Rondo's stubbornness is disrespectful to everyone

[camboceltic]

I have learned to love Rondo for what he is.  I must say that I was the last person in my immediate and extended family to come around and embrace him.  For some reason, I have always seen past the flash and the highlights and nitpicked his game - it went beyond his elusive jump shot and concentrated more on his "punkness."  I abhor how he lets balls roll along before picking up the dribble (I know the reason for it, but it still looks ridiculous on TV) and even though his lobs and alley-oops guarantee easy, high percentage shots for the Celtics, I cannot help but hold my breath and think KG or Glenn Davis are a miscalculated pass away from a broken ankle.

But I can get past all of that because I really do accept the fact that Rajon Rondo is an amazing basketball player.  However, he needs to grow up and he needs to be a professional and he needs to protect his asset, which are his ankles, his legs, his hamstrings - his whole body.  He wears low-top basketball sneakers; never fully ties his sneakers and sometimes refuses to get taped up.  Do you wonder why he is having all these lower body/leg/foot problems?  Forget all the compression socks, leggings, arm sleeves, etc. - a player's most important gear are his sneakers.

If Rondo continues to be stubborn about these things, then he is being disrespectful to the game of basketball, his teammates, his coaches, his bosses who pay him dearly and most of all to himself because he is not allowing himself to be the best player he can be, which is the best player in the game.  Rajon, please wear high top sneakers and wear them properly.

[GreenEnvy]

I have learned to love Rondo for what he is.  I must say that I was the last person in my immediate and extended family to come around and embrace him.  For some reason, I have always seen past the flash and the highlights and nitpicked his game - it went beyond his elusive jump shot and concentrated more on his "punkness."  I abhor how he lets balls roll along before picking up the dribble (I know the reason for it, but it still looks ridiculous on TV) and even though his lobs and alley-oops guarantee easy, high percentage shots for the Celtics, I cannot help but hold my breath and think KG or Glenn Davis are a miscalculated pass away from a broken ankle.

But I can get past all of that because I really do accept the fact that Rajon Rondo is an amazing basketball player.  However, he needs to grow up and he needs to be a professional and he needs to protect his asset, which are his ankles, his legs, his hamstrings - his whole body.  He wears low-top basketball sneakers; never fully ties his sneakers and sometimes refuses to get taped up.  Do you wonder why he is having all these lower body/leg/foot problems?  Forget all the compression socks, leggings, arm sleeves, etc. - a player's most important gear are his sneakers.

If Rondo continues to be stubborn about these things, then he is being disrespectful to the game of basketball, his teammates, his coaches, his bosses who pay him dearly and most of all to himself because he is not allowing himself to be the best player he can be, which is the best player in the game.  Rajon, please wear high top sneakers and wear them properly.

I agree. The way he plays the game, he needs to realize he is only 24 and wants to still be playing at 34.

If he doesn't respect his body, he will be in Turkey like Iverson because it will break down. I understand that's his style, as it was Iverson's (which I'm sure he has no regrets, he had an excellent career), but he is on a contender and needs to look at the goal in hand.


My real problem with Rondo is that he now seems to be looking for assists TOO much, as in he wants to average 14 a game or something. He is not attacking or finishing like he should, and often making an extra pass he shouldn't. Nobody on this team looks like a stat-stuffer but him and his assists.

He's an exceptional passer, but at times he is forcing it IMO, as evident by his 4+ TO/g

[2short]

Yeah Tommy, Dave Cowens & Larry Bird should have played a bit easier to lengthen their careers. Bird was so cheap he wouldn't pay someone to shovel!
I can't comment anymore on the first 2 posters without being 

[fairweatherfan]

I've always wished Rondo would just adopt more of a Vince Carter attitude about minor injuries.  That's the surefire road to team success and league-wide respect. 

