Is Danny Ainge building the 1988-89 Detroit Pistons?

[CelticG1]

I think this team is much more likely to go the route of the 2008/2009 Pistons than the 1988/1989 Pistons. 

How so?  I literally don't see one comparison

[Moranis]

I think this team is much more likely to go the route of the 2008/2009 Pistons than the 1988/1989 Pistons. 

How so?  I literally don't see one comparison

Giving massive contracts to role players and relegating your team to cap hell and mediocrity all at the same time.

[Carhole]

If Rondo can even get CLOSE to Isiah Thomas, this is a lock.

He is not too far off, though.

Zeke was a better shooter.

If Rondo is ever going to be mentioned in the same breath as Zeke, I HOPE it's THIS year.

Rondo had better pick it up offensively. We need him to, now. Let that J fly, Rajon.

Did you really just say that Rajon is a close to what Isaiah Thomas was in his prime?

I HATE Thomas, but that is lunacy. Thomas as an all around pg is top 5 ever, rondo is maybe top 5 in the league now. Isaiah laid back early and dominated (the most important) games late. Rondo is a really good player. You can't put him on the same planet as Isaiah in the mid to late 80s though.

[xmuscularghandix]

http://www.baystatesportsbulletin.com/2012/07/2012-celtics-new-age-bad-boys.html

An All-Star PG with ridiculous handles? A jump-shooting center with stingy defense and a chippy attitude? An undersized SG with great on-ball defense and a mid-range jumper? A veteran SG coming off the bench and dropping buckets from anywhere? A crafty SF with elite footwork and the ability to draw fouls at will? Are we talking about the 12-13 Celtics or the 86-87 Pistons?

Let's now carry this side by side examination onto the rookies. Neither Melo or Jared Sullinger are Dennis Rodman, but I do think that Fab has a chance to bring the same type of energy that John Salley did to Detroit. While he's no Rodman tt's not unrealistic to expect high quality rebounding from Sullinger if Doc gives him minutes in year one. Salley and Rodman combined for 931 points, 628 rebounds, and 173 blocks in their rookie campaigns. While wouldn't expect that from The Celtics rookies this year, I would look for them to make for of an impact than some rookies in years past.

It pains me to say it but The Miami Heat appear to be Larry Bird's Celtics in this scenario. Lebron's Big 3 will most likely be too strong for Rondo's Celtics, but like in 1987 they will have to play the games. Miami, like Boston in the 80's, won't have a real answer for defending the PG. While Dennis Johnson is a hall of famer and one of the greatest on-ball defenders in the league, Isiah Thomas still scored at will in that series... The Heat don't even have an elite defender at the PG spot.

I will be looking for Rajon Rondo to be an MVP Candidate this year, and I expect to see The Bad Boys playing in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

My article from a few days ago, I've been thinking of the Pistons comparison since the Avery Bradley/Joe Dumars comparisons on draft night.

[xmuscularghandix]

If Rondo can even get CLOSE to Isiah Thomas, this is a lock.

He is not too far off, though.

Zeke was a better shooter.

If Rondo is ever going to be mentioned in the same breath as Zeke, I HOPE it's THIS year.

Rondo had better pick it up offensively. We need him to, now. Let that J fly, Rajon.

Did you really just say that Rajon is a close to what Isaiah Thomas was in his prime?

I HATE Thomas, but that is lunacy. Thomas as an all around pg is top 5 ever, rondo is maybe top 5 in the league now. Isaiah laid back early and dominated (the most important) games late. Rondo is a really good player. You can't put him on the same planet as Isaiah in the mid to late 80s though.

Rondo is his equal in terms of passing and better than him at everything else but scoring ... and I honestly beleive the only thing stopping Rondo from scoring 20 per game is him literally not wanting to.

[GreenFaith1819]

If Rondo can even get CLOSE to Isiah Thomas, this is a lock.

He is not too far off, though.

Zeke was a better shooter.

If Rondo is ever going to be mentioned in the same breath as Zeke, I HOPE it's THIS year.

Rondo had better pick it up offensively. We need him to, now. Let that J fly, Rajon.

Did you really just say that Rajon is a close to what Isaiah Thomas was in his prime?

