Do you think Marcus Smart will get the Rondo treatment?

[Celtics4ever]

I too think AW was inefficient and at times painful to watch.   He had tons of talent, but didn't go in the direction of his talent and did easy things like shooting threes, which he showed little aptitude for shooting well.   I worry that Sully will be the same kind of guy but I hope I am wrong.  But the conditioning weight issues remind of me of AW.

[ManUp]

Who exactly are one and two?

Srry but I don't buy that Cousy could hang with Rondo.

[Eja117]

Who exactly are one and two?

Srry but I don't buy that Cousy could hang with Rondo.

At some point Cousy's rings gotta matter.

I would probably also go with DJ over Rondo. Larry Bird said DJ was the best player he ever played with and Bill Walton basically backed up that statement. Apparently (forgiving Walton's story telling ability, which is substantial) Walton's first day on the team Larry said something to the extent of "Bill this is how it works here. You pass me the ball and every once in a while you can pass to DJ, cause he's pretty good".

To be fair Bird didn't play with Rondo.

[obnoxiousmime]

Just because someone thinks Rondo should be traded or isn't worth a max deal doesn't mean that person "hates" him. Sometimes you have to part ways with a talented player if the timing isn't right for your organization, or if the player will get overpaid on the open market.

Personally, I think Rondo will get a max offer somewhere (it only takes one team). For example, it's not hard to imagine the Lakers, with their oodles of cap space next offseason, offering max money. Or a team that is closer talent-wise to contending might be willing to overextend itself. If the Celtics still can't make a major deal for another star then why would Rondo stay?

I could like any player if he is signed for the right amount. Signing too many players who aren't producing value equal or above their salary is a recipe for disaster. If you're going to overpay a player, it should be when you've already got a nucleus in place and you're going over the cap to get one or a few of those "final pieces" to push you over the top. The Celtics obviously are not at that point and don't look to be close.

So yes, I "love" Marcus Smart as he is making paltry rookie deal numbers right now and I theoretically "hate" Rondo making a max salary on this team as it is currently constructed. I guess that makes me a "hater."

[Future Celtics Owner]

Smart will win over this town when he comes into his own. I have faith that Smart will get a much much better shot and dominate both sides of the floor. He gets so many ball tips that we are almost guaranteed to be in the top of the nba for fast break points.

[loco_91]

Smart maaayyy be a better defender. Maybe.

Smart will certainly be a better defender. Rondo is a crafty help defender. He's a bit of a man-to-man liability as he accumulates steals by gambling; it was a decent strategy when he had KG to bail him out when he got beat, but now that our second line of D is like Sully that isn't going to cut it.

Smart was voted best rookie defender for a reason. He has equally quick hands and sharp instincts as Rondo, but he's far more disciplined. He has perfect footwork and incredibly consistent focus & energy.  I think he has faster reactions, too. He'll be a candidate for the Defensive Team his rookie year.

[cb8883]

I was just thinking this. Rondo is essentially the 3rd best pg in the history of the club, but a lot of people act like he's Toine or something.

And it occurred to me at the moment if you don't like Rondo you pretty much MUST dislike Smart, right?

Smart maaayyy be a better defender. Maybe.

He may very well not be as good a shooter. Especially if his summer is any indication.

He won't be a better playmaker/passer.

He probably won't be as good a rebounder.

He could be a 4 time all star, make an all  NBA 3rd team, be a 4 time defensive teamer by age 28, do it all at a reasonable salary, and it just won't matter to some, right?

Rondo was the NBA steals leader in 2010. He was the NBA assists leader in two years.

So essentially no matter what we can pretty much expect an anti-Smart group from day one. That's weird.

No offense but I'm tired of the Rondo apologists. The fact is this city wants to think of him as a star player. Fine then. Prove it! He couldn't prove it at all, his one shining moment that is pointed out on a daily basis is how he played against Philadelphia in a series the Celtics were favored in. Star players in the league are your KD's, King James, Melo, etc...then you have another tier of those emerging stars like Cousins and Wall then you have everyone else. Rondo is a very good role player on a title contending squad. He would fit in perfectly on a team like Houston that could use another piece to replace Lin as a solid point guard. But let's all stop acting like he's a star in the league please.

