Would Rondo be better without the Big 3?

[syfy9]

I have a theory that if you replace the big 3 for 3 athletic and fast players like Rondo, he would thrive in such a "fast breaky" environment.



If I could replace the big 3 for all-star caliburs...

Ray Allen - Monta Ellis (or somebody else - maybe Westbrook who can possible play SG)

Paul Pierce - Rudy Gay, Danny Granger, or even Carmelo Anthony

Kevin Garnett - Lamarcus Aldridge, Amare, Kevin Love



I'm not saying this is a good idea, as it will destroy the chemistry, is realistically impossible, and I myself would distaste losing The Truth for Melo. But I'm simply wondering if Rondo would be a better player and disprove everybody's thinking that "Rondo is only good because of the Big 3!" If the same mind game was played on him, do you think replacing each of the Big 3 for all star-caliburs or even solid, athletic starters could actually benefitRondo? Any thoughts or ideas?

[manl_lui]

he probably would not average as many assists, but he can still penetrate the paint easily, and can defend

i mean he led the league in steals once...can rebound

so in my opinion, he would pretty much be the same player

[wdleehi]

Not likely.



But you can say that about all of them.  


Unless it is an upgrade at the position.

[ManUp]

Better without the big 3?

No Better with a better big 3 yeah probably. I depends on if those guys are willing to let Rondo do all the play-making. IMO, Rondo will excel whenever he's surrounded by great scorers. That way his scoring isn't needed and he can focus on the other parts of the game where he has no real weakness.

[KungPoweChicken]

So you want to take out the current Big Three with a new Big Three that consists of Stoudemire, Anthony, and Westbrook? I'm sure Rondo would be successful with those players (because they are all great), but he wouldn't be as effective because they are mostly all one on one players.

[jbaerg]

i think he would be a better player himself if the big 3 had retired say before last season. He would have the confidence to run the team, but i think he would also have to be the #1 Option, forcing him to be a better scorer and what not.

[syfy9]

So you want to take out the current Big Three with a new Big Three that consists of Stoudemire, Anthony, and Westbrook? I'm sure Rondo would be successful with those players (because they are all great), but he wouldn't be as effective because they are mostly all one on one players.

Well, Pierce plays an Iso game while Anthony does the same, and KG's posting is somewhat like Stoudemire's. Westbrook is the only real difference, as Ray comes of screens while Russell playmakes.

[manl_lui]

yeh but who can actually be a Celtic in the future

Howard being a dream but i still say theres a possibility

Granger would be fun

who can we add at the SG, SF and PF spot once our big 3 retires?

[KungPoweChicken]

So you want to take out the current Big Three with a new Big Three that consists of Stoudemire, Anthony, and Westbrook? I'm sure Rondo would be successful with those players (because they are all great), but he wouldn't be as effective because they are mostly all one on one players.

Well, Pierce plays an Iso game while Anthony does the same, and KG's posting is somewhat like Stoudemire's. Westbrook is the only real difference, as Ray comes of screens while Russell playmakes.

Garnett is primarily a shooter off the pass these days. Pierce is a superior shooter off the pass than Anthony, especially from three.

[paulcowens]

There is give and take to any situation.  Without the Big Three, Rondo would presumably be able to explore and expand his game in some ways, but other aspects of his game would lose a little something.  Some of Rondo's passes wouldn't be the same without someone as talented and motivated on the other end, for example.

[MBz]

I think the issue is that we have too many guys who are primarily jump shooters.  KG defensively is great, but offensively he isn't what we need if we're going to get center by committee.  This is a league where you need inside scoring and we don't have anyone who can do that.  Rondo needs to be on a team where he has guys who don't need the ball all the time to be effective.  If you moved Rondo to say Miami, he'd be very ineffective offensively as LeBron and Wade need the ball.  Pierce and Allen don't need to have the ball in their hands at all times to be effective.  

[jc3celticsphan]

Give rondo some defense and athleticism around him and he would be fine. Fastbreak mania



Everyteam needs scorers around their pg's

Anybody in the nba can hit wide open midrange shots to give their pg's assist

A lot of players can hit wide open 3s too.

To say rondo gets his assist off of contested shots is rediculous

Therefore rondo would be fine. Allstar for years to come.

[Change]

Short answer no.

Surely Rondo increases his stats post-big3 era, but the Celtics won't be a contender for a championship. Empty stats would then meaningless if the Celtics can't contend.

Unrealistic personnel you put together there. NBA teams aren't charitable organizations giving away their best players.

[pearljammer10]

Would the big three be as good without Rondo?...

[Galeto]

Well, the Celtics did just fine in 2008 with Rondo having a lesser role.  How would they fare with their decreased abilities without him? I don't know.

It's not like Rondo is orchestrating a top 5 offense.  He's not Steve Nash who has run a top 5 offense nearly every season.  This has been a bad offense the past two seasons. They've finished 18th and 15th in offensive efficiency the last two seasons.  Rondo has it pretty good.  He gets to handle the ball all the time and is surrounded by top notch shooters at three positions.  Ray and Paul are two of the most efficient scorers in basketball and yet, the team has still only rated as an average and below-average offense.  One I say that's because they've lost a lot of three point shooting and haven't replaced it and two, because Glen Davis has taken on too large an offensive load and laid his awful numbers on this team.

When Ray and Paul are gone, it's going to be a long time before Rondo is again flanked by two guys who allow him to control the ball so much and put up plus 60 percent true shooting percentages.