Assuming health, CP3 is the only guy above Rondo in this list.
Rondo is hands down the best pure PG inn the NBA. His court vision, IQ, passing ability are without peer ever since Nash declined. His defense is up there with the best at his position, he's the best rebounding PG in the NBA, and he's an elite ball handler. Offensively he had limitations, but Is better than he's given credit for. He's an elite finisher around the basket and is explosive with his dribble penetration. His jump shot is much improved and much better than he is given credit for. He shot a better percentage from midrange than anybody else on that list, and last season showed he can consistently make teams pay for Ieaving him open from there. He also improved from three and while he isnt scaring many people from there, he looked much more comfortable taking and making those shots last season. His free throw shooting still sucks and probably always will, but if he improves his three point shot that will be the only weakness in his game.
This is a perspective that I respect, but completely disagree with.
Rondo is a good passer. But Too many times his need to hold the ball ruin the flow of our offense. He creates a lot of good shots for other players, but he also gets in trouble too often by keeping the ball to late. i see him constantly making a tough pass to a guy who is open, but was more open AND in rhythm a couple of seconds earlier.
He is one of the best rebounding PG in the NBA, that too comes at a price. Too often his defender is now open for a outlet pass and an easy transition basket. It all depends on if he gets the rebound and if there is a easy basket on the other side. Im glad he rebounds, but theres a cost to that. just like....
His defense. He gets a lot of steals. But he also runs around out of position too often and goes for too many steals. His 1on1 defense is awful. Terrible. Everyone goes right by him. Sometimes he wants them to go by him and he will attempt to steal the ball from behind. In general, when he makes a steal, people love it. But I would rather see him stick to the defense that the rest of the team is playing and stop his man. It seems to me, the elite PGs, the ones listed here, have an absolute field day when being guarded by rondo. Im sure someone can look up those stats.
Finishing around the hoop. Maybe im watching a different game, but considering he is 2ft away from the hoop, he is constantly missing layups, getting blocked, or getting swarmed by defenders and making a ill-advised pass to get out of trouble. his weird layups with tons of spin on the ball, again, make the announcers go crazy when it goes in, but too often it doesn't and is a terrible shot.
His shot is awful. You cant seriously think it isnt. He is one of the few players in the NBA who is left open consistently for 15' jumpers. No one even guards him. Save me the % or stats. No one is leaving any of those true elite PGs open like that. It happens all the time when i play against my son in the driveway, but very very rarely in the NBA. He may make a 3 now and then, but hey, even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then. If he looks more comfortable taking 3's, I promise you the rest of the celtic coaches and players are not. A rondo 3, or outside shot, is literally the worst shot on the floor every time. If hes taking it, there is either 2 seconds on the shot clock, or hes playing into the defenses strategy.
Rondo is a good PG. but his role on the court, which is very unique (as are his skill set), is to "be the straw that stirs the drink". thats it. He isnt a player you build around or depend on to win. He may assist other legit NBA studs in winning, and even make some plays that secure the win. But hes not an elite NBA PG, because he will never be the guy that can win you a game. and that puts a cap on his value. Not only are those other PGs better, but there is a bunch of other PGs who could fill his shoes for us and we wouldnt miss a beat. We may have to change our style of play, but we would gain some and lose some. J holiday, comes to mind. Lillard. Conley. Rubio.
And theres a bunch more players that arent as skilled as Rondo or these "other" Pgs, but I fell like we could start and be successful with really quickly.
Ive always been hard on Rondo. But hes got some major flaws that people seem to ignore. And not to mention his extremely immature attitude, which is a HUGE detriment to a team.
If hes as good as some people think, why is it that the celts are a better team when he didnt play? If hes an elite PG, why did the Celtics improve without him. Where they a better team without him, No. But they did win more games, play better, and improved without him. Its hard to fathom.
Topic: Are these PGs better than our Rondo? (Read 48651 times)