RAJON RONDO! For those who still dont believe!

[LarBrd33]

Rondo had a great postseason.  He arguably had a better postseason in 2009.  It didn't carry over into the regular season.  Great player, but not the best point guard in the league. 

[Chris]

  I think that the whole team goes into a funk at times, especially when people's shots aren't falling (one of the drawbacks of being a jumpshooting team I think) and that gets lumped intp "Rondo not playing with energy". But I'd also say that it's not really unusual to see similar play from Chris Paul. People here notice it more from Rondo than other players because they see (or participate in) discussions about his play and they're more tuned into the situation.

 
 

Here is the difference, and the key to me.  Chris Paul's skillset allows him to loaf a little, and still be a well above average player.  Similar to guys like Lebron, Kobe, and Howard.  I personally believe when Rondo is not playing at full speed, he becomes very average (at best).  Rondo's unique skillset allows him to completely dominate when he is locked in.  But one of his key skills that sets him apart is his energy.  Without that energy, then he is very ordinary.

Someone like Chris Paul, on the other hand, doesn't rely on energy, he relies on finesse and skill.  And those don't disappear when you are going at 3/4 speed.

[Vermont Green]

There are too many quotes in quotes above to quote the actual quote but there was a suggestion that the fact that the Clippers were only 1 or 2 games better than the Celtics was somehow a reflection on Chris Paul's ability.

The way to judge the impact Chris Paul had is to look at the Clippers before CP and after CP.  Is there really any question that Chris Paul is an elite impact player in the NBA (Like LeBron, Kobe, Rose and a short list of others)?  He changed the Clips from a door mat to a playoff team.

Now it is another question altogether as to whether or not Rondo is an elite impact player also.  I don't think so.  He is knocking on the door but he is not there yet in my opinion.

[LarBrd33]

There are too many quotes in quotes above to quote the actual quote but there was a suggestion that the fact that the Clippers were only 1 or 2 games better than the Celtics was somehow a reflection on Chris Paul's ability.

The way to judge the impact Chris Paul had is to look at the Clippers before CP and after CP.  Is there really any question that Chris Paul is an elite impact player in the NBA (Like LeBron, Kobe, Rose and a short list of others)?  He changed the Clips from a door mat to a playoff team.

Now it is another question altogether as to whether or not Rondo is an elite impact player also.  I don't think so.  He is knocking on the door but he is not there yet in my opinion.

He's got some major weaknesses.  When it comes to guards, he's still one of the worst jump shooters in the league.  His best-case scenario is Jason Kidd.  The Suns undervalued him, then he went to the Nets and lead them to back-to-back Eastern Conference championships.  Sure, this was when the conference was considered the "Leastern" conference and the winner was ultimately fodder for the Lakers or Spurs... but it was still impressive how he turned around the Nets with his pass-first mentality.  Still, Jason Kidd wasn't the best point guard in the league back then... and Rondo isn't the best point guard in the league today.

[BballTim]

There are too many quotes in quotes above to quote the actual quote but there was a suggestion that the fact that the Clippers were only 1 or 2 games better than the Celtics was somehow a reflection on Chris Paul's ability.

The way to judge the impact Chris Paul had is to look at the Clippers before CP and after CP.  Is there really any question that Chris Paul is an elite impact player in the NBA (Like LeBron, Kobe, Rose and a short list of others)?  He changed the Clips from a door mat to a playoff team.

Now it is another question altogether as to whether or not Rondo is an elite impact player also.  I don't think so.  He is knocking on the door but he is not there yet in my opinion.

He's got some major weaknesses.  When it comes to guards, he's still one of the worst jump shooters in the league.  His best-case scenario is Jason Kidd.  The Suns undervalued him, then he went to the Nets and lead them to back-to-back Eastern Conference championships.  Sure, this was when the conference was considered the "Leastern" conference and the winner was ultimately fodder for the Lakers or Spurs... but it was still impressive how he turned around the Nets with his pass-first mentality.  Still, Jason Kidd wasn't the best point guard in the league back then... and Rondo isn't the best point guard in the league today.

  Were you watching the league back then? Which point guard did you think was better than Kidd at the time?

[BballTim]

Rondo had a great postseason.  He arguably had a better postseason in 2009.  It didn't carry over into the regular season.  Great player, but not the best point guard in the league.

  Rondo's play was definitely better in 09-10 than 08-09, but one of the reasons he put up such big numbers in the 2009 playoffs was KG being out of the lineup.

[Celtic#9]

How many times have we argued that Rondo is as top 5 PG?


How many times has anyone had to argue that Chris Paul is a top 5 PG?

[SHAQATTACK]

There are a few better scoring point guards , but overall defense and being a pure point guard there is NO one I'd rather have than Rondo, and that includes CP3. ROndos game keeps improving every year, I don't see CP3 getting any better , just older and more grumpy.

Stockton, Magic, Nash, Kidd are the only ones I can think come close to Rondo as PURE point guard.  Even Magic Johnson has spoke of being in awe of Rondo as a leader.

[blastoidesroidsnoids]

How many times have we argued that Rondo is as top 5 PG?


How many times has anyone had to argue that Chris Paul is a top 5 PG?

nobody thinks hes not a top 5 pg

[BballTim]

  I think that the whole team goes into a funk at times, especially when people's shots aren't falling (one of the drawbacks of being a jumpshooting team I think) and that gets lumped intp "Rondo not playing with energy". But I'd also say that it's not really unusual to see similar play from Chris Paul. People here notice it more from Rondo than other players because they see (or participate in) discussions about his play and they're more tuned into the situation.

