Rondo is our Carmelo

[Monkhouse]

Rondo may be our Carmelo in a sense but it's important to note that Carmelo has been a far more impactful player than Rondo has over the course of his career. If you can't come to that conclusion, you're smoking some serious green (see what I did there?).

Rondo can be the second or third best player on a contending squad. Carmelo can unquestionably be the first.

Except for the fact that Carmelo has never been the best player on a contending team.  Rondo has.

This. If we got Melo, all we would need is a good defensive anchor and a decent bench.

[soap07]

Rondo may be our Carmelo in a sense but it's important to note that Carmelo has been a far more impactful player than Rondo has over the course of his career. If you can't come to that conclusion, you're smoking some serious green (see what I did there?).

Rondo can be the second or third best player on a contending squad. Carmelo can unquestionably be the first.

Except for the fact that Carmelo has never been the best player on a contending team.  Rondo has.

No, he hasn't.

[D.o.s.]

Rondo may be our Carmelo in a sense but it's important to note that Carmelo has been a far more impactful player than Rondo has over the course of his career. If you can't come to that conclusion, you're smoking some serious green (see what I did there?).

Rondo can be the second or third best player on a contending squad. Carmelo can unquestionably be the first.

Except for the fact that Carmelo has never been the best player on a contending team.  Rondo has.

No, he hasn't.

Oh wow. What exciting new territory we're broaching here.

[Celtics18]

Rondo may be our Carmelo in a sense but it's important to note that Carmelo has been a far more impactful player than Rondo has over the course of his career. If you can't come to that conclusion, you're smoking some serious green (see what I did there?).

Rondo can be the second or third best player on a contending squad. Carmelo can unquestionably be the first.

Except for the fact that Carmelo has never been the best player on a contending team.  Rondo has.

No, he hasn't.

I take it back.  Anthony was the best player on the 2009 Nuggets team that made the conference finals.

[TheFlex]

Rondo may be our Carmelo in a sense but it's important to note that Carmelo has been a far more impactful player than Rondo has over the course of his career. If you can't come to that conclusion, you're smoking some serious green (see what I did there?).

Rondo can be the second or third best player on a contending squad. Carmelo can unquestionably be the first.

Except for the fact that Carmelo has never been the best player on a contending team.  Rondo has.

That was an ideal/unique situation. He was still surrounded by three HOFers.

Usually when someone says "this guy could be the best player on a title contender," they're implying it's a "put the team on my back" type player, not a "I'm slightly better than the three other All-Stars on my team" type player.

It's harder to put DeMar DeRozan, Paul Millsap and Roy Hibbert next to Rondo (contender) than it is to put Serge Ibaka next to Carmelo (contender). edit: figure they have an equally talented, championship-level supporting cast outside of the top 4 (in Rondo's case) or top 2 (in Melo's case). Melo has neither a second star nor a better-than-putrid supporting cast right now.

In terms of pure talent (positions aside), swap Rondo for Melo on this squad and they wouldn't have made the WCFs: http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2009.html

[j804]

What a win against a quality opponent does watch Rondo have a subpar showing today and get crucified lol

[Celtics18]

Rondo may be our Carmelo in a sense but it's important to note that Carmelo has been a far more impactful player than Rondo has over the course of his career. If you can't come to that conclusion, you're smoking some serious green (see what I did there?).

Rondo can be the second or third best player on a contending squad. Carmelo can unquestionably be the first.

Except for the fact that Carmelo has never been the best player on a contending team.  Rondo has.

That was an ideal/unique situation. He was still surrounded by three HOFers.

Usually when someone says "this guy could be the best player on a title contender," they're implying it's a "put the team on my back" type player, not a "I'm slightly better than the three other All-Stars on my team" type player.

It's harder to put DeMar DeRozan, Paul Millsap and Roy Hibbert next to Rondo (contender) than it is to put Serge Ibaka next to Carmelo (contender). edit: figure they have an equally talented, championship-level supporting cast outside of the top 4 (in Rondo's case) or top 2 (in Melo's case). Melo has neither a second star nor a better-than-putrid supporting cast right now.

In terms of pure talent (positions aside), swap Rondo for Melo on this squad and they wouldn't have made the WCFs: http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2008.html

Oops, you're off by a year.  That team lost in the first round.  It wasn't until they added Billups the following season that the Nuggets made the conference finals. 

[TheFlex]

Rondo may be our Carmelo in a sense but it's important to note that Carmelo has been a far more impactful player than Rondo has over the course of his career. If you can't come to that conclusion, you're smoking some serious green (see what I did there?).

Rondo can be the second or third best player on a contending squad. Carmelo can unquestionably be the first.

Except for the fact that Carmelo has never been the best player on a contending team.  Rondo has.

That was an ideal/unique situation. He was still surrounded by three HOFers.

Usually when someone says "this guy could be the best player on a title contender," they're implying it's a "put the team on my back" type player, not a "I'm slightly better than the three other All-Stars on my team" type player.

It's harder to put DeMar DeRozan, Paul Millsap and Roy Hibbert next to Rondo (contender) than it is to put Serge Ibaka next to Carmelo (contender). edit: figure they have an equally talented, championship-level supporting cast outside of the top 4 (in Rondo's case) or top 2 (in Melo's case). Melo has neither a second star nor a better-than-putrid supporting cast right now.

