite. 

If the game was on the line and he played with poor offensive players around him, he would not be effective at winning the game for you; that's the difference between elite and being a good player.  Look at the Bucks game last night; left him wide open for the last shot and he couldn't make it.  It's just one shot, but he clearly is not comfortable in taking it.

[Brendan]

  Is that the same jumpshot he needs to develop to become a decent starter in the nba, or even be considered for an all-star spot? Just curious.

It's the jumpshot that cost him a roster spot on the USA "B" team.  He may not even get invited to an A team tryout.  Don't get me wrong; I'm a Rondo fan.  But being a fan of his is one thing; thinking he is one of the best players in the league is another.  I've said it many times and I'll say it again, Rondo would not be a star at this stage of his career if he didn't play for a stacked team.  He doesn't need to shoot because everyone else on the floor can, so it covers his one glaring weakness.  Throw him on a team without talent and his weakness is exposed.  He is obviously very skilled and excels in other areas of the game; and is very fun to watch.  But he needs to be able to score from 10 feet out to be considered elite. 

If the game was on the line and he played with poor offensive players around him, he would not be effective at winning the game for you; that's the difference between elite and being a good player.  Look at the Bucks game last night; left him wide open for the last shot and he couldn't make it.  It's just one shot, but he clearly is not comfortable in taking it.

That jump shot matters a lot more in international ball. Also when the A team is going to have guys that control the ball and need it in their hands to be effective at SG and SF - the PG has to be able to catch and shoot. You can get by with Kidd and Rondo for ASGs, but for elite international play, you are better off with a Billups type.