Are we equal a threat w/Robinson??

[celtics2]

I don't see us losing all that much with Rondo out. Am I just getting giddy over the success of the Season so far? Robinson is as durable as a 16 lb. bowling ball and makes the defense spread out some. Nah, maybe even huh?

[snively]

Robinson makes us much more vulnerable defensively and puts Ray and Pierce into prominent playmaking roles.  They do better as playmakers with Robinson in Rondo's stead due to his excellent jump-shooting, but they don't get the same quality of looks for themselves that Rondo can get them.

The ideal set-up remains Rondo creating for Pierce, Ray, KG and Shaq, not Ray/Pierce creating for Nate/KG/Shaq and themselves.

[Fafnir]

I don't see us losing all that much with Rondo out. Am I just getting giddy over the success of the Season so far? Robinson is as durable as a 16 lb. bowling ball and makes the defense spread out some. Nah, maybe even huh?

We lose quite a lot without Rondo, our offense is less able to get the ball into the post and we lose our best penetrator.

Defensively Nate is at disadvantage against most players, in particular he has trouble closing out on shooter because of his size. If we play a guard that can post up it will be really bad too.

[Witch-King]

Call me an optimist, however I'm thinking the Celtics will be able to survive without the likes of Rajon Rondo until he can return from his ankle injury. There is only one game between now and the Celtics-Magic/Heat-Lakers doubleheader on Christmas Day (Shaquille O'Neal has played for all four teams on Christmas Day's doubleheader, and has been to the Finals with each team besides the Boston Celtics); from that point Rajon would probably still be on the inactive list for maybe 10 days or so. From Christmas onward 3 out of four of the next games we play are very winnable.

Look at it this way; we are only one game behind the Spurs for the best record in the league. I'm thinking that the Celtics have what it takes to defeat the Orlando Magic Christmas day again like they did last season.

Unfortunately for us, we won't get the opportunity to face the Lakers until January 30th so we definitely have to stay competitive through the next month. By that time Rondo will be healthy and Shaquille O'Neal will play his first game at Staples Center as, dare I say it, A BOSTON CELTIC!!!!!!1!1!!

That game could be a bigger deal than the Heat-Cavaliers game in Cleveland earlier this month...

[Chief]

I don't think so. The offense stalls too much with Nate. He is a great back up though.

[kozlodoev]

I don't see us losing all that much with Rondo out. Am I just getting giddy over the success of the Season so far? Robinson is as durable as a 16 lb. bowling ball and makes the defense spread out some. Nah, maybe even huh?

It's a luxury to have a backup of Robinson's capacity, but it's clear that everything comes by much harder when Rondo is not on the floor. That doesn't make us a bad team with him in the starting lineup, and doesn't make Nate a bad player, but is rather a testament to Rondo's value to the team.

[Junkyard Dawg]

yeah they've fared better than I thought they would.  with this offense though you really see what you're missing with rajon... for example, and I think jon barry said it perfect the other night during that knicks game, with ray coming off screens, you don't realize how well-placed/well-timed those passes are from rondo until you see nate doing it like one second off, and it messing ray's shot up.

having said that, nate has been doing a terrific job and we are very lucky to have him.

[greenpride32]

As much as I love Rondo, I've always felt he got too much credit for the C's success the past two seasons.  I'm not trying to take anything away from Rondo, but this just shows how good the talent is around him. Despite the advanced age of the four future hall of famers, they still carry the team, not the other way around. 

Having said that, the initial ball movement on offense is not as good without Rondo, and we have some stagnant possesions here and there.  But once the guys start picking and screening, it really matters no with or without Rondo.  All of our offense weapons are good passers with the exception of BBD (never looks to pass always shoots even if he has to force it).

Also, our team is so deep that we can still win with 2 key guys out. 

[Bahku]

Nate is doing a great job, but he has a completely different game, and poses a different (outside) threat. He's obviously not the unselfish assist-leader that Rajon is, nor does he see the floor as well. Great to have Nate off the bench, though.

[rohanzsta]

As much as I love Rondo, I've always felt he got too much credit for the C's success the past two seasons. 

the only part that bothers me is when people say "Rondo is only good because of the big three" - and then these same people later say "the big three are so old, they only perform well because rondo does all the dirty work and sets them up easily" - its like... dammmmit, pick a side!! loll

 /end rant

[housecall]

There couldn't have been a better situation for Rondo to development under,alongside three veteran all star players.Now Rondo is equally as important to their success as a team.He has earned his "wings"so to speak to call them the Big4.I like the different type of game Nate brings because its harder for teams to make the adjustments to the two different types of pgs.

[ben]

Let me explain this.  People don't understand how good Robinson actually is.  He is VERY underated, and he is actually probably better than almost half of the starting pointguards in the league.  That is why we are doing well with out Rondo. However,   we  really are best with Rondo as the starting point guard and Rondo is a better overall player than Robinson. 

It is great to have these two talented players, rondo and robinson, on the team because their games are soo different.  Both are great defenders, but they play defense completely different ways.  Rondo is a sneaky and very clever defender, allows pointguards to do certain things but finds opportune times to make steals, poke from behind with long arms, and tricks them into thinking he's not paying attention and surprises people.  Robinson is a lot more disciplined and less creative defender, making it his obssession to stay in front of his man, using his speed to no matter what be inbetween his man and the basket, and he is one of the best at this technique.  On offense, robinson is a great shooter obviously, bettter than rondo, but Rondo is better in every other way on offense, clever passing, intelligence, knows the plays like the palm of his hand, gets everyone involved at the right times.  Man, its nice to have not only a deep team, but a team with a variety of skills that make it overwhelming for the opposition to be able to prepare for all that we can throw at them. 

[xmuscularghandix]

Not even close, in today’s game we turned the ball over way too much, and in the last game Nate couldn’t figure out how to get Ray in his sweet spots. Pierce is saving us right now… this team is Rondo’s team.

[Celtics4ever]

I think he is more than servicable.   All the blokes saying we needed another PG are exposed somewhat as we are ok as long as one of them is healthy.  Heck, Dennis Johnson wasn't a pure PG but he got the job done and contributed mightily.  Nate can get the job done. 

I like our ball movement better with Rondo and he makes everyone on the court with him better.   But Nate has a lot more threat of offense and can spread a defense better with his jumper.  Both bring different things to the table.

This should help us come the playoffs.  Getting some rest for Rajon and PT for Nate will help us changeup if needed on teams.

[Bankshot]

Not even close, in today’s game we turned the ball over way too much, and in the last game Nate couldn’t figure out how to get Ray in his sweet spots. Pierce is saving us right now… this team is Rondo’s team.

Sorry, Rondo is great, but this is PP's team.