Amidst all this trade talk, I think we are forgetting something.

[clawlin]

Rajon Rondo.  Talk about his shortcomings all you want: his free throw percentage is getting worse, and he still has yet to develop a reliable jump shooter.  He is cocky and sometimes does not make the best decisions.

But all the trade talks have been bringing out his flaws, and we forget his strengths.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTfL7KFlFUA

Rondo is entertainment.  He is a Celtic.  We entered the 2007/2008 season, ready to compete, but with two huge question marks regarding point guard and center.  But Rondo stepped it up.  And over the past few seasons, he has become one of the NBA's best point guards, and plays defense with the best of them.  He even played some great defense on the best player in the league at one point, who is seven inches taller and a hell of a lot more powerful.

Watching the video, it seems like Rondo almost has a psychic connection with the Celtics, his passes come out of nowhere but they hit their mark, and the only people expecting them are him and his target.  In a single rental season, Chris Paul would not have that kind of connection with the rest of the team.  Sure, he would be very effective, but he does not possess that connection.

Rondo is fun to watch.  Rondo is tough as nails.  He is my favorite player, he is a true Celtic, and I would be devastated to see him go.

[PosImpos]

he's fun to watch and he's entertaining, sure.

is that going to give us a better chance at a championship this year than we had going into the playoffs last season?

nahh.  but at least it'll be fun watching rondo for the next few years.

[jdpapa3]

I think we all love Rondo very much...it's just that we know that we'd love Chris Paul MORE.

[clawlin]

Rondo for 4 years > Paul for 1 year

[hwangjini_1]

I think we all love Rondo very much...it's just that we know that we'd love Chris Paul MORE.

true true.

[Sketch5]

CP3 might be a better player, but Rondo is a better Pg if that makes sense. With this team you don't need to worry about how many shots the Big 3 are going to get, because he gets them the shots he needs.

 He also isn't worried about ticking on of them off if he doesn't go to them when they call for it when he sees some thing else. Could CP3 do that?

 Rondos only real weakness is FT shooting. And even then I think its in his head. He can shoot,50% isn't too bad, its just he really dosen't do it often, and at 50% only shooting it 10 times a game is pretty good. CP3 scores 18 a game and probably shoots 8 to 10 times more.

 Funny how people also say he wouldn't be the point guard he is with out the good shooting of the 3. True, but he has to get them the ball at the right spot at the right time. Some of those pass's are insane, proably top three passing with his off hand next to Kidd, and Nash.

So if its just a srub team I'd take CP3. But a team with some talent, Rondo is the choice...

[Carhole]

CP3 might be a better player, but Rondo is a better Pg if that makes sense. With this team you don't need to worry about how many shots the Big 3 are going to get, because he gets them the shots he needs.

 He also isn't worried about ticking on of them off if he doesn't go to them when they call for it when he sees some thing else. Could CP3 do that?

 Rondos only real weakness is FT shooting. And even then I think its in his head. He can shoot,50% isn't too bad, its just he really dosen't do it often, and at 50% only shooting it 10 times a game is pretty good. CP3 scores 18 a game and probably shoots 8 to 10 times more.

 Funny how people also say he wouldn't be the point guard he is with out the good shooting of the 3. True, but he has to get them the ball at the right spot at the right time. Some of those pass's are insane, proably top three passing with his off hand next to Kidd, and Nash.

So if its just a srub team I'd take CP3. But a team with some talent, Rondo is the choice...

This argument is so old, it isn't even an argument it is confirmation bias pure and simple.

I have no idea what your middle rant about. Points per shot last year was CP3 1.36 vs Rondo 1.076. That is a huge disparity.

Do you see what happens to our offense in the 4th quarter of close games on a consistent basis? Do you know why that happens? Because the other team is playing 5 on 4 and outside of PP our best chance to actually draw a foul is rondo with his quickness but he wants no part of going to the foul line.

There is a reason we blew the heat out once, they blew us out once and then we lost 3 games when our O stalled out the last 3 minutes.

And game 7 in LA when the lakers just decided to leave kobe "on" rondo and at the foul line gobbling up every defensive board (bryant had 17 rebounds) and playing free safety on any curl by ray or drive by pp - why do you think those things can happen?

Rondo is a nice player but stop trying to make inane arguments about how he is better for this team than one of the best all around point guards of the best 20 years.

When you have to say, "if that makes sense" in your point about rondo's value as it relates to another player - guess what, it doesn't make sense!

[thirstyboots18]

CP3 might be a better player, but Rondo is a better Pg if that makes sense. With this team you don't need to worry about how many shots the Big 3 are going to get, because he gets them the shots he needs.

 He also isn't worried about ticking on of them off if he doesn't go to them when they call for it when he sees some thing else. Could CP3 do that?

