Celtics' MVP

[Senninsage]

Rondo has been immensely impressive, and so, too, has Pierce, but when you factor in the players he has shutdown, in addition to his own contributions on the boards and in putting the ball in the hoop, I'd definitely have to say KG.

Multiple players on this team are vitally important, but if there had to be an MVP, it would probably have to be KG. Then again, Pierce is very deserving as well. Pierce has had some truly monstrous games for us against some tough opponents as well.

You know what? I'd give it to KG.

[BballTim]

The numbers make this easy (at least to eliminate one):

6-2  (Our record in games Rondo did not play)
0-3  (Our record in games Pierce did not play)
0-3  (Our record in games Garnett did not play)

So when Rondo plays great but either Pierce or Garnett don't play or are out of shape, we are a bad team (0-6 with one or the other out, about 4-6 when Pierce came back but was out of shope).

When Rondo doesn't play at all but Pierce plays well and Garnett plays OK, we are a good but not great team (the 6-2 run).

When Pierce plays well and Garnett plays well, along with Rondo, we end up with the best record since the all star break.

The above boils down to Rondo playing well does not make us a good team if both KG and PP are not playing and at least one of them playing well.

Rondo not playing does not make us a bad team if both KG and PP are playing and at least one of them playing well.  And in fact we can be a pretty good team without Rondo.

My vote goes to KG as our MVP.  PP is a close second.  Rondo is important but more on par with Ray Allen than with KG or PP.  I feel that those who think Rondo is our MVP would be very suprised at how bad we get and how quickly if we lose PP or KG (0-6 so far).

  Rondo was ejected during one of the games KG misses and was suspended for one of the others. Bass missed all three of those games as well. Also, at the beginning of the season when PP was out KG was playing terribly. If you look at the way the team was playing early this year (before Rondo's injury) we were slightly outscoring opponents when he was playing and getting outscored (on a 48 minute basis) by over 20 points with him on the bench. It was almost as bad as last year's playoffs, when we were more than 30 points a game worse with Rondo out. We were worse with Rondo on the bench than any of the big three, just like we were (IIRC) the two previous playoffs.

[anthony83]

KG,he continues being the spirit of this team, KG is playing at an excellent level, is a delight to see him play it.
Pierce is also playing very well.

 GO CELTICS¡¡¡

[Vermont Green]

The numbers make this easy (at least to eliminate one):

6-2  (Our record in games Rondo did not play)
0-3  (Our record in games Pierce did not play)
0-3  (Our record in games Garnett did not play)

So when Rondo plays great but either Pierce or Garnett don't play or are out of shape, we are a bad team (0-6 with one or the other out, about 4-6 when Pierce came back but was out of shope).

When Rondo doesn't play at all but Pierce plays well and Garnett plays OK, we are a good but not great team (the 6-2 run).

When Pierce plays well and Garnett plays well, along with Rondo, we end up with the best record since the all star break.

The above boils down to Rondo playing well does not make us a good team if both KG and PP are not playing and at least one of them playing well.

Rondo not playing does not make us a bad team if both KG and PP are playing and at least one of them playing well.  And in fact we can be a pretty good team without Rondo.

My vote goes to KG as our MVP.  PP is a close second.  Rondo is important but more on par with Ray Allen than with KG or PP.  I feel that those who think Rondo is our MVP would be very suprised at how bad we get and how quickly if we lose PP or KG (0-6 so far).

  Rondo was ejected during one of the games KG misses and was suspended for one of the others. Bass missed all three of those games as well. Also, at the beginning of the season when PP was out KG was playing terribly. If you look at the way the team was playing early this year (before Rondo's injury) we were slightly outscoring opponents when he was playing and getting outscored (on a 48 minute basis) by over 20 points with him on the bench. It was almost as bad as last year's playoffs, when we were more than 30 points a game worse with Rondo out. We were worse with Rondo on the bench than any of the big three, just like we were (IIRC) the two previous playoffs.

I agree it is a small sample of stats and alone, not enough to infer conclusivity but are you suggesting that Rondo is more valuable than KG and PP or just picking on my stats?

[j804]

Rondo hands down yea KG has been on fire but come on Rondo runs the show this is his team.

I agree this is Rondo's team. He runs this team offensively, but KG runs this team defensively.
If KG is out, we have no chance.
If Rondo is out, we almost have no chance, but a glimmer of hope.
Hope this makes sense.

