Rajon Rondo is a top 5 player in the nba

[mqtcelticsfan]

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.

You can't just remove guys because you forgot someone and it hurt your point.

[Celtics18]

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.

But, he might crack the top 20 of many experts' lists.  For example, he was ranked number 17 in the recent ESPN top NBA players list.

[ms.ball]

I don't care if Rondo is a top 5, 10, or 50 player. I care that he's a Celtic and every night they play I watch him display that Celtic Pride!! A lot of things he does on the court goes unnoticed by Gm's, players and yes fans. I watch him give great ball denial on Lebron down in the post on a possession in the Miami Game... How many other elite guards can do that? If the team needs scoring he gona do just that. If the team needs rebounding, he does it! If he needs to get KG going he does that! Ie (tonight)! You never see him take a play off, and he don't bag down from anybody! I am proud he is in Green and white!

[Dybdal]

Every time i see people make these lists of players in a best of format, i rarely see it mentioned on what basis they are making it.

In a scenario of "im the GM of a team, need to pick a franchise player for this year only" rondo isnt top5 and i doubt he's top10 eighter.

The Special Ones (the ones with such a rare set of talent and or ability that sets them apart form the rest, in no particular order)
Lebron James
Dwayne Wade
Kobe Bryant
Dwight Howard
Dirk N.
Derick Rose
Chris Paul

I just cant see how you can put Rondo before any of those names, all of them have something of essential value to any team something Rondo just does not bring. You could switch any of those players for John Wall on the Wizards team and i would allmost venture a gamble that they would be a borderline playoff team, i doubt you could say the same for Rondo.

He isnt borderline unguardable like: Lebron James & Dirk N.
He isnt a clutch preformer like: Kobe Bryant & Dwayne Wade
He dosnt have a body type that instantly makes him a threat like: Dwight Howard

And he isnt a complete package threat like: Chris Paul & Derick Rose

I cannot fathom seeing him infront of any of those names and im quite sure you could make a case going down to 12-14ish making the same argument.

*edit: after re-reading this, i cant fathom i forgot durant but he most def. is among those rare talents of the league.

[manl_lui]

Since the CP3 Trade, Rondo has a lot to prove, if he keeps up his level of play, and prove he's going to be a top 5 player, it will benefit us in the future

Maybe in the future, he can drag some talent to Boston.

[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.

You can't just remove guys because you forgot someone and it hurt your point.

Yes I can. I am fully able to remove one of the players besides rondo, from my list of top five. If I removed Rondo, that would be stupid. Reconsidering the other players does not affect the credability of the topic.

[manl_lui]

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.

Cross Griffin out too as well, and I'm not sure if Amar'e should be on that list anymore, since Carmelo showed up, his game has changed dramatically

[indeedproceed]

Well the greatest threat to the credibility of the topic is that we've seen this act before. It was called 'December 2010', and it was fleeting. Right now, Rondo is playing like the best or second best PG in basketball. But, let's see him keep that up for another 3 months or so before we jump to too many conclusions.

[mqtcelticsfan]

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.

You can't just remove guys because you forgot someone and it hurt your point.

Yes I can. I am fully able to remove one of the players besides rondo, from my list of top five. If I removed Rondo, that would be stupid. Reconsidering the other players does not affect the credability of the topic.

It really does hurt your credibility, though. You were fully behind the idea that Dirk was better than Rondo, but changed your mind seemingly because someone pointed out that Dwight was also better than Rondo. It'd be like saying that 3 is a higher number than 4 simply because 5 is higher than both. The reversal of your opinion was based on a completely unrelated set of circumstances, and as such, there is no logical reason to change it in the first place other than your desire to put Rondo in the top 5. If someone made an impassioned argument that Derrick Rose is a top 5 player, would you just move Rondo above Wade?

[indeedproceed]

It really does hurt your credibility, though. You were fully behind the idea that Dirk was better than rondo.

Well no. He said in no Particular order. So in his order, he'd rank dirk behind rondo, and Howard ahead of dirk. I don't agree but it doesn't create a flaw in his opinion.

[mqtcelticsfan]

It really does hurt your credibility, though. You were fully behind the idea that Dirk was better than rondo.

Well no. He said in no Particular order. So in his order, he'd rank dirk behind rondo, and Howard ahead of dirk. I don't agree but it doesn't create a flaw in his opinion.

Ahhhh. Good point. Still totally ridiculous, but you're right

[BballTim]

Well the greatest threat to the credibility of the topic is that we've seen this act before. It was called 'December 2010', and it was fleeting. Right now, Rondo is playing like the best or second best PG in basketball. But, let's see him keep that up for another 3 months or so before we jump to too many conclusions.

  If you liked December 2010, you should have seen November 2010. That was probably a little better. His great play was as fleeting as his health last year and it seems to be back so far this year.

[indeedproceed]

You're right it was November. The shortened season is messing with my memory!

But you put a pin on the fundemental debate around Rondo's incredible disparity between early season play and his late season play. If his health was the only limiting factor, that puts Rondo in a wholly different light. Well, at least he goes from a player who is at best unpredictable to a known if damaged superstar quality. This year will be very exciting because assuming rondo stays reasonably healthy and his play thus far is an indicator of what we can expect every nIght from him, we should get some answers.

[mc34]

Rondo's a top 20, maybe top 15 player right now. If he keeps this level of play up throughout the year (playing his game while knocking down jumpers and getting to the free throw line) then we might be able to consider him top 10.

[TruthPierce2008]

So apparently you can be one of the top 5 players in the NBA despite the fact that you can't shoot?

He's barely top 20 if that.

Durant, Lebron, CP3, Wade, Howard, Kobe, Griffin, Rose, Monta Ellis, Carmelo, Josh Smith, Stoudemire, etc.

Monta!!! all that dude does is score, nothing else plus he is a thug