The East is there for the taking in the next few years

[slamtheking]

After watching the final series i want to trade Rondo more for his ball hogging
the Spurs ball movement is just a beauty and with Rondo pounding the ball you are never going to
do that
that said i want to get rid of AB and Green even more..

To be honest, I thought about this when watching the Spurs even though I'm a big Rondo fan.  I love their ball movement and it's a big reason for them winning the series.

I think in order for that to happen, the C's need more people on the team that can facilitate.  In Game 2, when Parker was trying to do it himself instead of moving the ball, Miami was able to get back in the game. You really have to trust that your team is going to make the right plays. Plus it doesn't hurt that the Spurs are a GREAT passing team (with great awareness for the open man) and almost everyone on the floor can make plays....C's don't have those type of players right now.

Well, they have Rondo and Olynyk, but I agree, there aren't a lot of other players on the team that have the same kind of offensive versatility. 

I'd add Sully to those 2 but agree with the overall opinion that this team lacks the players with good to great passing skills.  so many times watching AB, Bayless, Green, Wallace and Bass to a lesser extent throw horrid passes.

Personally, I associate good passing with a high BBIQ--a good feel for the game.  this team doesn't have moch of that.  with that in mind, I take all complaints about Rondo pounding the ball with a grain of salt.   the theory of more passing leading to a better shot attempt isn't necessarily true with this team since more often more passing leads to a turnover or bad shot attempt late in the shot clock.

[obnoxiousmime]

I never really understood this logic. Last time I checked the goal was to win a finals and the Eastern Conference final does not count. The Nets ruled the East when it stunk back in the early aughts. Sure it's exciting until you realize you have no shot to win it all. I'm not against getting better but you have to make sure your team is pretty complete before filling up all your cap space.

[Who]

I do not see Bosh leaving for a bigger role elsewhere.

You see young players doing that a lot. Especially ones who haven't had the chance yet in their careers to experience that. But rarely do you see experienced players in their prime who languished year after year on mediocre teams and now is finally on a title contender, leave that title contender in order to be the main guy again.

[Waew]

no one is leaving the heat. if anything theyll add melo to the mix.

[LarBrd33]

Having one of the best passers in the game is a positive for creating a team based on ball movement, not the other way around.

I think some of you guys have got it fairly twisted.

I think the point is that since Rondo can't shoot, he wouldn't be a factor in the Spurs offense. 

[sofutomygaha]

Miami is still the number 1 destination for ring-chasing veterans, and that is a considerable advantage. Remember how they landed birdman, allen, and battier for under market. Those players are still there for the Heat's taking, the same way that Sheed, Shaq, Finley, and Jermaine O'Neal were there for us back when we were the top dogs.

Even if the Heat don't manage this CRAZY Carmelo thing, they will be back re-loaded next year. Perish the thought of them somehow luring Paul Pierce, but stranger things have happened. There are lots of other guys out there who would like a spot on the Heat at this point in their careers and would probably consider a pay cut. Vince Carter? Caron Butler? Kirk Hinrich? Jermaine O'neal? Chris Kaman? Elton Brand? Rip Hamilton? Kenyon Martin?

[fitzhickey]

Having one of the best passers in the game is a positive for creating a team based on ball movement, not the other way around.

I think some of you guys have got it fairly twisted.

I think the point is that since Rondo can't shoot, he wouldn't be a factor in the Spurs offense.

This is a good point. At all times basically everyone on the court for the Spurs can knock down 3's, or deep mid range jumpers

[SparzWizard]

The East has been so lucky because Chicago Bulls hasn't been healthy since the end of 2011. If they had 2009-2011 Rose playing in the postseason, they will get very, very far.

And the Pacers are....the Pacers. Overrated. Can't see Brooklyn getting any farther with that joke of a coach leading the way and that their starting lineup are a bunch of old timers/injury plagues that should announce their retirements soon.

The Wizards will be an upcoming threat though.

[BballTim]

Having one of the best passers in the game is a positive for creating a team based on ball movement, not the other way around.

I think some of you guys have got it fairly twisted.

I think the point is that since Rondo can't shoot, he wouldn't be a factor in the Spurs offense.

  Clearly that wasn't the point being made.

[KGs Knee]

Lebron should try to figure out a way to team up with Dwight.

Now that would be a scary tandem. Especially if Harden was there also. Yikes!

[obnoxiousmime]

Having one of the best passers in the game is a positive for creating a team based on ball movement, not the other way around.

I think some of you guys have got it fairly twisted.

I think the point is that since Rondo can't shoot, he wouldn't be a factor in the Spurs offense.

I'm surprised nobody has jumped on this comment yet. I guess the Rondo defenders are still rubbing their eyes, mesmerized by the Spurs' shooting clinic.

[BballTim]

Having one of the best passers in the game is a positive for creating a team based on ball movement, not the other way around.

I think some of you guys have got it fairly twisted.

I think the point is that since Rondo can't shoot, he wouldn't be a factor in the Spurs offense.