No I agree I'd actually say KG for defense and Rondo for offense it's a toss up between the 2 really

[BballTim]

The numbers make this easy (at least to eliminate one):

6-2  (Our record in games Rondo did not play)
0-3  (Our record in games Pierce did not play)
0-3  (Our record in games Garnett did not play)

So when Rondo plays great but either Pierce or Garnett don't play or are out of shape, we are a bad team (0-6 with one or the other out, about 4-6 when Pierce came back but was out of shope).

When Rondo doesn't play at all but Pierce plays well and Garnett plays OK, we are a good but not great team (the 6-2 run).

When Pierce plays well and Garnett plays well, along with Rondo, we end up with the best record since the all star break.

The above boils down to Rondo playing well does not make us a good team if both KG and PP are not playing and at least one of them playing well.

Rondo not playing does not make us a bad team if both KG and PP are playing and at least one of them playing well.  And in fact we can be a pretty good team without Rondo.

My vote goes to KG as our MVP.  PP is a close second.  Rondo is important but more on par with Ray Allen than with KG or PP.  I feel that those who think Rondo is our MVP would be very suprised at how bad we get and how quickly if we lose PP or KG (0-6 so far).

  Rondo was ejected during one of the games KG misses and was suspended for one of the others. Bass missed all three of those games as well. Also, at the beginning of the season when PP was out KG was playing terribly. If you look at the way the team was playing early this year (before Rondo's injury) we were slightly outscoring opponents when he was playing and getting outscored (on a 48 minute basis) by over 20 points with him on the bench. It was almost as bad as last year's playoffs, when we were more than 30 points a game worse with Rondo out. We were worse with Rondo on the bench than any of the big three, just like we were (IIRC) the two previous playoffs.

I agree it is a small sample of stats and alone, not enough to infer conclusivity but are you suggesting that Rondo is more valuable than KG and PP or just picking on my stats?

  I'd say that he's playing as well and contributing as much as either of them. How do you define more valuable? If, for instance, your backup is really bad, does that make you a more valuable player? The old Celts did better when Larry was out than Parrish because Wedman was a better backup than players like Fernstein. Does that mean that Parrish was a more valuable player than Bird?

[Vermont Green]

Garnett

Stat ON Court OFF Court Net
Minutes 1493  969  60%
Offense: Pts per 100 Poss. 106.2 95.5 +10.7
Defense: Pts per 100 Poss. 97.9 104.0 -6.1

Rondo

Stat ON Court OFF Court Net
Minutes 1511  951  61%
Offense: Pts per 100 Poss. 105.0 96.9 +8.1
Defense: Pts per 100 Poss. 101.5 98.5 +3.0

Pierce

Stat ON Court OFF Court Net
Minutes 1654  808  67%
Offense: Pts per 100 Poss. 103.9 97.7 +6.2
Defense: Pts per 100 Poss. 100.0 101.0 -0.9


We are 16 pts better with Garnett on the court and only 5 points better with Rondo.  Pierce gives us +7, less than his actual current contribution because he has about 10 games where he was out of shape and playing bad.

[byennie]

I think it's Garnett, by a hair over Rondo.

This team is built on defense: Garnett is our best defender (Rondo is good but not great IMO). Garnett is a leader, while Rondo has a difficult personality (possibly overstated, but relatively speaking I think this is true). Garnett has been our best player at TWO positions, and in particular we'd get killed at the 5 without him. Steimsma & Bass wouldn't cut it for 48 minutes.

I'm not sure who is the better player, but I think this team would be a lot more competitive with Rondo out (playing Bradley / Pietrus / Allen at guard spots) than if Garnett went down. We'd be toast without KG.

[thestackshow]

Its hard to give this team a MVP, because each member contributes so much that without any of them, we wouldnt be successful.

Without Pierce we wouldnt have a closer or a go-to guy.

Without KG we wouldnt have solid defense.

Without Rondo, we would have any movement or offense.

Without Bradley and Bass we wouldnt have glue-guys who are consistent and get their averages every single night.

Has Bass ever had a bad game? Even if he does have a under par game, he still hits his averages. The guy has to be one of the most consistent celtics of the big 3 era.

Amazing how we traded an inconsistent, undersized, out of shape, non-athletic  bench player for an athletic, consistent, starter.

[Celtics4ever]

KG is our MVP.   The winning ways started when he became our center.

[CelticsFanNC]

  I believe you have to account for the fact that Rondo is having a tremendous effect on the efficiency of our offense and every player on this team including KG and Pierce.  KG and Pierce are having great years but Rondo is creating almost everything for both of them on the offensive end of the floor.

  They certainly make his job easier and make him better but at this point in their career's Rondo is effecting them more then they are effecting him IMO.  How many of Pierce and KG's shots are wide open jumper as a direct result of Rondo's play making ability?