Rondo threw fit and called out Big Three during Miami series

[Celtics18]

This is dirty pool.  Why the heck are we getting a story like this half a year after it happened?  I'm not worried about the past as I think Rondo is the kind of fiery competitor that will be able to help take this team to the next level.

I can't think of anyone who's ever been in his position of making the transition from late first round drafted role player on a team with three hall of famers to team's best and most important player with those same guys still around.  This has been his career, and he's only 25.  He's had a lot to deal with and I feel like he's matured significantly, showed confidence, courage, and grit and handled a very difficult situation astonishingly well.

Is he the perfect human being?  I doubt it.  But, he is the guy that I want to lead this Celtics team into the future.  I feel like his unusual rise to NBA stardom, one he's had to earn every step of the way, is going to hold him in good stead and be a part of what has formed him into a leader and a winner.

Time will tell, for sure, but I am on Rajon Rondo's side.

[vinnie]

If this is TRULY how this kid feels and he follows through with his actions throughout the season...LOOKOUT! 

Lookout for what, his next temper tantrum? 

[Q_FBE]

I don't give a whit what goes on behind the locker room scenes. I don't think that should be in the media or the news. I care about what happens on the basketball court and how the players, coaches and referees conduct themselves.

I am sure that Rondo was not happy about losing. I doubt anybody was last year.

[beantownboy171]

This is dirty pool.  Why the heck are we getting a story like this half a year after it happened?  I'm not worried about the past as I think Rondo is the kind of fiery competitor that will be able to help take this team to the next level.

I can't think of anyone who's ever been in his position of making the transition from late first round drafted role player on a team with three hall of famers to team's best and most important player with those same guys still around.  This has been his career, and he's only 25.  He's had a lot to deal with and I feel like he's matured significantly, showed confidence, courage, and grit and handled a very difficult situation astonishingly well.

Is he the perfect human being?  I doubt it.  But, he is the guy that I want to lead this Celtics team into the future.  I feel like his unusual rise to NBA stardom, one he's had to earn every step of the way, is going to hold him in good stead and be a part of what has formed him into a leader and a winner.

Time will tell, for sure, but I am on Rajon Rondo's side.

The story is coming out because Rajon is willingly and openly talking about it. At the start of camp he said he's going to be more open with the media.

I don't think anyone needs to take sides. Rajon is saying openly that this is an issue for him that he has been addressing within himself.

[KCattheStripe]

If this is TRULY how this kid feels and he follows through with his actions throughout the season...LOOKOUT! 

Lookout for what, his next temper tantrum? 

If he plays with the heart and fire he did after that tantrum, he should flip a spit before every game.

[BballTim]

This is dirty pool.  Why the heck are we getting a story like this half a year after it happened?  I'm not worried about the past as I think Rondo is the kind of fiery competitor that will be able to help take this team to the next level.

I can't think of anyone who's ever been in his position of making the transition from late first round drafted role player on a team with three hall of famers to team's best and most important player with those same guys still around.  This has been his career, and he's only 25.  He's had a lot to deal with and I feel like he's matured significantly, showed confidence, courage, and grit and handled a very difficult situation astonishingly well.

Is he the perfect human being?  I doubt it.  But, he is the guy that I want to lead this Celtics team into the future.  I feel like his unusual rise to NBA stardom, one he's had to earn every step of the way, is going to hold him in good stead and be a part of what has formed him into a leader and a winner.

Time will tell, for sure, but I am on Rajon Rondo's side.

The story is coming out because Rajon is willingly and openly talking about it. At the start of camp he said he's going to be more open with the media.

I don't think anyone needs to take sides. Rajon is saying openly that this is an issue for him that he has been addressing within himself.

  He might be talking openly about it but I doubt he's the one that brought it up with the press.

[guava_wrench]

This is dirty pool.  Why the heck are we getting a story like this half a year after it happened?  I'm not worried about the past as I think Rondo is the kind of fiery competitor that will be able to help take this team to the next level.

I can't think of anyone who's ever been in his position of making the transition from late first round drafted role player on a team with three hall of famers to team's best and most important player with those same guys still around.  This has been his career, and he's only 25.  He's had a lot to deal with and I feel like he's matured significantly, showed confidence, courage, and grit and handled a very difficult situation astonishingly well.

Is he the perfect human being?  I doubt it.  But, he is the guy that I want to lead this Celtics team into the future.  I feel like his unusual rise to NBA stardom, one he's had to earn every step of the way, is going to hold him in good stead and be a part of what has formed him into a leader and a winner.

Time will tell, for sure, but I am on Rajon Rondo's side.

The story is coming out because Rajon is willingly and openly talking about it. At the start of camp he said he's going to be more open with the media.

I don't think anyone needs to take sides. Rajon is saying openly that this is an issue for him that he has been addressing within himself.

  He might be talking openly about it but I doubt he's the one that brought it up with the press.

