D'Antoni on Rondo : "I'd like to see him play on Minnesota and see how he does."

[BudweiserCeltic]

The other side of it is that the Celtics play at one of the slowest, if not the slowest, pace in the league.

[CeltsAcumen]

If D'Antoni coached the Timberwolves they would never win a game.  The guy's coaching philosophy is anti-Defense and he cries about losing.

Its ok D'Antoni, John Calapari will love working with Mello, Stodimire and Mr. Big Shot. You have fun on TNT.

[BballTim]

The other side of it is that the Celtics play at one of the slowest, if not the slowest, pace in the league.

  Yes, while Minny plays at the fastest pace in the league.

[OsirusCeltics]

Don't even try to rationalize what the village idiot says

[dtrader]

lol what has d'antoni done..

I understand how comments like these ruffle peoples feathers, but saying stuff like this is ridiculous. D'Antoni has had success at EVERY single level of basketball he's participated from player to coach.  It doesn't mske sense to say "he wouldn't be anything without nash" 1. - because he was part of the reason the Suns got nash in the 1st place, and 2.- He's had plenty of success at his other stops.  D'Antoni is proven.  He's also in line with what just about every analyst or commentator has ever said about Rondo.

He didn't say Rondo wasn't good. He didn't say he had a better player, or that his team would win. All he did, was allude to the (IMO) fact, that Rondo is in a more comfortable situation in terms of passing targets, than 99% of the leagues guards.

I for 1 agree with D'Antonis premise (if not his delivery). I don't think Rondo would play half as well with a lesser supporting cast. If he was on a different team, where he was the focus of the defense (without as lethal shooters as PP and Ray), he would be consistently pressured. That would result in less visibility on his passes, and him having to deal with defense on his shots (which simply doesnt exist now).  No team has such high fg% options as the C's so I don't see how it's reasonable to think his assist numbers would remain as high.

[Proveo]

I hate this sort of argument where somehow playing with greats is what makes a PG good. Hey, Derek Fisher plays with several all stars as well. Is he close to having the same impact Rondo has? Mario Chalmers is playing with 3 all stars. Is he anywhere near Rondo?

If playing with greats was all it took, good point guards wouldn't be so valuable.

Because those guys aren't good enough to dominate the ball in their teams, to even be the primary playmakers/ball-handlers.

Rondo would probably post up better individual numbers if surrounded by scoring role-players with good jump-shots and cutters, guys like, say, Morrow, Dorell Wright, Channing Frye, JaVale McGee.

They just wouldn't win so many games.

[dtrader]

I hate this sort of argument where somehow playing with greats is what makes a PG good. Hey, Derek Fisher plays with several all stars as well. Is he close to having the same impact Rondo has? Mario Chalmers is playing with 3 all stars. Is he anywhere near Rondo?

If playing with greats was all it took, good point guards wouldn't be so valuable.

Because those guys aren't good enough to dominate the ball in their teams, to even be the primary playmakers/ball-handlers.

Rondo would probably post up better individual numbers if surrounded by scoring role-players with good jump-shots and cutters, guys like, say, Morrow, Dorell Wright, Channing Frye, JaVale McGee.

They just wouldn't win so many games.

Exactly. It's largely a function of the role they're given on their respective team. If Rondo was on the Bucks, and skiles had him consistently run sets in the halfcourt that went inside out through Bogut like Jennings does, his assists would go way down.  If Jennings was put on the celtics, and the team was told that after every side out, they were to give him the ball, and let him push and facilitate, jennings assists would skyrocket.

That's not to compare Rondo+ Jennings, but to show how the system they play in has a large impact on the numbers theyre capable of putting up.

[dasani]

sorry D'Antoni is punchline now all due to himself. And yes pregame comments like this make him look salty at this point.

[BballTim]

lol what has d'antoni done..

I understand how comments like these ruffle peoples feathers, but saying stuff like this is ridiculous. D'Antoni has had success at EVERY single level of basketball he's participated from player to coach.  It doesn't mske sense to say "he wouldn't be anything without nash" 1. - because he was part of the reason the Suns got nash in the 1st place, and 2.- He's had plenty of success at his other stops.  D'Antoni is proven.  He's also in line with what just about every analyst or commentator has ever said about Rondo.

