Insider - Chad Ford Thinks Rondo Most likely Notable Player Traded

[TitleMaster]

In all honesty, I don't feel bad for Rondo.

For one, as a result of the Big Three, he'll never have to face that list with John Stockton (and soon, Steve Nash), the greatest pass-first point guard who didn't win a ring.

But yet, w/o being on that list, he didn't develop a reliable mid-range jumper like the prior prodigy passer, Jason Kidd. And Kidd's ring was the luck of being at the Ray Bourque moment, at the right time, in Dallas towards the end of his career.

So yes, Rondo's got his moments in the sun but at the same time, let's face it, during the playoffs, opponents know how to defend against a Rondo-led squad.

[ssspence]

by the way, Rondo to Portland makes little sense to me unless they can Nate McM, and make a move to a faster tempo. Ken Berger sums it up well:

'Felton's up-tempo style and Nate McMillan's deliberate offense clearly are not fitting together. "They've got to make major changes," one executive said.'

Would it suit Aldridge anyway?

[CelticsFanNC]

  Good GM's like Danny7 Ainge don't give up All-Stars unless they are getting another All-Star in return. 

You don't trade All-Stars for two or three role players or projects.  Lottery picks, possibly but not a package of role players and projects.

[BballTim]

So yes, Rondo's got his moments in the sun but at the same time, let's face it, during the playoffs, opponents know how to defend against a Rondo-led squad.

  Rondo-led squads have won 5 playoff series in the last 3 years and gotten to game 7 in two of the three playoff losses. Opponents must not be able to act on that obvious knowledge very well.

[TitleMaster]

So yes, Rondo's got his moments in the sun but at the same time, let's face it, during the playoffs, opponents know how to defend against a Rondo-led squad.

  Rondo-led squads have won 5 playoff series in the last 3 years and gotten to game 7 in two of the three playoff losses. Opponents must not be able to act on that obvious knowledge very well.

Actually, KG a/o Pierce led, & Rondo assisted squads have won 5 playoff series.

When Rondo is the leader, with KG a/o Pierce struggling downtown, then the opposing defense simply needs to pack the paint, have Rondo's defender pull away, and then, run a double on whomever catches the ball. It's an effective Krytonite to Rondo's game.

But sure, when PP and KG are firing on their cylinders, then sure, Rondo wins series.

[PosImpos]

So yes, Rondo's got his moments in the sun but at the same time, let's face it, during the playoffs, opponents know how to defend against a Rondo-led squad.

You could make precisely the same statement about Dwight Howard.

Are you saying teams -- including the Celtics -- shouldn't view Dwight Howard as a very valuable player?

[TitleMaster]

So yes, Rondo's got his moments in the sun but at the same time, let's face it, during the playoffs, opponents know how to defend against a Rondo-led squad.

You could make precisely the same statement about Dwight Howard.

Are you saying teams -- including the Celtics -- shouldn't view Dwight Howard as a very valuable player?

If Howard doesn't expand his game, beyond a bump 'n grind or < 8 ft *poor lift* baby jump hook, then sure, he's basically a player who, once past the age of 29, will never win anything outside of being a role player. As a center, he's below Alonzo Mourning (since he doesn't have a kidney problem to shorten his career) but despite being a paragon of perfect health and Adonis physique, he's a limited player, once past his early years.

Since that's only 3 years away from today, then the C's better load up on every kind of near star role player to supplement Howard's game.

[CelticG1]

So yes, Rondo's got his moments in the sun but at the same time, let's face it, during the playoffs, opponents know how to defend against a Rondo-led squad.

You could make precisely the same statement about Dwight Howard.

Are you saying teams -- including the Celtics -- shouldn't view Dwight Howard as a very valuable player?

If Howard doesn't expand his game, beyond a bump 'n grind or < 8 ft *poor lift* baby jump hook, then sure, he's basically a player who, once past the age of 29, will never win anything outside of being a role player. As a center, he's below Alonzo Mourning (since he doesn't have a kidney problem to shorten his career) but despite being a paragon of perfect health and Adonis physique, he's a limited player, once past his early years.

Since that's only 3 years away from today, then the C's better load up on every kind of near star role player to supplement Howard's game.

