It is evidently clear and thoroughly reported that Rondo is a highly talented, yet mercurial and often moody basketball player. He has the ability to lead on the court (and the C's desperately want him to), but he so far has shown little to no ability to work as a locker room leader, and I fear for the next era of C's basketball if Rondo is the "Captain."
Look, the Big-3 weren't winning any solo championships before coming together in 2007. They each brought something special to the locker room and the court, and everything has worked beautifully between them, but they needed each other to maximize their own talents. KG has the best "leadership" qualities of the Big-3, but he probably turns off some teammates with his incessant energy and smack talk. He is a disciplined defensive leader and no one can ever question his desire; he leads in that regard. Allen is a terrific leader when it comes to working out, staying in shape, and practicing your shot. Young players would be smart to follow what he has done mentally and physically over his career. However, Allen has never been lauded as a team leader - not in Milwaukee or Seattle, and for a guy whose talent is rather limited defensively, it would be tough for him to be an all-around team leader. Pierce, let's be honest, had his growing pains in Boston. He's been tossed from playoff games, acted downright silly at times, and to me it was clear that he alone would never lead Boston out of average territory. Offensively, he's unstoppable, but his defense fluctuated throughout his career and he never really took up the role of The Captain until the Big-3 came together. Pierce is my favorite Celtic since Reggie Lewis, but he at times lacked maturity, and leaders, if anything, need to act mature. Maturity breeds professionalism. Professionalism equals desire, dedication, and discipline (the three D's I learned as a boy). KG, Allen, and Pierce work wonderfully as a unit, with each bringing something necessary to the locker room and the court. They're one of the greatest trios in NBA history because together, as one entity, they're the perfect team leader in the locker room and on the court.
Where exactly does that leave Rondo? He's been trying over the past few years to carve out his own niche, and EVERY Celtic player and coach will say 10,000 over that the team goes as Rondo goes. Yet, there are some games where Rondo simply doesn't show up FROM AN EFFORT STANDPOINT. This isn't about producing unreal triple-doubles, it's about bringing energy and effort. And, when a player doesn't bring energy and effort, it is NOT ABOUT TALENT, IT'S ABOUT DESIRE, IT'S ABOUT HEART. When Rondo doesn't show up from an effort standpoint, he's essentially abandoning his teammates. Leaders cannot and would not do that.
So, what is Rondo's role, and is he happy with it? Honestly, even though he is transcendentally talented and incessantly lauded by his teammates, he's the fourth wheel of the Big-3 era. Personally, I think he's tired of it. I think he wants more respect. I think he wants the old vets to back off him and appreciate him for who he is and the magical things he can do on the court. He sees his contemporaries [Bron, Wade, Howard, Griffin, Rose], all leaders or co-leaders of their own teams, adored by the public, the media, and the league, and he wonders where is his love. He knows he's talented enough to be a Top-10 player, but he probably feels he's being held back either by the popularity of his teammates or the system employed by his team.
Look, it's got to be tough playing with KG, Allen, and Pierce. They're respected vets with strong personalities. Rondo is a developing vet with a strong personality. He's 26 years-old and the team still isn't his. He knows he can only go so far (personally and professionally) as the fourth wheel. But, what I feel Rondo is missing (and this deals a bit with his immaturity) is that he has it better than 99% of NBA players. He has a yearly shot at a championship - something he may never have again after the Big-3 era - and he is adored by Celtics fans. The media will devote entire Sports Center segments to him when he delivers the goods. He's talented enough to throw up a triple-double every game. All he has to do is show up WANTING TO PLAY. Yes, the vets are tough on him, but he is too good to be this dead-eyes and unresponsive on the court.
This may be a case of Rondo learning too late in his career how good he has it now. You know, seven years from now when he's smacking younger players in the head, telling them to play with desire and passion. By then, it'll be too late. KG, Allen, and Pierce will all be retired, and who knows how good the Celtics will be. Who knows if Rondo will even be a Celtic. He needs to live in the here and now and play for today. But, if KG hasn't been able to get through to him yet, he probably never will.
This is all just pop psychology, of course. I don't know Rondo personally. But, I have a good intuition about people, and a lot of this is possible.
Topic: Does Rondo get along with his teammates? (Read 14805 times)