Rondo's Performance Upon Returning

[McHales Pits]

Maybe this is a bit premature as Rondo hasn't been cleared for contact/full practice yet, but I was debating this with a friend yesterday.

How do you expect Rondo to perform after returning from his injury?

My debate opponent pointed to Rose & Rubio to defend his argument that he expected Rondo to struggle. Rose re-injuring himself and Rubio displayed terrible shooting and tentative play last season.

I argued the opposite, pointing to Rondo's playmaking style and overall experience/basketball intelligence to the evidence for why I thought he would step in and perform well. Rose relied on his explosiveness to score whereas Rondo is primarily a playmaker for his teammates. Rubio, although he has a similar play style, did not have the familiarity with the NBA that Rondo has when he returned.

All in all, I expect Rondo to return and largely be the Rondo we remember outside of a few poor shooting nights/limited minute games early in his season. I think he is the type of player to adjust quickly to NBA gameplay after returning. What do you all think? What expectations do you have for him?

[PhoSita]

I expect that Rondo will still be able to rack up assists, because that's more about seeing angles and having great hand-eye coordination and that sort of thing.  The knee injury shouldn't affect that.

I expect Rondo to struggle to score, though.  We also might not see him rebounding the way he did before.  I imagine he won't look like the Rondo of the past until late this season, or perhaps the start of next season.

[Clench123]

I don't believe he'll struggle at all.  If anything he'll be better than he was and here's why.  Unlike Rose or Rubio, Rondo has something to prove with the new team.  With KG and Paul gone, solidifying the claim he's been making for the past two years that he is the leader and that this is his team, will be his main goal.  To prove that he can be rebuilt around.  Here's a new coach (who he's had a close relationship with), and a new rebuilding team.  He's going to want to prove that he can truly carry this team. 

And I wouldn't in a million years compare Rose's heart or competitiveness to Rondo's.  Derrick Rose is a wimp of the highest class order.  Rondo is warrior and we'll see it soon enough.

The advantage is has over Rose or Rubio is that even if he struggle as far as scoring, it wouldn't be a big deal because he was never great in that department anyways.  So, not much expectation there. 

[Interceptor]

All in all, I expect Rondo to return and largely be the Rondo we remember outside of a few poor shooting nights/limited minute games early in his season. I think he is the type of player to adjust quickly to NBA gameplay after returning. What do you all think? What expectations do you have for him?

I basically agree with this. His skills aren't tied to his athleticism to the extent that Rose's are; he obviously does need his speed and penetration ability, but he's such a good passer that he should be able to get by. I'd go one further and say that maybe we get National TV Rondo during the regular season, since he'll have a chip on his shoulder now.

One thing that I'm really curious about is his FT%: is he still going to be the ~60% shooter that he was before, or has his limitations on jumping during his recovery enabled him to really practice his free throws and get to something respectable?

[BleedGreen1989]

I expect that Rondo will still be able to rack up assists, because that's more about seeing angles and having great hand-eye coordination and that sort of thing.  The knee injury shouldn't affect that.

I expect Rondo to struggle to score, though.  We also might not see him rebounding the way he did before.  I imagine he won't look like the Rondo of the past until late this season, or perhaps the start of next season.

Pretty much everything I was going to say.

[CFAN38]

I expect him to ease into the first few games. Like others have said maybe less crashing the boards and less throwing his body at the hoop while penetrating. After a few weeks I could see him rounding into a 16pt 10assist 4rb stat line for the season.

[manl_lui]

I expect him to ease into the first few games. Like others have said maybe less crashing the boards and less throwing his body at the hoop while penetrating. After a few weeks I could see him rounding into a 16pt 10assist 4rb stat line for the season.

Rondo has never averaged more than 13 ppg. With him coming off an ACL injury, I expect him to have a 12, 8, and 4 season. I also agree on the slow start he will be having. But whatever it is, I am just excited to see Rondo back out there and cannot wait for that to happen

[Celtics18]

First team All NBA by the end of the season. 

[playdream]

Regular season Rondo isn't so much better than Crawford(now)
so i expect there will only be little impact, or even a negative impact

[PhoSita]

First team All NBA by the end of the season.

You've got stones, I'll give ya that.

[TwinTower14]

Regular season Rondo isn't so much better than Crawford(now)
so i expect there will only be little impact, or even a negative impact

I agree - especially if he decides to mail in defense like he did last year pre-injury. 

[Boris Badenov]

I wouldn't be surprised if he came back for 30-40 games, played OK but not great, and then shut it down again for the last 15 games of the year.

[BballTim]

Regular season Rondo isn't so much better than Crawford(now)
so i expect there will only be little impact, or even a negative impact

  Regular season Rondo's an all-star, at or near 3rd team all-nba and 1st or 2nd team all-defense. I don't think Crawford is on (or above) that level.

[D.o.s.]

I'd say he'll average about 10-9-3 from his return until the all-star break, and as the rust wears off (and if you don't think he's going to be rusty you're high as a kite) he'll fall more in line with his averages over the last couple of years.

And we'll still win 26 games.

[pearljammer10]

After the All Star break I see Rondo averaging 17, 11, and 5 with 2 steals a game.

Dudes got something to prove on a team that doesnt have many options. If healthy he is going to bring it every night.