Should we start Smart over Rondo?

[D.o.s.]

Does anyone really think that the Celtics would be better without Rondo? And I don't mean better in the 'health of the franchise' way. I mean as a team of players trying to win games.

I can think of two on here just off the top of my head that probably genuinely feel that way.

Me too, but I'd hate to speak for BBallTim and Celtics18 like that. 

[kozlodoev]

Does anyone really think that the Celtics would be better without Rondo? And I don't mean better in the 'health of the franchise' way. I mean as a team of players trying to win games.

I can think of two on here just off the top of my head that probably genuinely feel that way.

The Celtics won't be better without Rondo. It's just that they're disappointingly bad with him as well.

[hpantazo]

Over Rondo, that's insane! Over Bradley though, hell yes.

[BballTim]

Does anyone really think that the Celtics would be better without Rondo? And I don't mean better in the 'health of the franchise' way. I mean as a team of players trying to win games.

I can think of two on here just off the top of my head that probably genuinely feel that way.

Me too, but I'd hate to speak for BBallTim and Celtics18 like that. 

  Haha.

[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.

Dont worry , you will be glad when rondo is traded. You think BS has a choice in whether he can bench rondo right now?

Unless we get back another all-star level player, no I won't be glad IF Rondo is traded.  It will just mean that the re-build is longer.

What reason is there for Brad to bench Rondo?  That doesn't make any sense at all.  He is our best player.  Do you want to lose more games, and be way less competitive as a team, because that is what will happen.  All these comments seem just borderline trolling.

[kozlodoev]

Unless we get back another all-star level player, no I won't be glad IF Rondo is traded.  It will just mean that the re-build is longer.

The jury is still out on whether Rondo is an "all-star level player" at this stage of his career.

[blink]

Unless we get back another all-star level player, no I won't be glad IF Rondo is traded.  It will just mean that the re-build is longer.

The jury is still out on whether Rondo is an "all-star level player" at this stage of his career.

Completely true, depends on the full recovery from the ACL.  But that doesn't change what I would want right now in return though.

[BballTim]

Unless we get back another all-star level player, no I won't be glad IF Rondo is traded.  It will just mean that the re-build is longer.

The jury is still out on whether Rondo is an "all-star level player" at this stage of his career.

  According to about half the people here the jury was still out on whether Rondo was an "all-star level player" when he made the all-star team 4 years in a row. Loosely translated, the term means "whatever the user wants it to depending on his or her feelings about the player discussed".

[chambers]

Unless we get back another all-star level player, no I won't be glad IF Rondo is traded.  It will just mean that the re-build is longer.

The jury is still out on whether Rondo is an "all-star level player" at this stage of his career.

  According to about half the people here the jury was still out on whether Rondo was an "all-star level player" when he made the all-star team 4 years in a row. Loosely translated, the term means "whatever the user wants it to depending on his or her feelings about the player discussed".

I think the premise of the thread is ridiculous and the OP is probably triboy's secret account- but I don't think it's ridiculous to imagine that Rondo may never be an All Star again- particularly if he stays with the Celtics rather than leaving for a team like the Rockets.
Even if he did then, he'd be up against Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, Westbrook etc...
Point guard is just stacked now and he's competing against Kyrie on a Cavs team in the limelight, John Wall on a Wizards team that should be competing for quite a few years ahead, and fan favorite Derrick Rose. Not saying he's not better than them or as good as them, but it's going to be hard to string up votes as he gets older and more young talent emerges- while the Celtics stink.

[BballTim]

Unless we get back another all-star level player, no I won't be glad IF Rondo is traded.  It will just mean that the re-build is longer.

The jury is still out on whether Rondo is an "all-star level player" at this stage of his career.

  According to about half the people here the jury was still out on whether Rondo was an "all-star level player" when he made the all-star team 4 years in a row. Loosely translated, the term means "whatever the user wants it to depending on his or her feelings about the player discussed".

I think the premise of the thread is ridiculous and the OP is probably triboy's secret account- but I don't think it's ridiculous to imagine that Rondo may never be an All Star again- particularly if he stays with the Celtics rather than leaving for a team like the Rockets.
Even if he did then, he'd be up against Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, Westbrook etc...
Point guard is just stacked now and he's competing against Kyrie on a Cavs team in the limelight, John Wall on a Wizards team that should be competing for quite a few years ahead, and fan favorite Derrick Rose. Not saying he's not better than them or as good as them, but it's going to be hard to string up votes as he gets older and more young talent emerges- while the Celtics stink.