We can speculate plenty but it is good that this got out. It helps explain why the Celtics were so willing to trade Rondo. It also helps explain why Rondo is likely more understanding of being shopped than we would expect. He understands that he brings such things on through his own actions.

[xmuscularghandix]

I'm impressed that Rondo has owned up to this and accepted that he has to be a better leader, and more grown up. We're already seeing a peak at the new Rondo with how he's responded to the media. He's no longer running away and cracking jokes and one word answers, he's owning up to things.

Impressive #9.

[BballTim]

This is dirty pool.  Why the heck are we getting a story like this half a year after it happened?  I'm not worried about the past as I think Rondo is the kind of fiery competitor that will be able to help take this team to the next level.

I can't think of anyone who's ever been in his position of making the transition from late first round drafted role player on a team with three hall of famers to team's best and most important player with those same guys still around.  This has been his career, and he's only 25.  He's had a lot to deal with and I feel like he's matured significantly, showed confidence, courage, and grit and handled a very difficult situation astonishingly well.

Is he the perfect human being?  I doubt it.  But, he is the guy that I want to lead this Celtics team into the future.  I feel like his unusual rise to NBA stardom, one he's had to earn every step of the way, is going to hold him in good stead and be a part of what has formed him into a leader and a winner.

Time will tell, for sure, but I am on Rajon Rondo's side.

The story is coming out because Rajon is willingly and openly talking about it. At the start of camp he said he's going to be more open with the media.

I don't think anyone needs to take sides. Rajon is saying openly that this is an issue for him that he has been addressing within himself.

  He might be talking openly about it but I doubt he's the one that brought it up with the press.

We can speculate plenty but it is good that this got out. It helps explain why the Celtics were so willing to trade Rondo. It also helps explain why Rondo is likely more understanding of being shopped than we would expect. He understands that he brings such things on through his own actions.

  All we know is that Danny's willing to trade Rondo if he ends up with Chris Paul. He's handling the rumors well, just like he did in 2009 when they were trying to package him with Ray to net a high salary star.

[j804]

via @RedsArmy_John

Paul Pierce: I can see Rajon Rondo having a break out year. He's our best player. He's going to be an MVP candidate"

[Marcus13]

Good God, I hope that's not really what we're counting on

[LooseCannon]

Good God, I hope that's not really what we're counting on

It's at least plausible.  But, in general, the Celtics are counting on younger players (including Rondo and Green) to improve in aggregate and for the older troika to not decline too much, and perhaps for Jermaine O'Neal to be healthier than his career average.  It doesn't have to Rondo jumping up to MVP candidate.  It could be the rookies playing well enough that Doc wants to use them in the rotation and Jeff Green breaking his career best 3point percentage (38.9%).

[BballTim]

via @RedsArmy_John

Paul Pierce: I can see Rajon Rondo having a break out year. He's our best player. He's going to be an MVP candidate"

   He was on that path last year when he was at his healthiest.

[ScoobyDoo]

I had real reservations about trading Rondo for Chris Paul. Paul puts up a lot of numbers and I would give him a nod as the better of the two - only because he can shoot - but I like Rondo.

To me, Paul puts up great numbers but Rondo is the type of player I would always feel very uncomfortable betting against in big games and big moments. He gets the right steal at the right time, or clears the boards out of nowhere, or throws up 15 assists in the 1st 2.5 quarters to dominate a game....
* He generally rises to the occasion
* See Rondo vs Rose, vs. Paul, etc., especially when it matters and when he's healthy.

Sometimes, the same couple of mental traits that make a player great are also the things that make them the weakest.

His incredibly stubborn mental toughness is what drives him at a competitive level. Unfortunately, that same trait can also be a thorn in everyone else's side.

I wouldn't give up on him.

I think he's uniquely talented. If Ainge can manage to put a high octane team with 1-2 of the right young, max players around Rondo and the right complimentary pieces in between - I think this Kidd will dissect the league every night.

Kind of like the damage Magic used to do, it would just be Rondo's own version of that. I think the game becomes a playground to him in the right situation and with the right weapons around him.

I hope he's a lifer - just get him great, young shooter who can run with him.

He will continue to mature and his shot while it will most likely never be great, will most likely continue to incrementally improve over his career.

Remember, a guy as sensitive as Rondo appears regarding comments about his weaknesses and mistakes, will probably work relentlessly to erase the embarrassment he feels because of it.

Rondo has a lot of pride - The embarrassment is probably what hurled the water bottle...

He just needs to bottle things better. And I think he's probably way too intelligent not to be able to figure it out in time.   
   

[FatjohnReturns]

Oh please. howccan lead the team to the next level when he can't lead himself to the next level and get us consistent points at ft line.  the reason he is still a Celtic is because league wide he has little value.

that's a total separate issue from him being a headache.  rr is a marginal player at best without the big three he is about as good as Gerald green.   it will Be obvious when the 3 retire