Joakim Noah: I have the utmost respect for Rondo

[sed522002]

Good piece by Mark Murphy
http://bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2014/04/rajon_rondo_joakim_noah_cool_the_hatred_find_respect

“We’re not friends. No. He’s not on my team,” said Rondo, channeling his attitude guru, Kevin Garnett, still the best-known Noah hater in the league. “We have respect for each other. We’ve both accomplished things in this league, we’re both competitors, we love to win and hate to lose.

“But you play against somebody for 10 years, you probably won’t like the guy.

But there was something about that 2009 playoff series, and Rondo’s role in the absence of the injured Garnett, that forced Noah to look at the annoying little point guard differently. Noah had to hand it to him. Rondo could bounce off the floor from anything.

“That’s as competitive as it gets,” Noah said, smiling at the memory of his first NBA playoff series. “Rajon was one of those guys who kept them in the games the whole time. There was nothing more I wanted than for Rajon not to be on the court, put him on his (butt), and I’m sure he felt the same way about it. Just the way it is — like some real, modern-day, gladiator-type stuff, know what I mean?”

“But I got to come in the league and see his body of work, everything he brought to the table — the championship with the Celtics, playing hurt, that elbow injury, those are all things you look at as a competitor and appreciate. That’s why I have the utmost respect for him.”

What he does at this level isn’t easy,” Rondo said. “To put up those numbers every night while (Derrick) Rose goes down and (Luol) Deng gets traded — he’s the general of that team right now. They go as he goes. Besides LeBron (James) and (Kevin) Durant, he has to be up there as an MVP candidate.”

Interesting comment that Mike made on the radio this morning

Jay O ‏@MrTrpleDouble10 
Gorman on @Toucherandrich : "I think he (Joakim Noah) is one of the players Rondo wants to come to Boston and play with"

Yes Please! lol.

[D.o.s.]

TP for the link

[pearljammer10]

Great stuff right there.

My bold crazy (semi unrealistic) prediction for the offseason.

Love and Noah are both playing in Celtics Green alongside Rondo come next season.

(Remember. You heard it here first.)

[letsgoblue86]

Great stuff right there.

My bold crazy (semi unrealistic) prediction for the offseason.

Love and Noah are both playing in Celtics Green alongside Rondo come next season.

(Remember. You heard it here first.)

Would a Embiid/Noah swap be enough for both teams?

[Roy H.]

Great stuff right there.

My bold crazy (semi unrealistic) prediction for the offseason.

Love and Noah are both playing in Celtics Green alongside Rondo come next season.

(Remember. You heard it here first.)

That's pretty bold.  That would be a pretty instant rebuild.

I used to really dislike Noah.  As a young player, he clashed with teammates and coaches (there are probably some parallels to Rondo there), and didn't seem to be willing to put the work in.  Over the last few seasons, though, he's grown into a strong leader, and he's always intense and hard-working on the floor.

[SHAQATTACK]

Noah plays ball the way it should be played.

[sed522002]

Great stuff right there.

My bold crazy (semi unrealistic) prediction for the offseason.

Love and Noah are both playing in Celtics Green alongside Rondo come next season.

(Remember. You heard it here first.)

That's pretty bold.  That would be a pretty instant rebuild.

I used to really dislike Noah.  As a young player, he clashed with teammates and coaches (there are probably some parallels to Rondo there), and didn't seem to be willing to put the work in.  Over the last few seasons, though, he's grown into a strong leader, and he's always intense and hard-working on the floor.

I had the same feelings about him. I DID NOT like him, but seeing the way he put the team on his back after Rose went down the past couple of seasons is amazing. I can't knock him at all.

[gpap]

Great stuff right there.

My bold crazy (semi unrealistic) prediction for the offseason.

Love and Noah are both playing in Celtics Green alongside Rondo come next season.

(Remember. You heard it here first.)

If that happens, first I will jump for joy and then I would buy you a drink

And as for Noah particularly, yeah he's a great player.

I used to dislike him his first couple years in the league when he would get into scrums with KG but now (like others) I've really grown to like him as a player. Ironically enough, even though they may not like each other, Noah actually kinda reminds me of KG.

[pearljammer10]

Great stuff right there.

My bold crazy (semi unrealistic) prediction for the offseason.

Love and Noah are both playing in Celtics Green alongside Rondo come next season.

(Remember. You heard it here first.)

That's pretty bold.  That would be a pretty instant rebuild.

I used to really dislike Noah.  As a young player, he clashed with teammates and coaches (there are probably some parallels to Rondo there), and didn't seem to be willing to put the work in.  Over the last few seasons, though, he's grown into a strong leader, and he's always intense and hard-working on the floor.

I had the same feelings about him. I DID NOT like him, but seeing the way he put the team on his back after Rose went down the past couple of seasons is amazing. I can't knock him at all.

Same with me fellahs. Absolutely hated the guy. But with the way he has handled the team in Rose's absence there's no way I can't respect his game at this point. 100% passion and effort 100% of the time and he can win ball games with his presence on the floor.

Go bold or go home.

[D.o.s.]

Great stuff right there.

My bold crazy (semi unrealistic) prediction for the offseason.

Love and Noah are both playing in Celtics Green alongside Rondo come next season.

(Remember. You heard it here first.)

If that happens, first I will jump for joy and then I would buy you a drink

And as for Noah particularly, yeah he's a great player.

I used to dislike him his first couple years in the league when he would get into scrums with KG but now (like others) I've really grown to like him as a player. Ironically enough, even though they may not like each other, Noah actually kinda reminds me of KG.

He's definitely KG-esque in the way that if he's on your team, you love rooting for him, and if he's not, you love rooting for him to fail.

[mgent]

I'm with Gorman on this one.  There is no chance Rondo seriously believes Noah is up near 3rd as an MVP candidate, he's just trying to get Noah to come here.

I imagine Rondo has had to "squash" a few beefs in the past year or two with guys he might be able to now play with (obviously Hump for one).

[hpantazo]

I would trade both of our 2014 first rounders for Noah.

[D.o.s.]

I'm with Gorman on this one.  There is no chance Rondo seriously believes Noah is up near 3rd as an MVP candidate, he's just trying to get Noah to come here.

I imagine Rondo has had to "squash" a few beefs in the past year or two with guys he might be able to now play with (obviously Hump for one).

FWIW -- the only times a center has averaged Noah's numbers or greater (12-11-5) and NOT won an MVP has been when another center, averaging those same numbers, has won it, or Kareem, once ( in '79).

http://bkref.com/tiny/NyaSo

[Smokeeye123]

I would trade both of our 2014 first rounders for Noah.

Agreed, however I think Chicago laughs at us unless our pick is top 3

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Great stuff right there.

My bold crazy (semi unrealistic) prediction for the offseason.

Love and Noah are both playing in Celtics Green alongside Rondo come next season.

(Remember. You heard it here first.)

Could you imagine a front line of Noah and Love? Wow. And playing with Rondo? I'd trade the rest of the team and all of this year's picks to make that happen.