 
 

Here is the difference, and the key to me.  Chris Paul's skillset allows him to loaf a little, and still be a well above average player.  Similar to guys like Lebron, Kobe, and Howard.  I personally believe when Rondo is not playing at full speed, he becomes very average (at best).  Rondo's unique skillset allows him to completely dominate when he is locked in.  But one of his key skills that sets him apart is his energy.  Without that energy, then he is very ordinary.

Someone like Chris Paul, on the other hand, doesn't rely on energy, he relies on finesse and skill.  And those don't disappear when you are going at 3/4 speed.

  I don't think it's so much the case that CP doesn't rely on energy, it's more the case that his (younger, more athletic) team is less dependent on his energy than the Celts are on Rondo. I'd also say that it's less a case of CP being above average when he's loafing, more a case of your not noticing his play, but obviously that's just my opinion.

  A similar example would be LeBron. Most people here (including me) think that he had a terrific series against the Celts. But there were 3-4 games where he dominated the gamed for the first quarter and maybe the beginning of the second. He'd come out of the game and, when he returned for the rest of the 2nd quarter, contribute very little. Not too many points, shots, assists or rebounds. When he was coasting through those second quarters he wasn't looking at all like a well above average player. The same thing happens with Paul.

[dark_lord]

How many times have we argued that Rondo is as top 5 PG?


How many times has anyone had to argue that Chris Paul is a top 5 PG?

nobody thinks hes not a top 5 pg

im on the fence if he is top 5.  there are times i could make a case he is, and other times make a case why others could be ahead of him.

my biggst thing is his lack of consistency, not just game to game, but qtr to qtr.  when he is "on" he might be the best in the nba at pg

[perks-a-beast]

| agree with everything the OP stated. Westbrook, DWill, Chris Paul, and DRose are all better all around players than Rajon but Rondo is the better point guard. The thing that Rondo does better than any of those guys is that he is so good at getting his team mates in to their rhythm and really sets the entire pace of the game. There hasn't been a better quarterback in the NBA since John Stockton.

It's unfortunate that everything Rondo does on the floor is overlooked because we are witnessing greatness. The grit, the hustle and the off the charts basketballball IQ. Also one of the quickest guys to ever pick up a basketball.

Is Rondo the best point guard in the game? Yes. And he will be for a long time.

[perks-a-beast]

In addition i think that if the Celtics had traded Rondo for Paul last summer they wouldn't have made it as far as they did. I think he's that important.

[LarBrd33]

There are too many quotes in quotes above to quote the actual quote but there was a suggestion that the fact that the Clippers were only 1 or 2 games better than the Celtics was somehow a reflection on Chris Paul's ability.

The way to judge the impact Chris Paul had is to look at the Clippers before CP and after CP.  Is there really any question that Chris Paul is an elite impact player in the NBA (Like LeBron, Kobe, Rose and a short list of others)?  He changed the Clips from a door mat to a playoff team.

Now it is another question altogether as to whether or not Rondo is an elite impact player also.  I don't think so.  He is knocking on the door but he is not there yet in my opinion.

He's got some major weaknesses.  When it comes to guards, he's still one of the worst jump shooters in the league.  His best-case scenario is Jason Kidd.  The Suns undervalued him, then he went to the Nets and lead them to back-to-back Eastern Conference championships.  Sure, this was when the conference was considered the "Leastern" conference and the winner was ultimately fodder for the Lakers or Spurs... but it was still impressive how he turned around the Nets with his pass-first mentality.  Still, Jason Kidd wasn't the best point guard in the league back then... and Rondo isn't the best point guard in the league today.

  Were you watching the league back then? Which point guard did you think was better than Kidd at the time?

Alright fair enough... there was definitely a window where Jason Kidd was considered the best point guard in the league.  Overall, I have him ranked below Stockton (before him), Payton (same time as him) and Nash (after him).

[BballTim]

There are too many quotes in quotes above to quote the actual quote but there was a suggestion that the fact that the Clippers were only 1 or 2 games better than the Celtics was somehow a reflection on Chris Paul's ability.

The way to judge the impact Chris Paul had is to look at the Clippers before CP and after CP.  Is there really any question that Chris Paul is an elite impact player in the NBA (Like LeBron, Kobe, Rose and a short list of others)?  He changed the Clips from a door mat to a playoff team.

Now it is another question altogether as to whether or not Rondo is an elite impact player also.  I don't think so.  He is knocking on the door but he is not there yet in my opinion.

He's got some major weaknesses.  When it comes to guards, he's still one of the worst jump shooters in the league.  His best-case scenario is Jason Kidd.  The Suns undervalued him, then he went to the Nets and lead them to back-to-back Eastern Conference championships.  Sure, this was when the conference was considered the "Leastern" conference and the winner was ultimately fodder for the Lakers or Spurs... but it was still impressive how he turned around the Nets with his pass-first mentality.  Still, Jason Kidd wasn't the best point guard in the league back then... and Rondo isn't the best point guard in the league today.

  Were you watching the league back then? Which point guard did you think was better than Kidd at the time?

Alright fair enough... there was definitely a window where Jason Kidd was considered the best point guard in the league.  Overall, I have him ranked below Stockton (before him), Payton (same time as him) and Nash (after him).

  A window of, what, 5-6 years? Too bad you missed it...