STOP with the Rondo bashing...give him a break!

[chambers]

Ok he's had a bad month.
We've lost 1st seed.
BIG DEAL.
this team would be NOTHING without him. If you think paul pierce and ray and KG are important then you have another thing coming if you think Rondo needs to be benched or 'shopped in the off season'. Seriously?
Where would this team be over the past 3 years without the kid?
This guy has logged more minutes than everyone and he is obviously exhausted and probably carrying some kind of nagging injury or two at least.
Just thank god his slump is coming now (similarly as it did this time last year when the entire starting 5 were exhausted) and not one month from now in a 7 game series vs the Bulls or Heat. The guy has the record to prove it.
WAKE UP CELTICS FANS! SHOW SOME RESPECT AND GIVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT!!

[barefacedmonk]

TP Chambers.

[RJ87]

Rondo's the Devil. We have to trade him. Immediately. Worst PG in the league by far - the coaches had no idea what they were doing when they voted him in as an All-Star 2 years in a row.... Any guy that gets into a slump can't come out of it.

This should cover all the posts that are about to bombard this thread.

[ejk3489]

I have no problem with people pointing out that Rondo is playing badly right now. He is, it's been a rough stretch for him.

But people are acting like this has been a continuing trend all season when that has clearly not been the case. I mean people are treating him like he's Gabe Pruitt.

I would think Rondo has earned the respect of fans and would be given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his play. Guess not.

[RJ87]

I have no problem with people pointing out that Rondo is playing badly right now. He is, it's been a rough stretch for him.

But people are acting like this has been a continuing trend all season when that has clearly not been the case. I mean people are treating him like he's Gabe Pruitt.

I would think Rondo has earned the respect of fans and would be given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his play. Guess not.

A voice of reason in all the madness? Say it ain't so.

Let me say, I love the kid - I think he's a great player. But he is playing poorly right now for whatever reason and it should be discussed, but all the posts calling for his head just seem a bit much.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

Rondo deserves to be bashed right now. Obviously saying he needs to be traded or benched is over the top but the guys playing like absolute crap. It's just pathetic. I dont know how many good passes he's passed up over the last several games missing KG and Green in particular.

[Adelaide Celt]

Was going to start a new topic on this but will now include the post here:




What's wrong with Rondo and how can coaches + team help?

Sorry to start yet another thread on Rajon but would like to see this one contain only positive solutions on how to get the man back up and running.

Not being an excellent jump shooter has never stopped Rondo being an excellent player till just lately. Obviously it's always been great when he can hit the open ones but he doesn't need to do that to be effective, we all know this.

Is the problem purely mental? Still missing Perk terribly, not interested till playoffs?

Is the problem physical? The planter fasciitis he has had bothering him? Some new injury? Too many minutes?

Would hate to think it's a combination of both.

If it's mental do we need to have Doc have a good sit-down chat with him to thrash it out?

Do we need to reach out to Perk and hope that we can convince him to assure Rondo that he's happy now where he is and there's no point still being upset about it?

If it's physical do we need him to start sharing more minutes with Arroyo and West when he's back? NOT SUGGESTING WHOLESALE BENCHING/NOT STARTING HIM AS MANY OTHERS HAVE! It was hard enough to get him to sit with that sprained ankle he did in the game at NY.

The only way I would have him on the bench for extended periods is if he's not playing at all. Which, if he has an injury that's limiting him, may be the best option.

SICK OF SEEING PEOPLE KICK THE GUY WHILE HE'S DOWN!!! WHY NOT TRY TO PICK HIM BACK UP INSTEAD!?

Rajon has always struck me as a proud individual who surely couldn't be liking this anymore than us. His talents haven't simply disappeared, he's just in a slump. How do we help him?

[PosImpos]

I think people just get frustrated when we've all seen that Rondo can play at a really high level - that he can be the best player on the team - and yet he goes through stretches where he seems like '08 Rondo again (a role player).

Hearing over and over that Rondo is the future of the franchise and listening to claims that he might be the best PG in the game and then seeing him play like he did tonight is pretty disappointing.

I think he must be dealing with some kind of injury, or else his head is just not in it.  I'm concerned because it seems to have been going on for a while now, and unless I'm mistaken the time frame has coincided roughly with Perk being traded. 

[vinnie]

I love rondo. That said, here are a few points:

1. While Rondo is a freakish athlete, I think it is fair to say that his game might be helped a little by the fact that he has played  with three future hall of famers for four years.

2. Right now the guy is playing like he really doesn't care.  There is no aggression in his game. And, given that he is the "engine that stirs the drink," the offense stinks right now because he is not interested.

[Adelaide Celt]

Would love to hear some words from Doc on what he makes of Rajon's current situation. I hope he's got some ideas on how to help him out of this rough patch.

[PosImpos]

I love rondo. That said, here are a few points:

1. While Rondo is a freakish athlete, I think it is fair to say that his game might be helped a little by the fact that he has played  with three future hall of famers for four years.

2. Right now the guy is playing like he really doesn't care.  There is no aggression in his game. And, given that he is the "engine that stirs the drink," the offense stinks right now because he is not interested.

Sounds about spot on as usual.

[MattG12]

Big TP to the OP!

[ejk3489]

Would love to hear some words from Doc on what he makes of Rajon's current situation. I hope he's got some ideas on how to help him out of this rough patch.

Doc was asked about this on the postgame tonight and he more or less said that there is nothing wrong with Rondo, he's just struggling right now. Said that he's not the first player to go through it and he won't be the last.

Whether that's true or not, who knows. Still not sold on Rondo not having any injuries...at the very least I think his plantar fasciitis is still effecting him.

[mmbaby]

TP to OP for the title and an insightful post.

Personally.....I think Rhondo is playing hurt and needs a rest. Really, that simple.

Maybe a little of the same for Paul Pierce.

They'll be ready for the playoffs if given some rest time. Both of these players are always on the floor (or it seems like they are, especially Rhondo)

[CoachBo]

I have no problem with people pointing out that Rondo is playing badly right now. He is, it's been a rough stretch for him.

But people are acting like this has been a continuing trend all season when that has clearly not been the case. I mean people are treating him like he's Gabe Pruitt.

I would think Rondo has earned the respect of fans and would be given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his play. Guess not.

Good post. There is nothing new here. Rondo's play historically has been fairly uneven. His highs are pretty high, which makes any lows as noticeable as they are now.

It's impossible to know what's going on right now if you're not in the locker room. Something most assuredly is, but the best solution is to let Doc solve it.