Rajon Rondo is a top 5 player in the nba

[BballTim]

Players definitively better:

1. Durant
2. James
3. Wade
4. Bryant
5. Howard
6. Rose
7. Chris Paul
8. Griffin
10. Dirk

Potential Betters:

Possibly Pierce
Possibly Deron Williams
Possibly Carmelo
Possibly Kevin Love

Rondo is top 15.

Griffin, Dirk, Melo, and Howard do not make their teem-mates better. The players I did not just list, do, but most do not to the extent that Rondo does. Rondo can take over a game by scoring, passing, and to a lesser extent, playing defense. Chris Paul and Durant can not do all those things. Therefore, Rondo is in the same class as Lebron, Wade, Kobe, and Derrick Rose. I do think Kevin Love is arguably a top 5 player as well though. You cant argue with the numbers he puts up and the leadership he exhibits.

If you took Howard off the Magic, they'd be the worst team in the league. If you took Melo off the Knicks they'd be a total non-factor. Same goes for Griffin and the Clips. Dirk's playoff performance last year singlehandedly brought a championship to Dallas. They may not distribute and directly provide easy baskets for their teammates, but they make they're teams hugely better.

  I think the Knicks were better before the Melo trade than they've been since. The Clips were 3 games better with Griffin playing 82games than they were the season before without him.

  Also, do you remember the Chicago series? Rose got the best of Rondo, noticeably.

  If you're talking about the playoff series, do you remember it? Rose had a couple of big games but Rondo was better. They both scored about the same, Rondo had more rebounds. Rondo averaged 12 assists and 2 turnovers, Rose averaged 6 assists and 5 turnovers.

[mqtcelticsfan]

I say the same thing to Packer fans ready to anoint Rodgers as the NFL's best QB: Let's see him have the kind of remarkable consistency Brady has had over a career.

Rodgers has played at an all-pro level since he took over as QB. He is absolutely one of the best 3 QBs in the NFL.

Rondo is still not top 5 or even close. Great player, but easily not top 5.

[RyNye]

Why do people think Rondo needs to score 20-30 points per game to be considered an elite player? Seriously, that is an incredibly ridiculous standard.

"RONDO WILL SUCK UNTIL HE AVERAGES A QUADRUPLE DOUBLE!!!!"

[BballTim]

we've always said Rondo hits shots, he moves into upper echelon of the NBA. Keep it up.

  He's been in the upper echelon of the NBA for a while. It's more the case that if he hits his shots more people will notice.

[indeedproceed]

I don't think anyone can really argue that rondo is one of the top 2 PGs through the first week of the season.

One week is not a lot of time, but give that man his due.

[Lord of Mikawa]

Rondo is a top 5 maybe top 3 PG but not all around player in the league.

[Carhole]

He is a team player, but when he needs to score, he can almost do so at will. Point being, hes dependent on his teammates because they are dependent on him, but when he needs to, doesnt't depend on anyone.

When did rondo begin being able to score "almost at will"?

Why do fans have to over react so wildly to rajon on a game to game basis.

Excellent interesting player, some holes that honestly he can't do anything to truly shake until playoff time (in my eyes) and some talent (anticipation and vision) that is just elite.

[ianboyextreme]

He is a team player, but when he needs to score, he can almost do so at will. Point being, hes dependent on his teammates because they are dependent on him, but when he needs to, doesnt't depend on anyone.

When did rondo begin being able to score "almost at will"?
[/quote]
Whenever he drives to the basket

[BballTim]

Iam not just saying that to get views, I truly believe it. He does EVERYTHING, and the way he makes all his teammates better is Larry Birdesque. He never ceases to at least impress me, and quite often amaze me.

Kevin Durant
Lebron James
Dirk Novitzki
Rajon Rondo
Dwyane Wade
(no particular order)

Sound Off

  You have to put Howard in that list.

 What's important isn't whether people think he's the 5th or 10th or 18th best player, but if he can maintain this level of play (like he did last year before the plantar fascitis) then you'd have to consider him capable of being the best player in a game (or a series).

[blackberry33]

While Rondo might not be in the top 5 he definitely is one of if not the best well rounded player. Points, rebs, steals, assists, etc

[ianboyextreme]

Iam not just saying that to get views, I truly believe it. He does EVERYTHING, and the way he makes all his teammates better is Larry Birdesque. He never ceases to at least impress me, and quite often amaze me.

Kevin Durant
Lebron James
Dirk Novitzki
Rajon Rondo
Dwyane Wade
(no particular order)

Sound Off

  You have to put Howard in that list.

 What's important isn't whether people think he's the 5th or 10th or 18th best player, but if he can maintain this level of play (like he did last year before the plantar fascitis) then you'd have to consider him capable of being the best player in a game (or a series).

Agreed. I remove Dirk and insert Dwight.

[Carhole]

He is a team player, but when he needs to score, he can almost do so at will. Point being, hes dependent on his teammates because they are dependent on him, but when he needs to, doesnt't depend on anyone.

When did rondo begin being able to score "almost at will"?

Whenever he drives to the basket
[/quote]

Do you believe he has always been able to do this or did he just start being able to do it game 1 of 2011 in your eyes?

And what happens when a team takes a big wing and zones him at the foul line on him in a playoff series and our offense grinds to a halt?

[Carhole]

He is a team player, but when he needs to score, he can almost do so at will. Point being, hes dependent on his teammates because they are dependent on him, but when he needs to, doesnt't depend on anyone.

When did rondo begin being able to score "almost at will"?

Whenever he drives to the basket

More importantly why did he just decide to not go to the basket and score during the last 10 minutes of the Knicks while their 10+ point lead was slipping away?

[Big Ticket]

he's unique, skilled, and special....but he's not top 5.

[PosImpos]

Top 20, sure, when he's on his game (he's proven to be very inconsistent).

Top 5?  Take a break from the Koolaid, son.

No kool aid, only the fine vintage wine that is Rajon Rondo.

Lebron
Durant
Wade
Howard
Rose
Paul
Dirk
Kobe
Melo
Amare
Love
Griffin
D-Will
Westbrook
Ginobili
Z-Randolph
Bynum

That's 17 players right there that I think many people would consider better than Rondo and whose teams would not trade straight up for Rondo.  I'm sure at least a couple more could arguably be placed in that category, too.

The struck through names are players that I'm not convinced are certainly better nor worse than Rondo.  I've stated a few times on this blog that I find Westbrook to be definitely better, but Rondo has shown a lot early in the season and my opinion is swaying.

Other players to join those bottom 4 I would say are:  Aldridge, Joe Johnson, Iguodala, Nash, Pierce, Pau.

Which means I can't say for certainty he's even top 20.  Probably, but not definitely.  If he plays with the intensity and heart we've seen and can do that consistently, then I'd put him around #10 or 11

Nash last year I would argue had a better overall season than Rondo.

I think Aldridge and Iggy are certainly arguable. 

I forgot about Pau; I agree, I think many people would consider him a better overall player than Rondo.  Pierce is debatable as well. 

I'm not a big fan of Joe Johnson.  I think he's solidly behind Rondo in overall worth.  Joe Johnson is an overrated and overpaid player imo.

But yeah, Rondo might not crack the top 20 on many experts' lists.