Just jumped on the Rubio bandwagon, how about you?

[Snakehead]

About Rondo's passing accuracy, give me a break people.  The guy throws 40 ft bounce passes left handed on the numbers.  He is an outstanding passer and is very accurate.  Please.  That's not Green glasses that's watching the kid play and not trying to cut him down like so many do.

That's the problem, you see a few highlights and you say "look at what this kid can do", the problem is, is it consistent? It's not an ability problem, but a focus/habit problem, which is my main beef really. As is my problem with Rondo often, it's a misuse of his skills and talent. That he still comes off looking great just tells me how much more he can be. And we've seen glimpses of it often, particularly in some playoff series.

When I think Rondo's at his best passing, I go back to that 3-pointer from Ray Allen against the Bulls. It was a thing of beauty, perfect timing, on the letters, and let Ray shoot in complete rhythm. It's what I want to see from Rondo more often.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9JTGAsk0IY

That was such a beautiful pass to Ray.

I'd agree that out of the elite level passers (Nash, Kidd, Paul, Rondo) he is least consistent.  However, he makes the most impressive passes easily IMO.

Yes he could be more consistent, but you rarely see him throw a bad pass and he is regardless still elite level.

I expect this year to be huge for Rondo.  I love what I saw last game, it was him putting the team on his back even more than we saw last season.  He'll score less with Pierce there but I sitll expect that aggressiveness and worrying less about scoring hopefully he focuses on making all his passes crisp passes.  If he adds some scoring and becomes a little more consistent, the sky is the limit for him.

[myteamisbetterthanyours]

I've been on the Rubio bandwagon for about 3 years now.. The kid is a magician with the ball.. He's got the same type of game as Rondo except not nearly as fast and athletic.. He also mirrors Rondo in his ability to control the whole tempo of the game by making everyone play a his pace.. He's got elite ball handling skills and he makes some incredible passes.. Also smart, long, and a very capable defender. Definitely a future star in this league.  I just wish he was more aggressive in getting his own looks.. other than that.. he's J. Kidd 2.0

[ballin]

What's wrong with people in this thread? 

Rubio a better passer than Rondo after one game???

Cool your jets guys, seriously.

[syfy9]

What's wrong with people in this thread? 

Rubio a better passer than Rondo after one game???

Cool your jets guys, seriously.

I'm not saying Rubio is a better point than Rondo (He is not), or a better passer, but Rubio HAS been getting a lot of fame previous to this game.

He became pro at the age of 14. Even if it was not the NBA, that is still very impressive - do you know any others who were exposed to the game so early in your life? What were you doing at the age of 14? This kid has potential. He was in the Olympics at the age of 17, and has so much more potential than anybody I've seen for a while.

[Juneauz]

Been following Rubio's game for quite some time, being european.
He can ball, high i.q. but unfortunately he will never average more than 5 points per game. Zero offense.

Comparing him to Rondo is just stupid at this stage, Rondo's game is better on every level

[nickagneta]

Strange that there is a question regarding the accuracy of Rondo's passes when his own team mates like Allen, Pierce, and KG and his coach Doc Rivers have commented publicly regarding how accurate his passes are and how he delivers the ball to the shooters exactly where they need the ball to get off the quickest release and highest quality shot.

[nickagneta]

Also, regarding Rubio, is it possible we can see him play for more than 26 minutes in one game and maybe have one game in his NBA career where he has over 10 assists before pronouncing him the best passer in the league?

Thanks.

[barefacedmonk]

Also, regarding Rubio, is it possible we can see him play for more than 26 minutes in one game and maybe have one game in his NBA career where he has over 10 assists before pronouncing him the best passer in the league?

Thanks.

I fully expect a "Rondo for Rubio" thread after tonight's game.

[guava_wrench]

Rubio, Nash and Rondo pass at a level that it is pointless to try to put them down. They have ridiculous court vision and know how to get the ball where they want. They also know how to force defensive rotations to get guys open.

Comparisons should be on their other strengths. Rondo and Nash are known commodities in the NBA at this point. There is still some mystery to Rubio, though he has long seemed like a guarantee for a long career. The only question was whether he would be allstar quality, or just average NBA starter quality. I mean, we all knew he would be better that Ridnour who is a poster boy for journeyman starting PG.

[guava_wrench]

Arguing over who is more accurate is in vain without going through all the tape and watching each play. We can claim all sorts of things because we remember what fits our preconceptions.

[dtrader]

Rubio is a superior passer and reads the offense much better than Rondo, at least to this point. We'll have to see if the trends continues, but so far very impressed on how he runs an offense. He just has a knack for ball speed and ball positioning, simply accurate passes which has been my main beef with Rondo's passing game.