Lets please not leave out the defensive side of the ball. There is a reason why he has been named DOP the past few years, something that probably shouldn't change over the next 5 years. Not to mention at the moment there are very few dominant players at his position. A little different than the point guard position. Even with Howards flaws he is a match up problem against every single team in the NBA

[PosImpos]

So yes, Rondo's got his moments in the sun but at the same time, let's face it, during the playoffs, opponents know how to defend against a Rondo-led squad.

You could make precisely the same statement about Dwight Howard.

Are you saying teams -- including the Celtics -- shouldn't view Dwight Howard as a very valuable player?

If Howard doesn't expand his game, beyond a bump 'n grind or < 8 ft *poor lift* baby jump hook, then sure, he's basically a player who, once past the age of 29, will never win anything outside of being a role player. As a center, he's below Alonzo Mourning (since he doesn't have a kidney problem to shorten his career) but despite being a paragon of perfect health and Adonis physique, he's a limited player, once past his early years.

Since that's only 3 years away from today, then the C's better load up on every kind of near star role player to supplement Howard's game.

Lets please not leave out the defensive side of the ball. There is a reason why he has been named DOP the past few years, something that probably shouldn't change over the next 5 years. Not to mention at the moment there are very few dominant players at his position. A little different than the point guard position. Even with Howards flaws he is a match up problem against every single team in the NBA

Nonetheless, the point stands that the fact that a player has limitations in their game and can't single-handedly carry a team doesn't mean they aren't still very valuable.

[TitleMaster]

Here's the famous one-on-one training between Howard and Hakeem ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mArHU1ewSog

Back in '09, Kobe did the same thing w/ Olajuwon but in the year which followed, Kobe's post game improved to incorporate some of Hakeem's spin moves and fakes.

In contrast, Howard improved very little, despite training with the greatest center since the Russ/Chamberlain era. That's my concern with DH. So sure, right now, he's the Adonis of the league and can do the maximum amount of damage in a 8 ft radius from the basket. But here's the issue, what happens when his opposing man pulls him away from the basket, to feed someone else, going in for a layup, while posing as an outside threat? For a Superman, he's not really a versatile player.

Thus, my prediction is that Howard will need several supporting near-star level high b-ball IQ role players, to make the C's contenders in the years ahead. Thus, we'll need basically two James Poseys or one Posey & one younger Cassell to compliment both Howard and Rondo, if that's the new nucleus looking ahead. In this case, Cassell plays the shoot first, combo-guard, like JoJo White.

[BballTim]

So yes, Rondo's got his moments in the sun but at the same time, let's face it, during the playoffs, opponents know how to defend against a Rondo-led squad.

  Rondo-led squads have won 5 playoff series in the last 3 years and gotten to game 7 in two of the three playoff losses. Opponents must not be able to act on that obvious knowledge very well.

Actually, KG a/o Pierce led, & Rondo assisted squads have won 5 playoff series.

When Rondo is the leader, with KG a/o Pierce struggling downtown, then the opposing defense simply needs to pack the paint, have Rondo's defender pull away, and then, run a double on whomever catches the ball. It's an effective Krytonite to Rondo's game.

But sure, when PP and KG are firing on their cylinders, then sure, Rondo wins series.

   Yes, I especially liked the way KG led the Celts past the Bulls in 09. Impressive. He was, from your viewpoint, firing on all cylinders?

  How about PP vs the Cavs in 2010? 14 a game and 35% from the field, 31% on threes. I'm sure that's what you had in mind by firing on all cylinders, or maybe PP was strugging from downtown and Rondo led the Celts past the Cavs?

 

[PosImpos]

Thus, we'll need basically two James Poseys or one Posey & one younger Cassell to compliment both Howard and Rondo, if that's the new nucleus looking ahead. In this case, Cassell plays the shoot first, combo-guard, like JoJo White.

What the heck are you talking about?

[nickagneta]

Thus, we'll need basically two James Poseys or one Posey & one younger Cassell to compliment both Howard and Rondo, if that's the new nucleus looking ahead. In this case, Cassell plays the shoot first, combo-guard, like JoJo White.

What the heck are you talking about?

Yeah, he kinda lost me there too.