Ric Bucher: CP3's Best Fit is in Boston

[Chris]

Rondo in 2008 is not the Rondo being discussed.

The other very important thing to remember is that this isn't the team from 2008 either.  While Rondo may have been perfect for that team, and been even more perfect for the team in 2010-2011, that is not really relevant.  The question is who is the best fit for the Celtics in 2011-2012, and especially beyond.

I would argue, with the age of the Big 3, having another scorer like Paul will be more important to this team in 2011-2012 than it has been in the past, because we saw in the playoffs that these guys just can't carry the scoring load game in and game out like they used to. 

And, then in 2012 and beyond, you will have a situation where suddenly Paul or Rondo would be the best player on the team, and will be getting a lot more attention as he likely will no longer be surrounded by superstars. 

So, I would argue that Rondo's strengths of defense and passing won't be nearly as helpful in a situation like that.  They are going to be asking whoever that guy is to be doing a lot more scoring, and defenses are going to make it a lot harder for them to get away with a 1 dimensional offensive skillset. 

[BballTim]

Rondo in 2008 is not the Rondo being discussed.

The other very important thing to remember is that this isn't the team from 2008 either.  While Rondo may have been perfect for that team, and been even more perfect for the team in 2010-2011, that is not really relevant.  The question is who is the best fit for the Celtics in 2011-2012, and especially beyond.

I would argue, with the age of the Big 3, having another scorer like Paul will be more important to this team in 2011-2012 than it has been in the past, because we saw in the playoffs that these guys just can't carry the scoring load game in and game out like they used to. 

And, then in 2012 and beyond, you will have a situation where suddenly Paul or Rondo would be the best player on the team, and will be getting a lot more attention as he likely will no longer be surrounded by superstars. 

So, I would argue that Rondo's strengths of defense and passing won't be nearly as helpful in a situation like that.  They are going to be asking whoever that guy is to be doing a lot more scoring, and defenses are going to make it a lot harder for them to get away with a 1 dimensional offensive skillset. 

  CP3 scored 20+ points 52 times in 08-09 and 24 times last year. CP3's scoring needs to increase by quite a bit for him to be the player people are expecting to get.

[Chris]

Rondo in 2008 is not the Rondo being discussed.

The other very important thing to remember is that this isn't the team from 2008 either.  While Rondo may have been perfect for that team, and been even more perfect for the team in 2010-2011, that is not really relevant.  The question is who is the best fit for the Celtics in 2011-2012, and especially beyond.

I would argue, with the age of the Big 3, having another scorer like Paul will be more important to this team in 2011-2012 than it has been in the past, because we saw in the playoffs that these guys just can't carry the scoring load game in and game out like they used to. 

And, then in 2012 and beyond, you will have a situation where suddenly Paul or Rondo would be the best player on the team, and will be getting a lot more attention as he likely will no longer be surrounded by superstars. 

So, I would argue that Rondo's strengths of defense and passing won't be nearly as helpful in a situation like that.  They are going to be asking whoever that guy is to be doing a lot more scoring, and defenses are going to make it a lot harder for them to get away with a 1 dimensional offensive skillset. 

  CP3 scored 20+ points 52 times in 08-09 and 24 times last year. CP3's scoring needs to increase by quite a bit for him to be the player people are expecting to get.

Fair point.  Although this fits under the general question that hangs over this whole thing of "is Chris Paul's knee better?"

If it isn't, I don't want him.  However, if last year was him recovering, and he will be 100% next year, then I don't think that argument holds water.

And I would also put the same question in for Rondo's plantar fascitis.  Some guys get over that quickly, but with some players it is something they deal with for years.  And I think we can all agree that Rondo is not the player he should be when he is playing hurt, just like Paul isn't.

So, if the choice is a Paul who will never be completely healthy versus a completely healthy Rondo, fine, go with the healthy guy.  If they are both healthy, then Paul is far and away the better player.  And if they both are hurt, then again, Paul is the better player.

[BballTim]

Rondo in 2008 is not the Rondo being discussed.

The other very important thing to remember is that this isn't the team from 2008 either.  While Rondo may have been perfect for that team, and been even more perfect for the team in 2010-2011, that is not really relevant.  The question is who is the best fit for the Celtics in 2011-2012, and especially beyond.

I would argue, with the age of the Big 3, having another scorer like Paul will be more important to this team in 2011-2012 than it has been in the past, because we saw in the playoffs that these guys just can't carry the scoring load game in and game out like they used to. 

And, then in 2012 and beyond, you will have a situation where suddenly Paul or Rondo would be the best player on the team, and will be getting a lot more attention as he likely will no longer be surrounded by superstars. 

So, I would argue that Rondo's strengths of defense and passing won't be nearly as helpful in a situation like that.  They are going to be asking whoever that guy is to be doing a lot more scoring, and defenses are going to make it a lot harder for them to get away with a 1 dimensional offensive skillset. 

  CP3 scored 20+ points 52 times in 08-09 and 24 times last year. CP3's scoring needs to increase by quite a bit for him to be the player people are expecting to get.

Fair point.  Although this fits under the general question that hangs over this whole thing of "is Chris Paul's knee better?"

If it isn't, I don't want him.  However, if last year was him recovering, and he will be 100% next year, then I don't think that argument holds water.

And I would also put the same question in for Rondo's plantar fascitis.  Some guys get over that quickly, but with some players it is something they deal with for years.  And I think we can all agree that Rondo is not the player he should be when he is playing hurt, just like Paul isn't.

So, if the choice is a Paul who will never be completely healthy versus a completely healthy Rondo, fine, go with the healthy guy.  If they are both healthy, then Paul is far and away the better player.  And if they both are hurt, then again, Paul is the better player.

  I would guess that plantar fascitis causing long term issues for nba players is fairly rare, but yes, the health of the two players going forward can't be overlooked when you consider such a trade.

[Finkelskyhook]

We don't need Rondo to score over 20 52 or even 24 times to be successful.  But we do need his defense beyond gambling for steals.  We don't know how unselfish Paul is because he's had to be somewhat selfish for his team to win.

I won't argue that Paul is the better player.  But I don't believe he would make us any better than we are...And we likely would have to give up a lot more than our best player, Rondo, to get him.

[CoachBo]

This trade is Christmas. NO player who cannot consistently score the basketball is Boston's best player. That honor remains solidly with Pierce.

The Celtics make this trade without a second thought.