Should we start Smart over Rondo?

[playdream]

We need to set the tone early and put Smart/AB backcourt is the best way to do it
(Rondo still gambles sometimes on defense and let his opponent get past him)
we will need the defense intensity and fighting spirit
or maybe we should start Rondo, if he didn't play defense we put on Smart early

[jpotter33]

Really?

[manl_lui]

maybe over Bradley, but definitely not over Rondo. If we do want to retain him, doing that is like running Rondo out of town

[Donoghus]

No way. 

This team needs offensive help a heckuva lot more than defense right now.  Starting a Bradley/Smart backcourt gets you a slower start out of the gate.  Sure, you may get a few stops here or there but will that really outweigh the offensive stagnation/deficiency this team will be facing?

Also, why would you not start your best player? 

I'd consider starting a three guard set of Rondo/Bradley/Smart before I'd remotely consider not starting Rondo.

[biggs]

No.  Rondo is on my fantasy team 

[Tr1boy]

We need to set the tone early and put Smart/AB backcourt is the best way to do it
(Rondo still gambles sometimes on defense and let his opponent get past him)
we will need the defense intensity and fighting spirit
or maybe we should start Rondo, if he didn't play defense we put on Smart early

Yes please. I can see Rondo doing better off the bench vs non starters

[BudweiserCeltic]

How about.... no.

[jpotter33]

We need to set the tone early and put Smart/AB backcourt is the best way to do it
(Rondo still gambles sometimes on defense and let his opponent get past him)
we will need the defense intensity and fighting spirit
or maybe we should start Rondo, if he didn't play defense we put on Smart early

Yes please. I can see Rondo doing better off the bench vs non starters

Good Lord. You can't be serious can you? That statement can be applied UNIVERSALLY, since, generally, non starters are not as good as starters. Therefore, I can also see Lebron James doing better off the bench vs non starters..... You see how ludicrous that statement is?

[Donoghus]

We need to set the tone early and put Smart/AB backcourt is the best way to do it
(Rondo still gambles sometimes on defense and let his opponent get past him)
we will need the defense intensity and fighting spirit
or maybe we should start Rondo, if he didn't play defense we put on Smart early

Yes please. I can see Rondo doing better off the bench vs non starters

Good Lord. You can't be serious can you? That statement can be applied UNIVERSALLY, since, generally, non starters are not as good as starters. Therefore, I can also see Lebron James doing better off the bench vs non starters..... You see how ludicrous that statement is?

Ludicrous yet predictable.

[D.o.s.]

If you traded LeBron James off the Bench for Rondo off the Bench, which Bench would win more games?

[blink]

We need to set the tone early and put Smart/AB backcourt is the best way to do it
(Rondo still gambles sometimes on defense and let his opponent get past him)
we will need the defense intensity and fighting spirit
or maybe we should start Rondo, if he didn't play defense we put on Smart early

Yes please. I can see Rondo doing better off the bench vs non starters

I am so glad you aren't the coach or the gm.

[kozlodoev]

I came here expecting a Hawkeye199 thread.

[blink]

I came here expecting a Hawkeye199 thread.

i came in here thinking it was the same thread that triboy started a week or so ago.

[TheOneTrueRobb]

After two games? Let's let the guy settle in before we make any judgements. He looks real good so far, and is likely to get better.

The dilemma, IMO, is that, assuming Smart continues to get better, we'd now have two starter-quality guys playing the same position with roughly similar skill sets (defense, pass-first approach). The 3-guard lineup, while intriguing, won't work for a lot of opponents. Meanwhile, down there under the basket, there's no real classic 7-footer (KO's becoming a very good player, but he's not a banger).

If a quality true Center comes up, do you trade Rondo or Smart for him? Given that Rondo's going to be commanding a pretty hefty paycheck soon, the smart business move might be to trade him and hand the keys to Marcus.

[clover]

No, if the C's see Rondo in that light, they're not going to resign him and they should showcase him for a trade.