  The names change, but it's been the same argument since it was "Rondo will never be an all-star" 6 years ago.

[chambers]

Unless we get back another all-star level player, no I won't be glad IF Rondo is traded.  It will just mean that the re-build is longer.

The jury is still out on whether Rondo is an "all-star level player" at this stage of his career.

  According to about half the people here the jury was still out on whether Rondo was an "all-star level player" when he made the all-star team 4 years in a row. Loosely translated, the term means "whatever the user wants it to depending on his or her feelings about the player discussed".

I think the premise of the thread is ridiculous and the OP is probably triboy's secret account- but I don't think it's ridiculous to imagine that Rondo may never be an All Star again- particularly if he stays with the Celtics rather than leaving for a team like the Rockets.
Even if he did then, he'd be up against Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, Westbrook etc...
Point guard is just stacked now and he's competing against Kyrie on a Cavs team in the limelight, John Wall on a Wizards team that should be competing for quite a few years ahead, and fan favorite Derrick Rose. Not saying he's not better than them or as good as them, but it's going to be hard to string up votes as he gets older and more young talent emerges- while the Celtics stink.

  The names change, but it's been the same argument since it was "Rondo will never be an all-star" 6 years ago.

Well that's what his detractors would say. I'm not a detractor, I just think it will be particularly harder for him to be an All Star again than it was during the period playing with KG and Pierce.

I mean what time period would you rather bet your house on Rondo being an All Star?
2009-2012 playing with some immensely popular, good players (while playing at that level himself) or 2013-2016 onwards post injury, with a team that just finished 5th worst in the NBA, while there are some legitimate All Star caliber guards as his competition in the East.
Does he make the All Star team in the West 2014 onwards? Pretty tough.

[mmmmm]

Does anyone really think that the Celtics would be better without Rondo? And I don't mean better in the 'health of the franchise' way. I mean as a team of players trying to win games.

I can think of two on here just off the top of my head that probably genuinely feel that way.

The Celtics won't be better without Rondo. It's just that they're disappointingly bad with him as well.

"disappointingly bad" implies failure to meet expectations, doesn't it?

Were you expecting this Celtics team to go into Texas and win either of their games in Dallas or Houston on the road?   Especially this early in the season?

For what it's worth, the Rondo-led Celtics starters actually ended up posting a pretty solid +9 in their 12 minutes on the floor against Dallas (pretty much almost all those minutes against Dallas' starters).

Unfortunately, our bench really sucked.   But the season is young.

[Kc2135]

Unless we get back another all-star level player, no I won't be glad IF Rondo is traded.  It will just mean that the re-build is longer.

The jury is still out on whether Rondo is an "all-star level player" at this stage of his career.

Well, I don't know many players almost averaging a triple double. So, I'd say he is at least at an All star level. Also, where are all those people who said he only got his assists by playing with three HOFs, seems to be doing fine to me.

[Tr1boy]

Unless we get back another all-star level player, no I won't be glad IF Rondo is traded.  It will just mean that the re-build is longer.

The jury is still out on whether Rondo is an "all-star level player" at this stage of his career.

Well, I don't know many players almost averaging a triple double. So, I'd say he is at least at an All star level. Also, where are all those people who said he only got his assists by playing with three HOFs, seems to be doing fine to me.

Yup. Shooting at a delicious 38 percent and 20 percent from the 3 pt line. 4.3 TO a game also. Yummy

[blink]

Unless we get back another all-star level player, no I won't be glad IF Rondo is traded.  It will just mean that the re-build is longer.

The jury is still out on whether Rondo is an "all-star level player" at this stage of his career.

Well, I don't know many players almost averaging a triple double. So, I'd say he is at least at an All star level. Also, where are all those people who said he only got his assists by playing with three HOFs, seems to be doing fine to me.

Yup. Shooting at a delicious 38 percent and 20 percent from the 3 pt line. 4.3 TO a game also. Yummy

That's hardly a reason to start Smart over Rondo.
Smart's so much more tempting FG %'s:
FG  6-21   .286   
3P  2-14   .143