Pierce > Rondo?

[snively]

The most important player on this team is the one who can play the best.

PP and KG were and if they are still able to play their best then either still are the most important on this team.

Rondo can have monster games, but he needs others to play well in order for him to have those monsters.

I'm guessing you're referring to the differences between scorers (Pierce) & defensive players (KG) vs. distributors (Rondo).  Players have to play well, i.e. make shots, for Rondo to have a great statistical night, whereas Pierce can just go off one-on-one and take sole credit for all of his production or KG can spearhead a dominant defense.

But that really doesn't constitute much of a difference.  Andre Miller once averaged 11apg playing with Wesley Person, Lamond Murray, Jumaine Jones, Ricky Davis and Chris Mihm. And don't forget the Nets teams Jason Kidd led to the Finals.  Most NBA players can put the ball in the basket.  That shouldn't diminish the credit given to the great distributors.

[greenpride32]

Players have to play well, i.e. make shots, for Rondo to have a great statistical night, whereas Pierce can just go off one-on-one and take sole credit for all of his production or KG can spearhead a dominant defense.

That shouldn't diminish the credit given to the great distributors.

Uh didn't you see how many easy baskets Pierce was creating for his teammates?  When he got hot he used it to his advantage by drawing the defense and dishing out passes that even the least skillful of player could finish.  That's why he is elite and Rondo is not, Pierce can really do it all.

Scoring isn't everything, but let's face it, the object of the game is to score more than your opponent, so I'd have to say it's pretty important.  The rules of the game also favor more offensive.

[BballTim]

Players have to play well, i.e. make shots, for Rondo to have a great statistical night, whereas Pierce can just go off one-on-one and take sole credit for all of his production or KG can spearhead a dominant defense.

That shouldn't diminish the credit given to the great distributors.

Uh didn't you see how many easy baskets Pierce was creating for his teammates?  When he got hot he used it to his advantage by drawing the defense and dishing out passes that even the least skillful of player could finish.  That's why he is elite and Rondo is not, Pierce can really do it all.

Scoring isn't everything, but let's face it, the object of the game is to score more than your opponent, so I'd have to say it's pretty important.  The rules of the game also favor more offensive.

  You're only seeing what you want to see. Scoring's pretty important, obviously. But while Pierce scores more than Rondo, the *team* scores more with Rondo running the offense than with Pierce doing it. The offense is more efficient because of the myriad of things that Rondo does better than Pierce. That's why Rondo's also an elite player, because he can impact a game in so many ways, and he can add a lot to the offense when he's not even shooting.