Rondo is going to be an issue next year.

[thestackshow]

I love him and hes one of my favorite players and I dont want him traded ever, but he needs to start playing hard every night, I dont get him. KG, Ray, Pierce, all these guys played hard every night, and even on losing teams, they tried to get their numbers.


Rondo plays hard once a week. The other nights he sleepwalks through games...your 25 dude, 36 yer old KG is out there hustling and Rondo is out there walking around the court like he was better things to do in life.

Rondo and our Bench play is whats killing this team. Thats why people are so biopolar when it comes to this team.

When Rondo plays well, we look like contenders, when he doesent, we look terrible. Whats it going to look like next year when its Rondo, old pierce, and a bunch of scrubs?

[GreenFaith1819]

I agree with the premise of the post, Stack.

It's baffling to me why he doesn't bring it every night.

With that being said, Chris Paul has looked like poop the last few games while the Clips have struggled. I mean, Sebastian Telfair took his lunch while they lost to PHX a few days ago.

Even Deron Williams has looked pedestrian at times. He took advantage of a depleted and last-place CHA team a week or so ago and made himself look like a world-beater, and now?

DWill is making very public plans to depart NJ - I presume because his "best friend" did the right thing and chose to stay in ORL.

Those two I just named are "supposed" to be the best PGs in the game, and even THEY come with issues.

We haven't seen Rondo Prime, yet. We've caught glimpses of him, but that's it. Those few glimpses have been AWESOME.

Wait until next year, once we have more horses. Hopefully, Danny can get Josh Smith, Jeff Green to return, and a gem or two in the draft.

Rajon Rondo won't be an issue next year. If anything, he'll be ON THE ISSUE of Sports Illustrated, again - once this team gets replenished.

[hpantazo]

Rondo wasn't the only one with a lack of effort the last 2 years though. I would say everyone except KG is guilty to some extent of going into autopilot, especially at this point in the season. I really believe that this team preferes to play the heat or the bulls in the 1st round and are just waiting it out until then.

[cman88]

Tge big 3 clearly take games off...see last night. No energy..I think it rubs off on rondo

[Celtics18]

Nobody brings their A game every single night in the NBA.  Rondo's under a microscope among Celtics fans so it's more noticeable when he has a subpar game, but it's not the huge problem that many make it out to be.

When the games are the biggest, he can usually be counted on to be at his best. 

[More Banners]

I'm expecting Jeff Green's return next season to be a key that bolsters the rest of the FA search and keeps it interesting for Rondo.

Heck, if these guys come out of this season/postseason thinking they've still got plenty left and just need more horses, they might return to play with JGreen and another guy that might get brought in.  With JG pretty much in the bag, we're one FA away from bringing the band back together and being a contender, IMO.

[Junkyard Dawg]

yeah i've been thinking this.  it's not so much that he needs to be killing himself out there all night, every night, but he really needs to be either the first or second option on offense.  it's too common to see him slacking back, trying to get others involved before he becomes aggressive, it needs to be the other way around.

[CelticHooligan3]

yeah i've been thinking this.  it's not so much that he needs to be killing himself out there all night, every night, but he really needs to be either the first or second option on offense.  it's too common to see him slacking back, trying to get others involved before he becomes aggressive, it needs to be the other way around.

Would this be true if the game was televised nationally?

[OmarSekou]

I don't think Rondo is physically built to bring it hard every night on both ends.

I think he knows that and in my opinion he's smart about the way he conserves energy. For example, last night he would put Ray on Thomas, the quicker man, which logically makes no sense. He takes a lot of plays off on d where he focuses more on defending space than defending his man. He's becoming really good at that though so it doesn't hurt our team. On offense, there are times when he isn't assertive.

He usually brings it when it matters and is skilled enough to do everything except shoot. He needs to improve at knowing when to take over games and when he should raise or lower his intensity. In games when the rest of the team is flat, he can't be. That's what he is right now. Two games ago he was flat, but we didn't need him. Last night he was flat and we needed him. He has to be able to see the difference.