In terms of pure talent (positions aside), swap Rondo for Melo on this squad and they wouldn't have made the WCFs: http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2008.html

Oops, you're off by a year.  That team lost in the first round.  It wasn't until they added Billups the following season that the Nuggets made the conference finals.

Just fixed it, thanks.

[D.o.s.]

Rondo may be our Carmelo in a sense but it's important to note that Carmelo has been a far more impactful player than Rondo has over the course of his career. If you can't come to that conclusion, you're smoking some serious green (see what I did there?).

Rondo can be the second or third best player on a contending squad. Carmelo can unquestionably be the first.

Except for the fact that Carmelo has never been the best player on a contending team.  Rondo has.

No, he hasn't.

I take it back.  Anthony was the best player on the 2009 Nuggets team that made the conference finals.

There is less of an argument to be made about Anthony and the WCF than Rondo and the ECF, or the Finals proper, I think.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

Rondo may be our Carmelo in a sense but it's important to note that Carmelo has been a far more impactful player than Rondo has over the course of his career. If you can't come to that conclusion, you're smoking some serious green (see what I did there?).

Rondo can be the second or third best player on a contending squad. Carmelo can unquestionably be the first.

Except for the fact that Carmelo has never been the best player on a contending team.  Rondo has.

No, he hasn't.

I take it back.  Anthony was the best player on the 2009 Nuggets team that made the conference finals.

There is less of an argument to be made about Anthony and the WCF than Rondo and the ECF, or the Finals proper, I think.

Melo must blame Trevor Ariza for missing out on a title in 09 (back to back inbounding steals)  Best player then? Absolutely!

with the main focus on the BIG 3 at the time, So much focus was on them which gave Rondo the opportunity to thrive and he took FULL advantage of it..

Conclusion:
 Melo: Scoring Leader, want to win kinda leader
Rondo: Passing leader, wants to win leader,

End of the days  if you had to build around one your going to build around Melo because he puts the ball through the goal..

BUT IF I HAD THE OPTION AND RIGHT PLAYERS AROUND... I WOULD RATHER HAVE RONDO ON MY TEAM 9/10 TIMES... WOULD YOU OF SWAPPED RONDO FOR MELO IN THE BIG 3 ERA?

[mgent]

Rondo may be our Carmelo in a sense but it's important to note that Carmelo has been a far more impactful player than Rondo has over the course of his career. If you can't come to that conclusion, you're smoking some serious green (see what I did there?).

Rondo can be the second or third best player on a contending squad. Carmelo can unquestionably be the first.

Except for the fact that Carmelo has never been the best player on a contending team.  Rondo has.

No, he hasn't.

I take it back.  Anthony was the best player on the 2009 Nuggets team that made the conference finals.

Not to mention he won a championship in 2003.  His ability to lead a team in a big game shouldn't really be in question.

[littleteapot]

BUT IF I HAD THE OPTION AND RIGHT PLAYERS AROUND... I WOULD RATHER HAVE RONDO ON MY TEAM 9/10 TIMES... WOULD YOU OF SWAPPED RONDO FOR MELO IN THE BIG 3 ERA?

Oh god we would have never lost with that roster.

BTW Rondo is absolutely making the other Celtics better. I don't think Green, Zeller and Bradley can score as much as they are with a normal point guard. Rondo has never had a problem with this, he has a problem when teams dare him to score and he still tries to make the spectacular pass instead of the easy lay up.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

BUT IF I HAD THE OPTION AND RIGHT PLAYERS AROUND... I WOULD RATHER HAVE RONDO ON MY TEAM 9/10 TIMES... WOULD YOU OF SWAPPED RONDO FOR MELO IN THE BIG 3 ERA?

Oh god we would have never lost with that roster.

BTW Rondo is absolutely making the other Celtics better. I don't think Green, Zeller and Bradley can score as much as they are with a normal point guard. Rondo has never had a problem with this, he has a problem when teams dare him to score and he still tries to make the spectacular pass instead of the easy lay up.

I agree with you about everything but Green. I don't have the stats in front of me but it seems as Green is the player scoring the most without Rondo's help (Thorton as well).
Also feel his shot selection has improved greatly. He always been a decent scoring , even his short time in OKC. I personally just think he is undervalued. I bet if he was on Miami he'd be scoring twice as much as Deng is right now

[D.o.s.]

WOULD YOU OF SWAPPED RONDO FOR MELO IN THE BIG 3 ERA?

Wow. I don't know. I'm going to get back to you on this once I've thought about it (especially in regards to salary cap + roster adjustments and things), but my first thoughts: we still win in 2008, obviously. 2010 is probably still a Lakers W. I don't think we get past Miami in 2012.

[littleteapot]

I agree with you about everything but Green. I don't have the stats in front of me but it seems as Green is the player scoring the most without Rondo's help (Thorton as well).
Also feel his shot selection has improved greatly. He always been a decent scoring , even his short time in OKC. I personally just think he is undervalued. I bet if he was on Miami he'd be scoring twice as much as Deng is right now

I think Green's biggest is problem is he has limited court vision and turns it over too much. He's got better, but I think if you had to run the offense through him, it would still be too easy for teams to collapse around him without fearing that he will hit the open guy. I think he either needs a fast break or Rondo to get him the ball where he can just make a quick decision and limit his mistakes. Part of the reason or half-court struggles is we can't effectively run the offense through him (and typically don't even try).