He didn't say Rondo wasn't good. He didn't say he had a better player, or that his team would win. All he did, was allude to the (IMO) fact, that Rondo is in a more comfortable situation in terms of passing targets, than 99% of the leagues guards.

I for 1 agree with D'Antonis premise (if not his delivery). I don't think Rondo would play half as well with a lesser supporting cast. If he was on a different team, where he was the focus of the defense (without as lethal shooters as PP and Ray), he would be consistently pressured. That would result in less visibility on his passes, and him having to deal with defense on his shots (which simply doesnt exist now).  No team has such high fg% options as the C's so I don't see how it's reasonable to think his assist numbers would remain as high.

  Consistently pressure Rondo and he'll live in the lane. One of the reasons teams lay off of him is because he'd drive by any pg that played him close. That leaves him heading to the basket with that great vision and the defense forced to collapse on him. Hardly a recipe for disaster.

[birdwatcher]

...and yet Rondo's averages for the series: 19 pts 7.25 rebs 12 assts...

[NoraG1]

I don't disagree with anything D'Antoni is implying. Rondo is aided big time by playing with three great players.

Same thing could be said about D'antoni. He has had alot of talent around him as a coach as well...Just a stupid thing for him to say. He needs to grow up.

[LooseCannon]

I really want the Knicks to part ways with D'Antoni so that he can be LeBron's handpicked coach for South Beach's no-ring circus.

[Who]

I really want the Knicks to part ways with D'Antoni so that he can be LeBron's handpicked coach for South Beach's no-ring circus.

It would be a lot of fun to watch that Miami Heat team under Mike D'Antoni

[Cman]

I don't disagree with anything D'Antoni is implying. Rondo is aided big time by playing with three great players.

Same thing could be said about D'antoni. He has had alot of talent around him as a coach as well...Just a stupid thing for him to say. He needs to grow up.

To me, all it shows is that the Celtics got under D'Antoni's skin.  I love it, and could care less about how much of a "diss" it is to Rondo....

[dtrader]

lol what has d'antoni done..

I understand how comments like these ruffle peoples feathers, but saying stuff like this is ridiculous. D'Antoni has had success at EVERY single level of basketball he's participated from player to coach.  It doesn't mske sense to say "he wouldn't be anything without nash" 1. - because he was part of the reason the Suns got nash in the 1st place, and 2.- He's had plenty of success at his other stops.  D'Antoni is proven.  He's also in line with what just about every analyst or commentator has ever said about Rondo.

He didn't say Rondo wasn't good. He didn't say he had a better player, or that his team would win. All he did, was allude to the (IMO) fact, that Rondo is in a more comfortable situation in terms of passing targets, than 99% of the leagues guards.

I for 1 agree with D'Antonis premise (if not his delivery). I don't think Rondo would play half as well with a lesser supporting cast. If he was on a different team, where he was the focus of the defense (without as lethal shooters as PP and Ray), he would be consistently pressured. That would result in less visibility on his passes, and him having to deal with defense on his shots (which simply doesnt exist now).  No team has such high fg% options as the C's so I don't see how it's reasonable to think his assist numbers would remain as high.

  Consistently pressure Rondo and he'll live in the lane. One of the reasons teams lay off of him is because he'd drive by any pg that played him close. That leaves him heading to the basket with that great vision and the defense forced to collapse on him. Hardly a recipe for disaster.

This argument only holds true if he drives past his man, and the other defenders all are guarding players that they cannot afford to leave open for a moment to collapse on Rondo.  On Boston, you're probably not going to want to collapse on Rondo and leave kg, shaq, PP, ray open, but on a lesser team, there would be defenders who could leave their men to help because the players they left simply weren't good enough to demand consistent attention.  So you end up with Rondo either going up against a double team among the trees in the lane or going to the line. Either way it wouldn't lead to nearly as much success as he has with the C's

Worst scenario possible for Rondo, would be to become the focus of an offense where he had to score (ie Derrick Rose), because he'd have to depend on his jumper, or drive and draw contact (which would mean his FT deficiencies would be magnified).