KG is an absolute freak. He shouldn't be the standard for consistency because his stamina and focus is exceptional. I've seen Ray take games off, and I've seen Pierce take games off offensively (when he was Rondo's age he would take some off defensively too). So it's not only Rondo. But Rondo is/is becoming the leader so he needs to learn to set the tone.

I hope he can or we can get another guy (A Joakim Noah type) who can take on that role in the future.

[Boris Badenov]

Maybe we can petition Stern to schedule all of our games against Chicago, LAC, Cleveland, Washington, New Jersey, and I guess New York.

He'd bring it every night then.

[CelticHooligan3]

I don't think Rondo is physically built to bring it hard every night on both ends.

I think he knows that and in my opinion he's smart about the way he conserves energy. For example, last night he would put Ray on Thomas, the quicker man, which logically makes no sense. He takes a lot of plays off on d where he focuses more on defending space than defending his man. He's becoming really good at that though so it doesn't hurt our team. On offense, there are times when he isn't assertive.

He usually brings it when it matters and is skilled enough to do everything except shoot. He needs to improve at knowing when to take over games and when he should raise or lower his intensity. In games when the rest of the team is flat, he can't be. That's what he is right now. Two games ago he was flat, but we didn't need him. Last night he was flat and we needed him. He has to be able to see the difference.

KG is an absolute freak. He shouldn't be the standard for consistency because his stamina and focus is exceptional. I've seen Ray take games off, and I've seen Pierce take games off offensively (when he was Rondo's age he would take some off defensively too). So it's not only Rondo. But Rondo is/is becoming the leader so he needs to learn to set the tone.

I hope he can or we can get another guy (A Joakim Noah type) who can take on that role in the future.

If he(Rondo) and his supporters want him to be mentioned in the same circles with the top tier point guards of the day then simply put he needs to learn to bring it night in night out on a consistent basis on both sides of the ball. Thats what all the greats do. The best players can make an impact on the court on offense or defense on any given night. They also are dependable in the games played department and consistently give their best effort every night.

[OmarSekou]

I don't think Rondo is physically built to bring it hard every night on both ends.

I think he knows that and in my opinion he's smart about the way he conserves energy. For example, last night he would put Ray on Thomas, the quicker man, which logically makes no sense. He takes a lot of plays off on d where he focuses more on defending space than defending his man. He's becoming really good at that though so it doesn't hurt our team. On offense, there are times when he isn't assertive.

He usually brings it when it matters and is skilled enough to do everything except shoot. He needs to improve at knowing when to take over games and when he should raise or lower his intensity. In games when the rest of the team is flat, he can't be. That's what he is right now. Two games ago he was flat, but we didn't need him. Last night he was flat and we needed him. He has to be able to see the difference.

KG is an absolute freak. He shouldn't be the standard for consistency because his stamina and focus is exceptional. I've seen Ray take games off, and I've seen Pierce take games off offensively (when he was Rondo's age he would take some off defensively too). So it's not only Rondo. But Rondo is/is becoming the leader so he needs to learn to set the tone.

I hope he can or we can get another guy (A Joakim Noah type) who can take on that role in the future.

If he(Rondo) and his supporters want him to be mentioned in the same circles with the top tier point guards of the day then simply put he needs to learn to bring it night in night out on a consistent basis on both sides of the ball. Thats what all the greats do. The best players can make an impact on the court on offense or defense on any given night. They also are dependable in the games played department and consistently give their best effort every night.

I disagree. Nash doesn't effect the game on D and he's top tier. I've seen Westbrook not bring it on D and I rarely watch the Thunder. I've seen CP3 coast. Not sure about Deron. Parker usually brings it when I watch, but he was streaky when he was younger. The only guy I can confidently say who brings it every night is DRose.