[dpaps]

I abhor how he lets balls roll along before picking up the dribble (I know the reason for it, but it still looks ridiculous on TV) and even though his lobs and alley-oops guarantee easy, high percentage shots for the Celtics, I cannot help but hold my breath and think KG or Glenn Davis are a miscalculated pass away from a broken ankle.

Ok when Rondo lets the ball roll before picking it up, it's so that clock won't start until he touches it. It may look ridiculous to you, but it's an intelligent basketball play and not disrespectful. He'd be a fool not to do it in certain situations.

As for throwing alley oops, they're part of the game, a deadly weapon at times and energize everyone. You even admit that they "guarantee" easy high percentage shots, but you don't like them because someone MIGHT get injured? Should all NBA players never jump? just stay on the floor and play like the WNBA?

Rondo isn't disrespectful to anyone, never mind everyone. He doesn't owe you anything. Ridiculous OP imo.

[BballTim]

I have learned to love Rondo for what he is.  I must say that I was the last person in my immediate and extended family to come around and embrace him.  For some reason, I have always seen past the flash and the highlights and nitpicked his game - it went beyond his elusive jump shot and concentrated more on his "punkness."  I abhor how he lets balls roll along before picking up the dribble (I know the reason for it, but it still looks ridiculous on TV) and even though his lobs and alley-oops guarantee easy, high percentage shots for the Celtics, I cannot help but hold my breath and think KG or Glenn Davis are a miscalculated pass away from a broken ankle.

But I can get past all of that because I really do accept the fact that Rajon Rondo is an amazing basketball player.  However, he needs to grow up and he needs to be a professional and he needs to protect his asset, which are his ankles, his legs, his hamstrings - his whole body.  He wears low-top basketball sneakers; never fully ties his sneakers and sometimes refuses to get taped up.  Do you wonder why he is having all these lower body/leg/foot problems?  Forget all the compression socks, leggings, arm sleeves, etc. - a player's most important gear are his sneakers.

If Rondo continues to be stubborn about these things, then he is being disrespectful to the game of basketball, his teammates, his coaches, his bosses who pay him dearly and most of all to himself because he is not allowing himself to be the best player he can be, which is the best player in the game.  Rajon, please wear high top sneakers and wear them properly.

I agree. The way he plays the game, he needs to realize he is only 24 and wants to still be playing at 34.

If he doesn't respect his body, he will be in Turkey like Iverson because it will break down. I understand that's his style, as it was Iverson's (which I'm sure he has no regrets, he had an excellent career), but he is on a contender and needs to look at the goal in hand.


My real problem with Rondo is that he now seems to be looking for assists TOO much, as in he wants to average 14 a game or something. He is not attacking or finishing like he should, and often making an extra pass he shouldn't. Nobody on this team looks like a stat-stuffer but him and his assists.

He's an exceptional passer, but at times he is forcing it IMO, as evident by his 4+ TO/g

  You guys should just stop watching him play. That'll fix his wagon.

[BballTim]

I've always wished Rondo would just adopt more of a Vince Carter attitude about minor injuries.  That's the surefire road to team success and league-wide respect. 

  Yes, maybe he could start staring at his ankle whenever he makes a bad pass.

[barefacedmonk]

Barkley on Rondo:

"He is the engine that stirs the drink."

****.

[LooseCannon]

I've always wished Rondo would just adopt more of a Vince Carter attitude about minor injuries.  That's the surefire road to team success and league-wide respect. 

He already has Jermaine O'Neal on the team to tutor him on how to deal with injuries.

[RJ87]

I abhor how he lets balls roll along before picking up the dribble (I know the reason for it, but it still looks ridiculous on TV) and even though his lobs and alley-oops guarantee easy, high percentage shots for the Celtics, I cannot help but hold my breath and think KG or Glenn Davis are a miscalculated pass away from a broken ankle.

Ok when Rondo lets the ball roll before picking it up, it's so that clock won't start until he touches it. It may look ridiculous to you, but it's an intelligent basketball play and not disrespectful. He'd be a fool not to do it in certain situations.