 Rondos only real weakness is FT shooting. And even then I think its in his head. He can shoot,50% isn't too bad, its just he really dosen't do it often, and at 50% only shooting it 10 times a game is pretty good. CP3 scores 18 a game and probably shoots 8 to 10 times more.

 Funny how people also say he wouldn't be the point guard he is with out the good shooting of the 3. True, but he has to get them the ball at the right spot at the right time. Some of those pass's are insane, proably top three passing with his off hand next to Kidd, and Nash.

So if its just a srub team I'd take CP3. But a team with some talent, Rondo is the choice...

Like Red told Bill Russell: (paraphrased)...Do your job, fulfill your role, and stats will never be mentioned. 

IMO Rondo does his job and fulfills his role exceptionally well.

[Carhole]

CP3 might be a better player, but Rondo is a better Pg if that makes sense. With this team you don't need to worry about how many shots the Big 3 are going to get, because he gets them the shots he needs.

 He also isn't worried about ticking on of them off if he doesn't go to them when they call for it when he sees some thing else. Could CP3 do that?

 Rondos only real weakness is FT shooting. And even then I think its in his head. He can shoot,50% isn't too bad, its just he really dosen't do it often, and at 50% only shooting it 10 times a game is pretty good. CP3 scores 18 a game and probably shoots 8 to 10 times more.

 Funny how people also say he wouldn't be the point guard he is with out the good shooting of the 3. True, but he has to get them the ball at the right spot at the right time. Some of those pass's are insane, proably top three passing with his off hand next to Kidd, and Nash.

So if its just a srub team I'd take CP3. But a team with some talent, Rondo is the choice...

Like Red told Bill Russell: (paraphrased)...Do your job, fulfill your role, and stats will never be mentioned. 

IMO Rondo does his job and fulfills his role exceptionally well.

So you do not think his job/role as the person who handles the ball the vast majority of the time is to keep the other team honest when the game is on the line?

Create going to the rim in said situations?

Use his athleticism to generate points at the line when the O is bogged down?

Or was his job to shut it down after his boy got traded last year.

I swear to god I do not dislike rondo, I have been pushed to this by the incessant willingness to make him into a superstar by the fan boys on here who just completely ignore his short comings when comparing him to elite NBA players and tack on untrue statements like, he lead us to a title etc

[CoachBo]

CP3 might be a better player, but Rondo is a better Pg if that makes sense. With this team you don't need to worry about how many shots the Big 3 are going to get, because he gets them the shots he needs.

 He also isn't worried about ticking on of them off if he doesn't go to them when they call for it when he sees some thing else. Could CP3 do that?

 Rondos only real weakness is FT shooting. And even then I think its in his head. He can shoot,50% isn't too bad, its just he really dosen't do it often, and at 50% only shooting it 10 times a game is pretty good. CP3 scores 18 a game and probably shoots 8 to 10 times more.

 Funny how people also say he wouldn't be the point guard he is with out the good shooting of the 3. True, but he has to get them the ball at the right spot at the right time. Some of those pass's are insane, proably top three passing with his off hand next to Kidd, and Nash.

So if its just a srub team I'd take CP3. But a team with some talent, Rondo is the choice...

This argument is so old, it isn't even an argument it is confirmation bias pure and simple.

I have no idea what your middle rant about. Points per shot last year was CP3 1.36 vs Rondo 1.076. That is a huge disparity.

Do you see what happens to our offense in the 4th quarter of close games on a consistent basis? Do you know why that happens? Because the other team is playing 5 on 4 and outside of PP our best chance to actually draw a foul is rondo with his quickness but he wants no part of going to the foul line.

There is a reason we blew the heat out once, they blew us out once and then we lost 3 games when our O stalled out the last 3 minutes.

And game 7 in LA when the lakers just decided to leave kobe "on" rondo and at the foul line gobbling up every defensive board (bryant had 17 rebounds) and playing free safety on any curl by ray or drive by pp - why do you think those things can happen?

Rondo is a nice player but stop trying to make inane arguments about how he is better for this team than one of the best all around point guards of the best 20 years.

When you have to say, "if that makes sense" in your point about rondo's value as it relates to another player - guess what, it doesn't make sense!

Finally, someone else gets it.

TP. Excellent spot-on analysis.

[thirstyboots18]

What makes you so sure he shut down after Perk got traded?  I have a friend who had plantar fasciitis and she could hardly even walk for six months!  It is not the kind of injury that you just get over like the flu.

[CoachBo]

Ah, the plantar argument.

Deaf ears. Ran a marathon with it.

And Rondo himself has talked publicly since the summer about "overreacting" to the Perkins trade.

[CoachBo]

CP3 might be a better player, but Rondo is a better Pg if that makes sense. With this team you don't need to worry about how many shots the Big 3 are going to get, because he gets them the shots he needs.

 He also isn't worried about ticking on of them off if he doesn't go to them when they call for it when he sees some thing else. Could CP3 do that?