And he doesn't turn the ball over.

Rondo's the best passer in the game.  I guess, based on this one game, Rondo has now been relegated to second best passer in the NBA.

Wow!! Rubio really must be good.

Other than I've never felt Rondo was the best passer in the game. Never liked his passing ability, it has been a constant complaint of mine that his passes are often inaccurate. What he does well is find open people, which is not the same as putting the ball in the right spot. It's often that he's sloppy with his passes, it's often that he makes passes harder than it should be, faster than it should be, etc.

No.  He makes passes with frequency that no one else can make, and he delivers them perfectly.  Your evaluation of his passing ability is shockingly off target.

First...I think Rondo is an exceptional passer.  I criticize him for a lot of things, but rarely his passing.  However, a lot of times it doesnt seem like he takes into account who he's passing to, when he makes some of his passes.  I see a lot of times when he throws passes too fast when he's too close to his man, or throws a pass that would be perfect for a wing with great hands, but almost uncatchable by the stone handed big he's passing to.  It's not that his passes are bad...theyre usually right on to me...but sometimes a pass is only as good as the hands on the receiver. 

Either way, Rubios not on Rondos level yet to me.

[BballTim]

Rubio is a superior passer and reads the offense much better than Rondo, at least to this point. We'll have to see if the trends continues, but so far very impressed on how he runs an offense. He just has a knack for ball speed and ball positioning, simply accurate passes which has been my main beef with Rondo's passing game.

And he doesn't turn the ball over.

Rondo's the best passer in the game.  I guess, based on this one game, Rondo has now been relegated to second best passer in the NBA.

Wow!! Rubio really must be good.

Other than I've never felt Rondo was the best passer in the game. Never liked his passing ability, it has been a constant complaint of mine that his passes are often inaccurate. What he does well is find open people, which is not the same as putting the ball in the right spot. It's often that he's sloppy with his passes, it's often that he makes passes harder than it should be, faster than it should be, etc.

No.  He makes passes with frequency that no one else can make, and he delivers them perfectly.  Your evaluation of his passing ability is shockingly off target.

Yes, Rondo is an infallible god.

Far from it, but passing ability is not his weakness.

Never said it was. Said I never thought he was the best in the game. Said that what's holding him back it's his passing accuracy. Nothing more, nothing less.

Fair enough.  I'm not saying Rondo's an infallible god, just saying that you are wrong about his passing accuracy.

I hope it's something that it's fixed this season, but watch for low/fast bounce passes, and when he misses Ray on the letters for what it would be a in rhythm 3, which is then wasted because the pass wasn't on the right spot letting defense recover. As well as the lazy lobs he has a bad habit of doing. Things of that nature.

  You have to filter out numerous passes that Rondo makes that other point guards really can't, but in general I'd say that most other point guards are much less accurate than Rondo and their timing isn't as good either. He doesn't always hit Ray on the numbers when Ray's coming off a pick, but many point guards don't hit shooters who are standing still in the numbers. He's probably a better passer with his left hand than most of the guards in the league are with their dominant hands.

[LakersFan_33]

I said that he was going to be good on here during the lockout after watching him in person. He was going to my gym everyday to train...Very committed.

I also saw him play in person against John Wall and a bunch of other all stars. Besides the fact that Wall is a MAJOR ball hog, Rubio really held his own against the elite NBA talent that he played against. What's more, is that he had a very nice shot, nice drive, nice handles and perhaps most importantly, a strong willingness to get other players involved/make the pass to the open player, etc.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Rubio is a superior passer and reads the offense much better than Rondo, at least to this point. We'll have to see if the trends continues, but so far very impressed on how he runs an offense. He just has a knack for ball speed and ball positioning, simply accurate passes which has been my main beef with Rondo's passing game.

And he doesn't turn the ball over.

Rondo's the best passer in the game.  I guess, based on this one game, Rondo has now been relegated to second best passer in the NBA.

Wow!! Rubio really must be good.

Other than I've never felt Rondo was the best passer in the game. Never liked his passing ability, it has been a constant complaint of mine that his passes are often inaccurate. What he does well is find open people, which is not the same as putting the ball in the right spot. It's often that he's sloppy with his passes, it's often that he makes passes harder than it should be, faster than it should be, etc.

No.  He makes passes with frequency that no one else can make, and he delivers them perfectly.  Your evaluation of his passing ability is shockingly off target.

Yes, Rondo is an infallible god.

Far from it, but passing ability is not his weakness.

Never said it was. Said I never thought he was the best in the game. Said that what's holding him back it's his passing accuracy. Nothing more, nothing less.

Fair enough.  I'm not saying Rondo's an infallible god, just saying that you are wrong about his passing accuracy.