Smart is a bust. He won't even have as good of a career as Rondo. He is Marcus Banks 2.0. That coin flip is going to haunt the Celtics for decades when Exum and his unlimited potential is making multiple all star games. Awful. Randle will have a good career too probably. Danny couldn't resist taking the clone of Marcus Banks.

[jambr380]

Why the dig on Antoine from the OP? He was a multi- time all-star and had reasonable success as the leader of the team. I get the fact that Smart brings it every night, but so did Antoine. Apparently, If Smart has trouble with his shot, but continues to launch from deep, there is no doubt you will be hear about it for decades to come - no matter what other positive impact he brings to the game.

I would not call what Toine had "trouble with his shot".  He had a bad outside shot, but insisted on continuing to do it even when it was clear it was ineffective. Basically he was a promising player who went Big Baby on things.
Became a vacuum of the ball and food. Ate his way and shot his way out of the league. Hard to be ok with that.

We think of him as this old as heck guy now, but he's not. He is two years younger than Ray Allen. He is a year younger than Duncan. He is a year older than Dirk and Paul Pierce. He is a year younger than Andre Miller and KG. He is the same age as Vince Carter and Manu Ginobli.

But he hasn't played in the league since 2008. And it's not like he was all that good in 08.

But he was quite good two years prior to 08 when he won a championship as the 3rd best player on Miami.

I realize Antoine wasn't perfect, but he is the go-to when describing disgraceful players (ie - If Sully doesn't get his weight under control, he may go the way of Antoine, comparisons to Big Baby, etc). Antoine was a legitimate all-star in this league who put up excellent numbers as the 1a option on multi-playoff teams. He played in the Iverson era where the little loosey-goosey style of play actually could bring about success - he was actually quite effective.

The attitudes around here remind me of people who used to be poor (pre-championship), but then won the lottery and want to forget they even had a life beforehand...which is stupid because we will be lucky to get anywhere near the ECF in the next few years.

[Watsonthedragon]

Smart is a bust.

It's amazing that you can know this before he has played in a single NBA game... I guess Ainge should step down now and let the great cb8883 take reign as you apparently know the future.

[mmmmm]

Who exactly are one and two?

Srry but I don't buy that Cousy could hang with Rondo.

At some point Cousy's rings gotta matter.

I would probably also go with DJ over Rondo. Larry Bird said DJ was the best player he ever played with and Bill Walton basically backed up that statement. Apparently (forgiving Walton's story telling ability, which is substantial) Walton's first day on the team Larry said something to the extent of "Bill this is how it works here. You pass me the ball and every once in a while you can pass to DJ, cause he's pretty good".

To be fair Bird didn't play with Rondo.

If I am remembering correctly, Larry actually said that DJ was the best teammate he ever played with.   That's high praise as well, but subtly different in meaning.

[Kadin]

I was just thinking this. Rondo is essentially the 3rd best pg in the history of the club, but a lot of people act like he's Toine or something.

And it occurred to me at the moment if you don't like Rondo you pretty much MUST dislike Smart, right?

Smart maaayyy be a better defender. Maybe.

He may very well not be as good a shooter. Especially if his summer is any indication.

He won't be a better playmaker/passer.

He probably won't be as good a rebounder.

He could be a 4 time all star, make an all  NBA 3rd team, be a 4 time defensive teamer by age 28, do it all at a reasonable salary, and it just won't matter to some, right?

Rondo was the NBA steals leader in 2010. He was the NBA assists leader in two years.

So essentially no matter what we can pretty much expect an anti-Smart group from day one. That's weird.

