Not sure why this is that hard to believe.
The league wanted no part of Rondo for Chris Paul. Didn't think it was value.
And the Lakers don't want to move Gasol for him, despite their acute need for a quality point. I don't blame them.
Rondo will not bring a star in return. That's clear. The reasons are quite clear. The league doesn't value him nearly as much as this board does.
So don't trade him. Simple.
then why does he keep getting voted into the all-star game
Remind me again why the all-star game matters.
Attitude. Effort, or the lack thereof. Shooting.
Lots of reasons why other teams don't consider Rondo a star. Lots of them. These are professional basketball people, not posters on a decidedly pro-Rondo blog. Can't say as I blame them. I wouldn't do the deal from the Lakers' side, either, especially not for a guy who pouted a half-season away when his 4-and-5 best buddy got traded.
No need to give him away. Great opportunity to use the experience to tell him, "Kid, we can't move you for a star because you're stubborn, you don't bring it every night and you're an offensive liability in the halfcourt."
Shot's improving, some. Now, if he'd bring it every night you might end up glad you didn't move him - although his game is a terrible fit for the Celtics right now due to the deteriorating scoring of the Big 3, a point I made last summer when Rondo's ball-stopping and inability to shoot absolutely destroyed the half-court offense in the Heat series.
Danny's not going to get a star for Rondo. No team's that interested in him.
So you might as well just keep pounding into his head that the game is not all about him.
Well, I don't know, Coach - Rondo is appearing to turn the corner, there. We'd all have to admit that over the last few weeks he's been rather consistent.
BOS (and Rondo) has victories vs NJ (and Deron)...Clips (and CP3)...GREAT GAME vs Lakers..enough to the point that I saw Kobe Bryant guarding Rondo for the 1st time. Disappointing loss on Sunday, but hey I'd take THAT Rondo any day of the week.
Doc Rivers even quoted "I'm not sure how he did offensively, but his defense, especially vs CP3, was spectacular."
I can pull the quote up, if anyone wishes. It was from ESPN.Com on Monday night after the Clips victory.
I know I've been on the other side of the Rondo bandwagon, too, over the last few weeks or so. I was an advocate of trading him for Steph Curry or Pau at one time. He seemed moody, inconsistent, unreliable - you name it.
Just on the personality standpoint - haven't ALL Superstars had personality issues? I thought that Bird/Magic/Michael all had their quirks, too.
But - I KNOW
- those three could hoop their butts off. Rondo is approaching those three, still.
But like I said earlier - we'd ALL have to admit that Rajon Rondo is improving - right before our eyes. Someone else could pull up the statistics if they'd wish, but his jumper is looking more reliable...he's pacing the game..pushing the ball when needed, and slowing things down when needed...he's becoming more vocal...he's being a leader. He's allowing this vet squad of ours to perhaps compete in the post season.
This squad will go only as far as Rajon Rondo goes. KG is our defensive anchor and emotional leader, Paul is the Captain, Ray is cool assassin, but
Rajon is the motor of this team right now.IMO, just the type of cornerstone that BOS needs going forth.
I posted yesterday that as Rajon Rondo develops his jumper, there will be absolutely NOTHING separating him from CP3 and Deron Williams. I stand by that.
I'm even starting to wonder if CP3 is as great a player as ESPN (and even US) believe him to be. His Clips team is in a tailspin, right now. ESPN doesn't seem to report on this enough. They've lost more games than they've won, since a certain future HOF PG tore his achilles (Chauncey).
So tell me, Celticsbloggers or anyone for that matter - who is the REAL star of the Clips?
All the pundits (even President Obama - luv ya, Pres
) will HAVE to admit that as Rajon develops his jumper and brings it on a consistent basis (like he has the last few weeks) then he sits at the same dinner table as the great PGs of the game today, plain and simple. He's starting to do that.
And as for LA? Well, I LOVE Pau's game. I still believe that he is under-rated in LA. They threw the poor fella under the bus last year, blaming him for everything that went wrong in that DAL series, while seemingly giving Bynum a pass. I still believe he'd benefit from a change of scenery, IMO.
Whether or not LA turned down Rondo, they will need
something going forth to allow them to compete in the playoffs. That squad struggled to beat MEM without Rudy Gay or Zach, and will have to face them, OKC, DAL or perhaps the Spurs in the playoffs.
I don't know if they can beat those odds with the squad as is. Their perimeter is still a bit porous.
As for whether other teams consider Rondo a star? I thought that SI just did a piece about how Rondo was voted the 12th best player to play with, or something to that matter, by the players. He is more likeable than we sometimes give credit.
ESPN gives Rondo (and BOS, for that matter), a slighted view, IMO. We are "Old"...not "Hip"....too "Traditional"....don't have "highlight" options (see Clips).
I've seen it myself..all you have to do is watch the tendencies of the reporting over time. Of course they'd have a slightly tilted view of Rondo. But they are missing his true worth.
That's why I watch NBATV more and more.
But back to Rajon - here is the same player who tried to play with a dislocated arm in the playoffs - after DWade took him down. Rondo has some great qualities about him, and as he improves off and on the court, those same qualities will allow him to compete with the superstars in the near future.
Here is the same guy who carried BOS in 08-09, after KG (and Powe) went down...Rondo OWNED Rose in that playoff series that year.
Here is the same guy who nearly averaged a triple double vs CLE in 09-10. Him and KG carried BOS in that series.
I hope that his future is in Green. Any true basketball star who knows the game knows Rajon Rondo's worth.
Topic: LA Lakers Turned Down Rondo for Gasol? (Read 6425 times)