 Rondos only real weakness is FT shooting. And even then I think its in his head. He can shoot,50% isn't too bad, its just he really dosen't do it often, and at 50% only shooting it 10 times a game is pretty good. CP3 scores 18 a game and probably shoots 8 to 10 times more.

 Funny how people also say he wouldn't be the point guard he is with out the good shooting of the 3. True, but he has to get them the ball at the right spot at the right time. Some of those pass's are insane, proably top three passing with his off hand next to Kidd, and Nash.

So if its just a srub team I'd take CP3. But a team with some talent, Rondo is the choice...

Like Red told Bill Russell: (paraphrased)...Do your job, fulfill your role, and stats will never be mentioned. 

IMO Rondo does his job and fulfills his role exceptionally well.

So you do not think his job/role as the person who handles the ball the vast majority of the time is to keep the other team honest when the game is on the line?

Create going to the rim in said situations?

Use his athleticism to generate points at the line when the O is bogged down?

Or was his job to shut it down after his boy got traded last year.

I swear to god I do not dislike rondo, I have been pushed to this by the incessant willingness to make him into a superstar by the fan boys on here who just completely ignore his short comings when comparing him to elite NBA players and tack on untrue statements like, he lead us to a title etc

A piece of advice here from someone who really doesn't give a rip who wears the Green, as long as they're the best player possible:

Nothing to get mad about. The NBA as a whole markets its individual players, not its teams, and that produces unusual loyalties that don't always seem to benefit the Celtics franchise.

It's part of the, uh, charm of this blog, some of the, uh, unique perspectives on individual players. Been here long enough to remember the blog's certainty of 17 with Al Jefferson, Gerald Green and Delonte West leading the way. You should have seen the absolute firestorm of anger those two summer nights when Ainge broke up the beloved Youth Movement for Ray and Garnett.

It's no biggie. Different viewpoints make the world go round. Me, I look at the game from a team perspective and I guess I'm trained to look at players objectively. Others are fans. It's all good.

[Juneauz]

Can't wait to see Rondo on the floor... he's my favourite player by far

I think we all love Rondo very much...it's just that we know that we'd love Chris Paul MORE.

I couldn't disagree more with this statement.

Some people on this blog just don't get it, basketball isn't all about stats.

[PosImpos]

This argument is so old, it isn't even an argument it is confirmation bias pure and simple.

I have no idea what your middle rant about. Points per shot last year was CP3 1.36 vs Rondo 1.076. That is a huge disparity.

Do you see what happens to our offense in the 4th quarter of close games on a consistent basis? Do you know why that happens? Because the other team is playing 5 on 4 and outside of PP our best chance to actually draw a foul is rondo with his quickness but he wants no part of going to the foul line.

There is a reason we blew the heat out once, they blew us out once and then we lost 3 games when our O stalled out the last 3 minutes.

And game 7 in LA when the lakers just decided to leave kobe "on" rondo and at the foul line gobbling up every defensive board (bryant had 17 rebounds) and playing free safety on any curl by ray or drive by pp - why do you think those things can happen?

Rondo is a nice player but stop trying to make inane arguments about how he is better for this team than one of the best all around point guards of the best 20 years.

When you have to say, "if that makes sense" in your point about rondo's value as it relates to another player - guess what, it doesn't make sense!

Finally, someone else gets it.

TP. Excellent spot-on analysis.

wow.

carhole wins.

that's all i can say, except to add that the fourth quarter collapses are also a result of age.  the big three, when they were younger, could count on having enough energy to still rely on pure jumpshooting late in games.  now, they are old, and by the middle of the fourth quarter they're wiped.  they just don't have their legs under them the same way, so it's harder for them to keep hitting those jumpshots unless they are really feeling it.  our offense is almost entirely comprised of jumpshots (no low-post threat, no slashers), so when they stop falling, our offense crashes to a halt.  

this also falls on rondo somewhat, though, because as the only young star on our team we need him to be able to step up and take over the offense when that happens late in games, but that's just not the type of player that he is.  so it goes.

 Rondos only real weakness is FT shooting. And even then I think its in his head. He can shoot,50% isn't too bad, its just he really dosen't do it often, and at 50% only shooting it 10 times a game is pretty good. CP3 scores 18 a game and probably shoots 8 to 10 times more.

i have to comment on this specifically, though.  In no way is 50% free throws good in any context, regardless of how many shots the player takes per game.  It's bad.  Awful.  Those are supposed to be free points (get it, that's why they're called free throws), and you're throwing away 50% of those free points.  Compare Rondo's free throw percentage to all of the other guards in the league and he's got to be around dead last.  

also, how many free throws do you think players usually take per game?  only superstars take 10 free throws a game.  kevin durant takes that many free throws a game.  most players only take 2-4 at most.