How comfortable are you building around Rajon Rondo?

[BleedGreen1989]

I wont go into a long post about his issues and flaws, we all know them by now.

However, we also know how incredibly talented he is.

Rondo has been our most talented player for awhile now and even when it was supposedly "his team" I didn't believe it for a second. Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce still ran this team.

I have gone back and forth about this with myself numerous times as I think skill wise, Rondo is exactly the type of player you build around. However, his other issues worry me.

Is Rondo ready or capable of being the leader and alpha dog of this team? Would you want him to be?

[Celtics18]

I absolutely think he's ready.  I think his lockerroom issues are being overblown by a media that doesn't like him because he isn't very forthcoming with them.  Sure, he's kind of an odd duck who can be stubborn and temperamental, but I think he's a warrior and a fiery competitor.

I'm looking forward to seeing a team being built around Rajon Rondo. 

[clover]

I'm not, really, and a Smith signing would smack of ownership pressing for the team to 'reload' rather than 'rebuild'. 

What a Smith deal mean for Sully, I wonder?

But Rondo being here now and getting to have 'his team' could be the draw that would interest Smith in a S&T, and you do need assets to get assets.

[kgainez]

I think next year is a test.
If he's not ready, you trade him, because he's still on a wonderful contract.

do I like the idea? I'm cool with it because I think it's time to go young

I feel like we kept saying it was Rondo's team last year, but it wasn't. It was still KG and PPs team. I think getting rid of them or getting diminished rolls for them helps for sure.

[kozlodoev]

Define "building around".

"Building around" as in treating him like the best player on the team -- zero confidence in that. He may be great in setting up the table, and prone to the occasional stroke of defensive genius, but I don't see him as the type of guy who's going to carry the team on his back (and the post-Big3 teams will need some serious carrying).

Actually, I think that skill-wise, he's exactly the player you _don't_ build around: he's not a go-to scorer, he can't really shoot, and he can't make free throws. Rondo is someone you build _with_, the first player you want to add when you have that one legitimate building block.

That's not to say that you can't build around by keeping him and adding that legitimate #1; but if the right deal is out there, I'd move him.

[RyNye]

Actually, I think that skill-wise, he's exactly the player you _don't_ build around: he's not a go-to scorer,

Why is an assist worth less than a field goal? What's the difference between a player scoring 20 points and generating 8 assists (or 36 total points) in a game, and a player scoring 12 points and generating 12 assists (or 36 total points) in a game? How do you feel about John Stockton?

he can't really shoot,

Yet his FG% is higher than Chris Paul's. Or Derrick Rose.

and he can't make free throws.

Yeah, can't argue with that one, heh.

Rondo is someone you build _with_, the first player you want to add when you have that one legitimate building block.

I disagree. He is indisputably the best passing point guard currently in the game. His shooting woes are massively overstated (when you look at his numbers, besides his 3point and FT shooting he is an above average scorer), though he does occasionally have problems with passing up open lay-ups to get assists. He is the best rebounder at the PG position. He is a good defender.

[manl_lui]

Actually, I think that skill-wise, he's exactly the player you _don't_ build around: he's not a go-to scorer,

Why is an assist worth less than a field goal? What's the difference between a player scoring 20 points and generating 8 assists (or 36 total points) in a game, and a player scoring 12 points and generating 12 assists (or 36 total points) in a game? How do you feel about John Stockton?

he can't really shoot,

Yet his FG% is higher than Chris Paul's. Or Derrick Rose.

and he can't make free throws.

Yeah, can't argue with that one, heh.

Rondo is someone you build _with_, the first player you want to add when you have that one legitimate building block.

I disagree. He is indisputably the best passing point guard currently in the game. His shooting woes are massively overstated (when you look at his numbers, besides his 3point and FT shooting he is an above average scorer), though he does occasionally have problems with passing up open lay-ups to get assists. He is the best rebounder at the PG position. He is a good defender.

This - if we trade Pierce, Rondo is our new captain

[European NBA fan]

Define "building around".

"Building around" as in treating him like the best player on the team -- zero confidence in that. He may be great in setting up the table, and prone to the occasional stroke of defensive genius, but I don't see him as the type of guy who's going to carry the team on his back (and the post-Big3 teams will need some serious carrying).

Actually, I think that skill-wise, he's exactly the player you _don't_ build around: he's not a go-to scorer, he can't really shoot, and he can't make free throws. Rondo is someone you build _with_, the first player you want to add when you have that one legitimate building block.

That's not to say that you can't build around by keeping him and adding that legitimate #1; but if the right deal is out there, I'd move him.

I more or less agree. I don't think that his shooting is that poor, and he has proven plenty of times that he can be a scorer. It is, however, not his nature, and why try to turn him into Rose?

Furthermore I don't really think that you want to build "around" a point guard. The best point guards are the best ball handlers on their team and play to their team mates' strengths. It would be very rare to find a better ball handler than Rondo who is also not a point guard. So Rondo should be useful no matter who you bring in as that no. 1 scoring option.

[kozlodoev]

Actually, I think that skill-wise, he's exactly the player you _don't_ build around: he's not a go-to scorer,

Why is an assist worth less than a field goal? What's the difference between a player scoring 20 points and generating 8 assists (or 36 total points) in a game, and a player scoring 12 points and generating 12 assists (or 36 total points) in a game? How do you feel about John Stockton?

Because someone has to put the ball in the bucket. And when the guys who are expected to put the ball in the bucket are not also you're best and most reliable guys, you're in trouble. At least in my book.

he can't really shoot,

Yet his FG% is higher than Chris Paul's. Or Derrick Rose.

You realize the difference between shooting and converting a layup, right?

Rondo is someone you build _with_, the first player you want to add when you have that one legitimate building block.

I disagree. He is indisputably the best passing point guard currently in the game. His shooting woes are massively overstated (when you look at his numbers, besides his 3point and FT shooting he is an above average scorer), though he does occasionally have problems with passing up open lay-ups to get assists. He is the best rebounder at the PG position. He is a good defender.

How do you determine he's the best passing PG in the league? By assist numbers? How do you reconcile this with the statement that he likes to pad his assist totals by passing layups?

He's not an above average scorer because, well, he doesn't really score. Not that he has had to, on a regular basis, so perhaps you can't hold this entirely against him.

Regardless, I can't consider a guard who makes 60% of his free throws and 30% of his threes a real go-to scorer.

[EJPLAYA]

You don't build around PG's unless they are the best in NBA history. Even then it isn't smart. Isaiah Thomas is the only one that possibly comes to mind and I would argue their defensive strategy at a time they let guys kill each other out there was the reason they won, not mainly him. He also is in the discussion for one of the very best of all time. Rondo is no where near that level. Building around him means putting this franchise into the mediocre category for a couple decades.

[indeedproceed]

I really hate the idea of trying to build around Rondo.

[wdleehi]

If the Celtics could pair him with a top notch scorer and a top notch locker room leader, no problem.

[BleedGreen1989]

If the Celtics could pair him with a top notch scorer and a top notch locker room leader, no problem.

Yeah, I think if I'm going to warm up to it, Rondo can absolutely not be your go-to scorer.

[BleedGreen1989]

I really hate the idea of trying to build around Rondo.

Care to eleborate IP?

[kozlodoev]

If the Celtics could pair him with a top notch scorer and a top notch locker room leader, no problem.

Yeah, the question is whether this can really be construed as "building around Rondo" then.