There's a reason Rondo's been on the all defensive team that past few seasons. He can effect a game defensively in ways those other players can't. Even when he's coasting. But what's more obvious is when guys blow by him. Only his lack of effort is obvious.

When those other guys coast they'll still get points shooting. The fact that they aren't getting to the line or aren't creating opportunities for others isn't as obvious. It's not a lack of effort, it's "an off shooting night."

Rondo's a doubled edged sword. When he gives it everything he's better than most. When he doesn't he's worse than most. His best basketball is more dependent on effort because he can't shoot and relies on getting boards, penetrating, and creating turnovers instead.

I don't think he's capable of bringing it every possession, every night with his style of play. He'll break down. He breaks down as is. He just has to be smarter and recognize what the team needs from him in a given situation.

[Celtics18]

I don't think Rondo is physically built to bring it hard every night on both ends.

I think he knows that and in my opinion he's smart about the way he conserves energy. For example, last night he would put Ray on Thomas, the quicker man, which logically makes no sense. He takes a lot of plays off on d where he focuses more on defending space than defending his man. He's becoming really good at that though so it doesn't hurt our team. On offense, there are times when he isn't assertive.

He usually brings it when it matters and is skilled enough to do everything except shoot. He needs to improve at knowing when to take over games and when he should raise or lower his intensity. In games when the rest of the team is flat, he can't be. That's what he is right now. Two games ago he was flat, but we didn't need him. Last night he was flat and we needed him. He has to be able to see the difference.

KG is an absolute freak. He shouldn't be the standard for consistency because his stamina and focus is exceptional. I've seen Ray take games off, and I've seen Pierce take games off offensively (when he was Rondo's age he would take some off defensively too). So it's not only Rondo. But Rondo is/is becoming the leader so he needs to learn to set the tone.

I hope he can or we can get another guy (A Joakim Noah type) who can take on that role in the future.

If he(Rondo) and his supporters want him to be mentioned in the same circles with the top tier point guards of the day then simply put he needs to learn to bring it night in night out on a consistent basis on both sides of the ball. Thats what all the greats do. The best players can make an impact on the court on offense or defense on any given night. They also are dependable in the games played department and consistently give their best effort every night.

Was that Chris Paul's best effort a couple of games ago against our Celtics?

[snively]

edit: wrong thread

[BballTim]

I don't think Rondo is physically built to bring it hard every night on both ends.

I think he knows that and in my opinion he's smart about the way he conserves energy. For example, last night he would put Ray on Thomas, the quicker man, which logically makes no sense. He takes a lot of plays off on d where he focuses more on defending space than defending his man. He's becoming really good at that though so it doesn't hurt our team. On offense, there are times when he isn't assertive.

He usually brings it when it matters and is skilled enough to do everything except shoot. He needs to improve at knowing when to take over games and when he should raise or lower his intensity. In games when the rest of the team is flat, he can't be. That's what he is right now. Two games ago he was flat, but we didn't need him. Last night he was flat and we needed him. He has to be able to see the difference.

KG is an absolute freak. He shouldn't be the standard for consistency because his stamina and focus is exceptional. I've seen Ray take games off, and I've seen Pierce take games off offensively (when he was Rondo's age he would take some off defensively too). So it's not only Rondo. But Rondo is/is becoming the leader so he needs to learn to set the tone.

I hope he can or we can get another guy (A Joakim Noah type) who can take on that role in the future.

If he(Rondo) and his supporters want him to be mentioned in the same circles with the top tier point guards of the day then simply put he needs to learn to bring it night in night out on a consistent basis on both sides of the ball. Thats what all the greats do. The best players can make an impact on the court on offense or defense on any given night. They also are dependable in the games played department and consistently give their best effort every night.

  Yes, the CP3 and Deron followers spent quite a bit of time in the "trade Rondo" threads swearing up and down that those players "bring it every night" and "carry their teams on their backs every game" because they're superstars and "true franchise players". If the games they recently played against the Celts were indicative of their best effort every night and the nightly impact they make then I don't know what to say.