I hope it's something that it's fixed this season, but watch for low/fast bounce passes, and when he misses Ray on the letters for what it would be a in rhythm 3, which is then wasted because the pass wasn't on the right spot letting defense recover. As well as the lazy lobs he has a bad habit of doing. Things of that nature.

  You have to filter out numerous passes that Rondo makes that other point guards really can't, but in general I'd say that most other point guards are much less accurate than Rondo and their timing isn't as good either. He doesn't always hit Ray on the numbers when Ray's coming off a pick, but many point guards don't hit shooters who are standing still in the numbers. He's probably a better passer with his left hand than most of the guards in the league are with their dominant hands.

The problem is that I'm not really trying to say that he's a bad passer, or that he isn't a good one for that matter. Just that he isn't the best, and for all the good he does making some difficult passes, and finding open people in impossible situations, his timing and accuracy are the things he should work on the most, it's what's really keeping him from being at the very top of the passing game in my opinion.

I know you guys would shoot me, but Sam Cassell and Marbury for that matter, were really good at hitting Ray for good rhythm shots. Not saying that they are better passers than Rondo, but this specific detail, of timing and passing the ball right on the money for shooting continuation, they really had that pat down.

Anyways, I just provided you with an example of how Rondo can hit Ray with great timing and right on the money, sadly it's not what is customary from what I've seen to this point. It's not a question of ability or skills, which makes this a very hard aspect to argue. More of a game discipline thing.

And let me make this clear, I'm not in any manner saying I want Rubio over Rondo. I just think that as passing goes, Rubio is quite stellar.

[BballTim]

Rubio is a superior passer and reads the offense much better than Rondo, at least to this point. We'll have to see if the trends continues, but so far very impressed on how he runs an offense. He just has a knack for ball speed and ball positioning, simply accurate passes which has been my main beef with Rondo's passing game.

And he doesn't turn the ball over.

Rondo's the best passer in the game.  I guess, based on this one game, Rondo has now been relegated to second best passer in the NBA.

Wow!! Rubio really must be good.

Other than I've never felt Rondo was the best passer in the game. Never liked his passing ability, it has been a constant complaint of mine that his passes are often inaccurate. What he does well is find open people, which is not the same as putting the ball in the right spot. It's often that he's sloppy with his passes, it's often that he makes passes harder than it should be, faster than it should be, etc.

No.  He makes passes with frequency that no one else can make, and he delivers them perfectly.  Your evaluation of his passing ability is shockingly off target.

Yes, Rondo is an infallible god.

Far from it, but passing ability is not his weakness.

Never said it was. Said I never thought he was the best in the game. Said that what's holding him back it's his passing accuracy. Nothing more, nothing less.

Fair enough.  I'm not saying Rondo's an infallible god, just saying that you are wrong about his passing accuracy.

I hope it's something that it's fixed this season, but watch for low/fast bounce passes, and when he misses Ray on the letters for what it would be a in rhythm 3, which is then wasted because the pass wasn't on the right spot letting defense recover. As well as the lazy lobs he has a bad habit of doing. Things of that nature.

  You have to filter out numerous passes that Rondo makes that other point guards really can't, but in general I'd say that most other point guards are much less accurate than Rondo and their timing isn't as good either. He doesn't always hit Ray on the numbers when Ray's coming off a pick, but many point guards don't hit shooters who are standing still in the numbers. He's probably a better passer with his left hand than most of the guards in the league are with their dominant hands.

The problem is that I'm not really trying to say that he's a bad passer, or that he isn't a good one for that matter. Just that he isn't the best, and for all the good he does making some difficult passes, and finding open people in impossible situations, his timing and accuracy are the things he should work on the most, it's what's really keeping him from being at the very top of the passing game in my opinion.

I know you guys would shoot me, but Sam Cassell and Marbury for that matter, were really good at hitting Ray for good rhythm shots. Not saying that they are better passers than Rondo, but this specific detail, of timing and passing the ball right on the money for shooting continuation, they really had that pat down.

  The thing is IMO Ray's lost a step or two since then so the window to hit Ray with the pass is generally a lot smaller. He's rarely as open as he was in that youtube clip anymore.

  In some respects it's silly to argue about whether Rondo's the best passer in the league because the people in the discussion probably have varying definitions about what that means. I think Rondo makes a fair amount of passes that most players wouldn't even attempt, some would argue that the fact that the other players either don't see the player or couldn't thread a pass to that player makes them better passers because they only attempt simpler passes. Sometimes Rondo's a little bit too ambitious with what he attempts, and sometimes he's fancier than he needs to be. But there's also a "chess vs checkers" aspect to his game that gets overlooked by a lot of people.