I HATE Thomas, but that is lunacy. Thomas as an all around pg is top 5 ever, rondo is maybe top 5 in the league now. Isaiah laid back early and dominated (the most important) games late. Rondo is a really good player. You can't put him on the same planet as Isaiah in the mid to late 80s though.

But if you watch Rondo and Thomas from back in the day, the comparison is really not THAT far off.

Sure - right NOW, Zeke > Rondo.

But I have a feeling that Rondo is going to take off this year. he'd better, after this whole ______ _______ debacle.

Rondo needs to put the rumors/allegations to rest - and I bet that he will.

By the time this season is over, Rajon Rondo will be sitting at the dinner table with Isiah Thomas talent-wise. he just needs to let that jumper fly, and realize that BOS needs him to step up more NOW THAN EVER, since _______ _______left for ______.

(sorry - just thinking about what has happened over the last week or so is too painful. Can't even name names.)

But even their MANNERISMS are the same...Rondo already has a rep as a surly, moody PG...disliked around the league...moody....etc. Same as Zeke back in the day.

Their games are just not THAt far off - even now.

Look - it was a losing cause, but THIS game was simply one of the best in NBA HISTORY:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N90C-mdaVzQ

And:

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

Rondo is just not that far off from Zeke.

[GreenFaith1819]

The more and more I think about Rondo, AB, Sully, KG, Paul,etc, etc, etc...this team is a Contender this year, plain and simple.

Just like Detroit was back in the day.

We do have a shot next year. We aren't going away.

Can't wait until November.

[clover]

If Rondo can even get CLOSE to Isiah Thomas, this is a lock.

He is not too far off, though.

Zeke was a better shooter.

If Rondo is ever going to be mentioned in the same breath as Zeke, I HOPE it's THIS year.

Rondo had better pick it up offensively. We need him to, now. Let that J fly, Rajon.

Did you really just say that Rajon is a close to what Isaiah Thomas was in his prime?

I HATE Thomas, but that is lunacy. Thomas as an all around pg is top 5 ever, rondo is maybe top 5 in the league now. Isaiah laid back early and dominated (the most important) games late. Rondo is a really good player. You can't put him on the same planet as Isaiah in the mid to late 80s though.

Yeah, Thomas accomplished more over his career than Rondo has so far, but he was only All-NBA three years, plus second-team two years, so for the majority of his career he wasn't a top-two PG.  Thomas was #2 in his draft and really peaked early in his career in terms of personal accolades, won his two championships later, in the late middle of his career.  Rondo well has a chance to craft a career at his level.

[GreenFaith1819]

In fairness to Isiah, here's a clip of his play:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1euE0pj_JE

I know it's hard to judge a player from youtube clips..I know that Zeke has won more than Rondo, etc - but again their games are just NOT THAT far off....same style, everything.

[LEHGOCELTICS]

No, I think he's building the 2012-2013 Boston Celtics.

[minijericho29]

The comparisons being thrown around in this thread make me want to drop to my knees and vomit all over the carpet.  Bradley to Dumars?  Bass to Laimbeer? Green to Dennis Rodman? 

The Green Kool-aid is flowing today!

[xmuscularghandix]

No, I think he's building the 2012-2013 Boston Celtics.

ohhhhhhh 

[xmuscularghandix]

The comparisons being thrown around in this thread make me want to drop to my knees and vomit all over the carpet.  Bradley to Dumars?  Bass to Laimbeer? Green to Dennis Rodman? 

The Green Kool-aid is flowing today!

I compared Bradley to Dumars, KG to Laimbeer, Rondo to Thomas, Terry to Johnson, and Pierce to Dantley. Really don't know how anyone could argue with any of those.

Especially since I'm comparing Avery to a young Joe Dumars.

[Carhole]

In fairness to Isiah, here's a clip of his play:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1euE0pj_JE

I know it's hard to judge a player from youtube clips..I know that Zeke has won more than Rondo, etc - but again their games are just NOT THAT far off....same style, everything.

Yes they are. Isiah scored 16 points in a minute in 94 seconds to win a play off game.

Until rondo can close games and not have to hand off to others to do the dirty work in the last 6 minutes of a game there really is no comparison.

I am assuming you saw Thomas play but to say their games are NOT THAT far off is overstating it.

[BballTim]

I think this team is much more likely to go the route of the 2008/2009 Pistons than the 1988/1989 Pistons. 

  Isn't this like the 4th year in a row that you've made this prediction?