Rondo is a Genius

[PhoSita]

This is some good stuff.

Enough about basketball. Let’s get to Rondo’s true passion: Connect Four. In a “Bobby Fischer style” game between Rondo and his two interviewers, we’re treated to this amazing exchange with the four-time NBA All-Star.


Brian Kamenetzky: “How quickly could you take out me and Sal playing two guys at once?”
Rajon Rondo: “It depends on how long you guys take to play.”
BK: “We’ll play speed Connect Four.”
RR: “Then, less than a minute.”
BK: “How do we decide who goes first?”
RR: “Well, you guys heard I was the champ, so I think the champ goes first.”
Sal Masekela: “Is there any etiquette as far as how long you’re supposed to take between moves?”
RR: “I’d say 15 seconds.”
SM: “Fifteen seconds? That’s gentlemanly.”
RR: “If you go any faster against me, then you’ll probably lose quicker than normal, so I would say take your time.”
SM: “Is playing Connect Four anything like visualizing what you need to see on the court?”
RR: “In a way. I try to see the game two steps ahead before I make my play or make the pass. And most likely, my teammate is on the same page, so I guess in Connect Four I try to think two or three steps ahead of you.”
SM: “So, you already know what I’m going to do?”
RR: “I mean, for the most part.”
BK: “So, you’re in trouble.”
RR: “I’ve got two counters to whatever you do.”
SM: “Is it a wrap for me already?”
RR: “Not yet, but it can be. See how long you’re taking. We’ve got that rule.”
SM: “You’ve got me stressed out.”
RR: “You’ve got nowhere to go.”
BK: “He already beat me, and he was right. The faster you go, the faster you lose.”
RR: “Yeah.”
SM: “Oh, you already lost?”
RR: “Yeah, he’s done over here.”
BK: “How long have you been playing this?”
RR: “I started playing a long time ago, when I had to be home before the streetlights came on. I’d invite friends over on the porch, and we’d play Connect Four until it’s time to go in. I’m pretty competitive, so I got pretty good.”
SM: “In the unlikely position that I would win this game …”
RR: “The game is over already. You have already lost.”

Genius.

http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2013/06/11/rajon-rondo-i-still-am-hard-to-coach/

[clover]

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man rules.

Don't count me impressed that he can solve an algebra equation in a Boston public schools high school math class--or that after years and years of play he's good at Connect Four.

He is impressive playing point guard--but you can see how his personality is tough for teammates and coaches to adjust to.

[PhoSita]

I just loved how his personality shone through even in text.

"The game is over.  You have already lost."

[RJ87]

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man rules.

Don't count me impressed that he can solve an algebra equation in a Boston public schools high school math class--or that after years and years of play he's good at Connect Four.

He is impressive playing point guard--but you can see how his personality is tough for teammates and coaches to adjust to.

Actually I think this interview showed how aware he is of his repored difficulties and how he's grown up over the years. Reading a transcript of one section of the interview, its easy to draw conclusions based on a previous assumption of him. But I really like what he said about his relationship with Doc and how far they've come.

[Celtics18]

I guess that if we thought that some time off from the game was going to make our point guard less of a weirdo, well, then we were wrong. 

I happen to kind of like his dorkiness, though. 

[CelticConcourse]

"You have already lost."

-Rajon Rondo

[clover]

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man rules.

Don't count me impressed that he can solve an algebra equation in a Boston public schools high school math class--or that after years and years of play he's good at Connect Four.

He is impressive playing point guard--but you can see how his personality is tough for teammates and coaches to adjust to.

Actually I think this interview showed how aware he is of his repored difficulties and how he's grown up over the years. Reading a transcript of one section of the interview, its easy to draw conclusions based on a previous assumption of him. But I really like what he said about his relationship with Doc and how far they've come.

He's been saying more or less the same thing for about six years now.

[Yogi]

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man rules.