As for throwing alley oops, they're part of the game, a deadly weapon at times and energize everyone. You even admit that they "guarantee" easy high percentage shots, but you don't like them because someone MIGHT get injured? Should all NBA players never jump? just stay on the floor and play like the WNBA?

Rondo isn't disrespectful to anyone, never mind everyone. He doesn't owe you anything. Ridiculous OP imo.

TP for you, sir.
I didn't even know how to respond to the complaint about him throwing alley-oops. Like, really? That's a problem?

As far as this topic, it's overreaction much? He needs to grow up? Do you know him personally to make such an assessment of his character?

Look, what we know about this players are based on the media. We have no idea how he interacts with the training staff or coaches. Competitive players want the chance to play - this is the NBA; players play injured a lot - I can't even begin to imagine how many guys are nursing some variety of injuries already.

Just seems like some fans want to pick on Rondo regardless of what he does... Much ado about nothing.

[snively]

Barkley on Rondo:

"He is the engine that stirs the drink."

****.

Hehe. Love it.

[fairweatherfan]

Barkley on Rondo:

"He is the engine that stirs the drink."

****.

Hehe. Love it.

Barkley says Rondo's the MVP too.  And that the Knicks are a phony rivalry.  Guy was practically gushing over us tonight.

[Celtics4ever]

First of all, hightops don't protect jack and I point to countless sprains in them every year.  You must not follow the NBA because every game there is an ankle sprain and 99& of players wear high tops.  They offer above zero protection guy, they are not hard hats.

He isn't being disrespectful to Doc, by the way, the dude is simply a competative player.  He wants to be out and wants to ball even when he is hurt.  I found it refreshing the other night when he was protesting to be in the game.  But that being said, he has had his wings clipped for two weeks I heard.

Your right about him being an exceptional player.  He has phenomenal court vision and basketball IQ.  But you can't have it both ways.  Stubborness is what makes these guys good in the first place.   I am pretty sure his team-mates don't think he is disrespectful.  They seemed supportive of him last night.  

I suspect you have a beef with him, is you Sebastian?

p.s.  Its never good when Barkley is tooting your horn....

[camboceltic]

I prefaced my statements by saying that I knew why Rondo lets the ball roll, but it doesn't make much sense to me unless they really need to wind the clock down.  Tell me when you saw Cousey do something like that.  Just play the game.

I agree with @2short - there are too many stories about players who end their careers too early because they do not take care of their bodies. Tommy, Cowens, Bird, hell Bias for that matter did not take care of their bodies.  A modern day example would be another punk - Allen Iverson.  The examples of Vince Carter and JO are extreme and dumb - I expect individuals to play injured, but being injured because you do not take care of your body is plain stupid and inexcusable. 

As for high tops vs. low tops - I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many times Rondo has lost a sneaker during a game this season.  How many times has Paul or KG lost a sneaker?  Come on man, cut me some slack.  I'm not an idiot and these are smart questions to have regardless of how much man-love you have for Rondo. 

Also, high tops do protect ankles from sprains - the National Institute of Health agrees with me - (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1323436/).

Also -

http://www.celticsblog.com/2010/12/16/1879710/rondos-stubbornness-is-disrespectful-to-everyone

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/20101030new_rule_turns_rajon_rondos_headband_habit_upside-down/

http://solecollector.com/Sneakers/News/Rajon-Rondo-Likes-To-Wear-His-Shoes-Really-Weirdly/

Lastly, if he's not going to have two bad ankles in a few years, he's going to die in a car crash - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB4gVUBDP14

One.

[Edgar]

Barkley on Rondo:

"He is the engine that stirs the drink."

****.

Hehe. Love it.

Barkley says Rondo's the MVP too.  And that the Knicks are a phony rivalry.  Guy was practically gushing over us tonight.

he just want to scream

raaajon rondooooo