No offense but I'm tired of the Rondo apologists. The fact is this city wants to think of him as a star player. Fine then. Prove it! He couldn't prove it at all, his one shining moment that is pointed out on a daily basis is how he played against Philadelphia in a series the Celtics were favored in. Star players in the league are your KD's, King James, Melo, etc...then you have another tier of those emerging stars like Cousins and Wall then you have everyone else. Rondo is a very good role player on a title contending squad. He would fit in perfectly on a team like Houston that could use another piece to replace Lin as a solid point guard. But let's all stop acting like he's a star in the league please.

Smart is a bust. He won't even have as good of a career as Rondo. He is Marcus Banks 2.0. That coin flip is going to haunt the Celtics for decades when Exum and his unlimited potential is making multiple all star games. Awful. Randle will have a good career too probably. Danny couldn't resist taking the clone of Marcus Banks.

How about the second round against the Cavaliers, where Rondo was clearly the best player on the floor and lead us to victory? KG was no slouch that year either, don't get me wrong, but to deny that Rondo has an impressive resume up to this point is completely idiotic.

Smart also has not played a single minute in the NBA, and Exum looks like a wimp. I don't have much faith in that kid, but Smart looks ready to go. You and I disagree completely on this.

[Donoghus]

I'm not sure anyone can be an big as a lightening rod on these boards as Rondo.  Most polarizing figure I've seen on here...by far.   The crazies come out of the woodwork on both ends when it comes to Rondo.

Smart will probably be treated more along the lines of AB on here.  I also think he's going to surprise some people with his play this season.  The comparision to Marcus Banks is just a flat-out lazy one, at best. 

[moiso]

I'm not sure anyone can be an big as a lightening rod on these boards as Rondo.  Most polarizing figure I've seen on here...by far.   The crazies come out of the woodwork on both ends when it comes to Rondo.

Smart will probably be treated more along the lines of AB on here.  I also think he's going to surprised some people with his play this season.  The comparision to Marcus Banks is just a flat-out lazy one, at best.

It blows my mind that a higher percentage of Celticsbloggers defended the pathetic Rasheed Wallace.  Amazing.

[D.o.s.]

I'm not sure anyone can be an big as a lightening rod on these boards as Rondo.  Most polarizing figure I've seen on here...by far.   The crazies come out of the woodwork on both ends when it comes to Rondo.

Smart will probably be treated more along the lines of AB on here.  I also think he's going to surprised some people with his play this season.  The comparision to Marcus Banks is just a flat-out lazy one, at best.

It blows my mind that a higher percentage of Celticsbloggers defended the pathetic Rasheed Wallace.  Amazing.

I'll defend Sheed for his play in the playoffs that year. Guy coasted through the regular season, for sure, but he busted his ass when the games mattered.

I also think Rondo's a great player, but he has the unfortunate distinction of being our best player (which means that we're all highly tuned into his play during the regular season) at a saturated position (which means that other players are likely to be on an even footing with him in real life, compounded by the fact that a majority of posters don't watch all 82 games of someone like, say, Chris Paul).

[moiso]

I'm not sure anyone can be an big as a lightening rod on these boards as Rondo.  Most polarizing figure I've seen on here...by far.   The crazies come out of the woodwork on both ends when it comes to Rondo.

Smart will probably be treated more along the lines of AB on here.  I also think he's going to surprised some people with his play this season.  The comparision to Marcus Banks is just a flat-out lazy one, at best.

It blows my mind that a higher percentage of Celticsbloggers defended the pathetic Rasheed Wallace.  Amazing.

I'll defend Sheed for his play in the playoffs that year. Guy coasted through the regular season, for sure, but he busted his ass when the games mattered.

I also think Rondo's a great player, but he has the unfortunate distinction of being our best player (which means that we're all highly tuned into his play during the regular season) at a saturated position (which means that other players are likely to be on an even footing with him in real life, compounded by the fact that a majority of posters don't watch all 82 games of someone like, say, Chris Paul).

He had a couple nice moments in the playoffs but he averaged 6pts and 3 rebounds on 41% fg% over the entire playoffs.  Not sure how that can make Rasheed a hero to the majority here, while Kevin Love is considered a scrub by many for averaging around 26, 12, and 4 while posting a higher PER than Bird ever posted.  Sorry I got us off topic.