Don't count me impressed that he can solve an algebra equation in a Boston public schools high school math class--or that after years and years of play he's good at Connect Four.

He is impressive playing point guard--but you can see how his personality is tough for teammates and coaches to adjust to.

1. Most of his teammates have publicly claimed that they love to play with him, he is a great teammate and he is the best point guard in the league.
2. Even Ray has never claimed that he doesn't like playing with Rondo.  He publicly blamed Doc and Danny but explicitly denied his relationship with Rondo had anything to do with it. 
3. Danny and Doc have stated on every possible occasion how much he has grown and that he is a leader of this team. 
4. KG treats him like a son.

What exactly do you see that is hard to adjust to?  Why perpetuate theories that might have been an issue in 2007 but contrary to all evidence since?

[PhoSita]

I guess that if we thought that some time off from the game was going to make our point guard less of a weirdo, well, then we were wrong. 

I happen to kind of like his dorkiness, though.

Definitely his most endearing quality to me.

[BballTim]

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man rules.

Don't count me impressed that he can solve an algebra equation in a Boston public schools high school math class--or that after years and years of play he's good at Connect Four.

  Doc says Rondo's the smartest player he's ever coached. That's probably more impressive.

He is impressive playing point guard--but you can see how his personality is tough for teammates and coaches to adjust to.

  Hardly unusual for great players.

[CelticConcourse]

What's dorkiness?

[Kiorrik]

What's dorkiness?

Nerdhood.

[mmmmm]

What's dorkiness?

Concentrated goodness.

 

[clover]

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man rules.

Don't count me impressed that he can solve an algebra equation in a Boston public schools high school math class--or that after years and years of play he's good at Connect Four.

  Doc says Rondo's the smartest player he's ever coached. That's probably more impressive.

He is impressive playing point guard--but you can see how his personality is tough for teammates and coaches to adjust to.

  Hardly unusual for great players.

As I said...

And agreed.

[Monkhouse]

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man rules.

Don't count me impressed that he can solve an algebra equation in a Boston public schools high school math class--or that after years and years of play he's good at Connect Four.

He is impressive playing point guard--but you can see how his personality is tough for teammates and coaches to adjust to.

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man rules.

Don't count me impressed that he can solve an algebra equation in a Boston public schools high school math class--or that after years and years of play he's good at Connect Four.

He is impressive playing point guard--but you can see how his personality is tough for teammates and coaches to adjust to.

Phil has said Michael Jordan was one of the toughest players to coach, simply because his basketball IQ and his personality is just hard to lock down.

And how can you not be impressed by his comparison to solving algebraic solutions in his head, versus to when he's on the court for the rebound?

“One day, I was in Boston, and I just wanted to drive by a middle school and a high school in the same day — just to pop up on some kids and mess with them — and I actually went to a math class,” said Rondo. “They were teaching algebra, the teacher wrote a problem on the board and I finished it before everybody. I did it actually in my head. In high school, they want you to write the entire problem out on paper. It took too long for me to do that, so I just broke the numbers down in my head, and I explained it to her on the board. And she loved it.”

Obviously. So, how exactly does this translate to the court? Simple. It’s all about being obtuse, in a good way.

“I think it helps me the way I see the court,” he added. “I’m able to beat guys to certain angles — as far as when I’m trying to get to the ball, as far as defensively or cutting guys off. It’s a game of angles as well, and you try to make the best of it, especially using my speed and quickness to get to those angles.”

Which is why Rondo is the best rebounding point guard in the NBA despite his 6-foot-1 frame.

“I try to get to that position before the bigs or any other guards. A lot of guys have it. Guys like Tim Duncan. He’s not a great athletic guy, but he always finds a way to get 15, 16 rebounds. It’s not about the guy who can jump the most. It’s about having a knack for the ball. Jared Sullinger is a prime example as well. He’s not an athletic guy, but he knows how to use his body. He puts his mind and body in the way, and he gets rebounds.”