This is a good point. At all times basically everyone on the court for the Spurs can knock down 3's, or deep mid range jumpers

  Yes, it's a great point. A guy who frequently knocks Rondo because he's less effective without good shooters now claims that Rondo wouldn't be a factor in an offense with great shooting. Hilarious. Stick Rondo on a team where everyone else is a good shooter/scorer and the results would be amazing. Shooting fish in a barrel is probably an understatement. It's reasonably likely that Stockton's single season assist record would be left in the dust. Aside from that, though, Rondo probably wouldn't be much of a factor in their offense.

[chambers]

The Celtics recently finished big 4 era was predicated on defense, ball movement and shooting.
How does everyone think we got so close to beating the Heat in 2012?
Yeah Rondo was on fire but the Celtics, the Heat and the Spurs had the best ball movement in the NBA. Rondo is a good mid range shooter, just not a 3 point shooter.

Stick Rondo on a team with good defenders & shooters and you're making the playoffs in the East quite easily. You need a guy like Rondo to orchestrate an offense predicated on movement. Yeah he pounds it sometimes...but come playoff time he's doing whatever he can to create spacing to stretch the defense.

Celtics basketball from 2008-2013 was based around a floor general surrounded by elite jump shooters. It's why Danny chose to go with KG at center and Bass at PF after 2010. It's why he wanted David West. So his bigs could create space for Rondo and Pierce.
Bass and KG are literally two of the best shooters in the league for their positions from 10-15 feet.
If I remember correctly Bass was #1 and KG was #2 in 2011-12, and Dirk was the only one threatening them. They were both top 4 from 2010-2013.
Pierce was top 5, Ray was top 3.
Yeah they're great shooters but our offense and Rondos ability to get them the ball were what got them clean, wide open looks.

Brad Stevens is obsessed with ball movement, it's how he took those terd roster butler teams to the final four. He'll go after 3 point shooters and stretch bigs. It's why I ultimately doubt that we go after Melo and why Love makes more sense. 

[BballTim]

The Celtics recently finished big 4 era was predicated on defense, ball movement and shooting.
How does everyone think we got so close to beating the Heat in 2012?
Yeah Rondo was on fire but the Celtics, the Heat and the Spurs had the best ball movement in the NBA. Rondo is a good mid range shooter, just not a 3 point shooter.

Stick Rondo on a team with good defenders & shooters and you're making the playoffs in the East quite easily. You need a guy like Rondo to orchestrate an offense predicated on movement. Yeah he pounds it sometimes...but come playoff time he's doing whatever he can to create spacing to stretch the defense.

Celtics basketball from 2008-2013 was based around a floor general surrounded by elite jump shooters. It's why Danny chose to go with KG at center and Bass at PF after 2010. It's why he wanted David West. So his bigs could create space for Rondo and Pierce.
Bass and KG are literally two of the best shooters in the league for their positions from 10-15 feet.
If I remember correctly Bass was #1 and KG was #2 in 2011-12, and Dirk was the only one threatening them. They were both top 4 from 2010-2013.
Pierce was top 5, Ray was top 3.
Yeah they're great shooters but our offense and Rondos ability to get them the ball were what got them clean, wide open looks.

  That's generally true but it's worth pointing out that swapping Bradley for Ray in 2012 didn't hurt our offense much (if at all) and that our best offense over the last 4-5 years probably included Shaq, not Bass. It's true that KG and Bass were great mid range shooters but the fact that they didn't shoot threes and the  fact that neither of them were good inside scorers really did a number on our overall efficiency.

[HeadDoctorJ]

Rondo in a motion could work, but I think he does need to pound the ball less. Parker holding the ball is less damaging to the motion, it seems to me, because he runs around like a mad man, weaving through screens and quick hand-offs (that sometimes immediately return to him). So Parker is in motion, creating similar chaos to ball movement. Rondo's skill is in taking his time, slowly maneuvering the chess pieces into position, then making his big move, whether it's a drive-and-kick or what have you.

I wonder if Rondo would be more willing to pass and move off the ball if he had more stars, better shooters, and better passers. Also, it is worth considering that Parker is not the best jump shooter, and he is much, much improved. Rondo is also improving quite a bit, and he is very efficient with elbow jumpers in particular. His 3-point shot is better. He's not a deadly threat in this way, but he might not have to be.

With all this said, I think Stevens' system will develop into something quite beautiful, in the mold of the Spurs. This could happen with a Rondo-Love-Melo team, as Melo and Love are both good, smart passers (despite Melo's ridiculous reputation among some haters), and elite shooters. His system could also develop with a young core, if we don't land a big trade (but instead clean house and deal Rondo, etc).

Final thought. Here are some current C's who could play in a truly great motion offense: Rondo, Pressey, Sully, Olynyk, Green, and Humphries. I'd say Faverani, Johnson, and Iverson all have the capability to develop into great cogs in a motion-machine as well. AB's great coming off screens in a catch & shoot and cutting to the basket, but I don't see him as a great passer. In the draft, I see Parker, Vonleh, Gordon, Smart, Saric, McDermott, Stauskas, Harris, and Payton as great potential fits as well (and probably others too, but those are the dudes that come to mind).