Bye Bye Rondo

[Vermont Green]

Is it really worth debating whether Rondo or Smart is a better rebounder?  I don't think Stevens left Smart in because he thought he might get a rebound or two more than Rondo.

This game could be a watershed event for this team and for Rondo's future.  Or Rondo might come out next game and play at a high level and everything just kind of continues to develop.  One thing for sure, Smart is improving at a phenomenal rate.  Do you remember how bad he looked in those first few summer league games?  If he keeps up this trajectory, he is going to be at the level of pre-injury Derrick Rose soon.

Rondo just needs to stick with the plan, play the game Stevens wants him to play, and he will be fine.  I doubt Rondo will over-react to this game.

[Celtics4ever]

I think too, it might be indicative of Stevens distaste of Sullinger.

[sed522002]

Is it really worth debating whether Rondo or Smart is a better rebounder?  I don't think Stevens left Smart in because he thought he might get a rebound or two more than Rondo.

This game could be a watershed event for this team and for Rondo's future.  Or Rondo might come out next game and play at a high level and everything just kind of continues to develop.  One thing for sure, Smart is improving at a phenomenal rate.  Do you remember how bad he looked in those first few summer league games?  If he keeps up this trajectory, he is going to be at the level of pre-injury Derrick Rose soon.

Rondo just needs to stick with the plan, play the game Stevens wants him to play, and he will be fine. I doubt Rondo will over-react to this game.

Seems like there was no complaints at all from Rondo

“I just do what I can do from the sidelines,” he said afterward. “I’m very competitive. I wanted to play. I wanted to compete and be on the floor, but the guys that were out there were playing great, and I didn’t want to mess up any momentum.

“There was no communication (with Stevens as the situation unfolded), but there was none needed. The guys did a great job making a run out there. Our bench did a great job, and they deserved to play.”

 “You can’t set a limit on a guy like Marcus’ talent. He works hard every day. He’s coming off a tough injury with the ankle. You’ve got to have your ankles to have your speed and quickness, and he did a great job defensively (last night).”

[Evantime34]

Seriously now, if we want a team where guards are the best rebounders, let's trade Sully for MCW.
Smart, RR and MCW will combine sthg like 18 rebs per game 
(I would still not bet my money on any of them being able to block out Gortat though)

People confuse getting a rebound with being a great rebounder. Rondo gets the rebounds he does because Sullinger and to a lesser extent Olynyk and Zeller box out.

Sullinger is still the best rebounder on the team in that he makes sure the Celtics get the rebound by keeping opposing bigs off the glass.

(this comment was more in response to the sentiment you were responding to than what you just wrote)

[BballTim]

I think we're finding out that Smart can run this team. Which is what we needed to find out.
His energy, toughness, and defense are contagious.
As he gets more experience and confidence, his game will continue to develop.

  I didn't see the whole game, but when I was watching Turner was running the team on offense, not Smart.

[fairweatherfan]

I think we're finding out that Smart can run this team. Which is what we needed to find out.
His energy, toughness, and defense are contagious.
As he gets more experience and confidence, his game will continue to develop.

  I didn't see the whole game, but when I was watching Turner was running the team on offense, not Smart.

Smart brought the ball up a bit, but not much and not in crunch time (EDIT: overtime crunch time, he did bring it up some during the comeback)  I think that may have had more to do with Wall pressuring him than Marcus, though.

[Evantime34]

I think we're finding out that Smart can run this team. Which is what we needed to find out.
His energy, toughness, and defense are contagious.
As he gets more experience and confidence, his game will continue to develop.

  I didn't see the whole game, but when I was watching Turner was running the team on offense, not Smart.

When they both were in it seemed pretty split to me, which is hope for Rondo and Smart being able to play together.

[BballTim]

I think we're finding out that Smart can run this team. Which is what we needed to find out.
His energy, toughness, and defense are contagious.
As he gets more experience and confidence, his game will continue to develop.

  I didn't see the whole game, but when I was watching Turner was running the team on offense, not Smart.

When they both were in it seemed pretty split to me, which is hope for Rondo and Smart being able to play together.

  I'd assume they would. Rondo's a great pg for someone who cuts like Smart.

[BballTim]

Or Smart could work his value up to land us a Carmelo Anthony or Roy Hibbert ?

get  out here man. Smart is the future.

I like him a lot too , but we still couldn't run the offense through him to close out the game . He isn't at that level yet, not to say he can't get here. For now he will be an awesome presence off the bench . Rondo is still a top level PG , and better at running the offense .

Smart didn't get the call from BS to take the shots.  I wish they would of given it to him at times.

That rebound out of nowhere was amazing.  The boxouts on Gortat was amazing . I mean what guard can even do that

Rondo. Lol.

Rondo gets rebounds in open space, but he doesn't have the strength to stop Gortat dead in his tracks like Smart did. After all Smart has about 50 lbs on Rondo.

  Rondo does get some rebounds in open space, but he gets a good amount of them in traffic as well. He's generally 1st or 2nd in the league in rebounding for point guards, he's much better at it than you imagine.

[Donoghus]

This is the kind of #hotspotstake I'd come to expect on this board after last night's game. 

[KGs Knee]

This is the kind of #hotspotstake I'd come to expect on this board after last night's game. 

Too many ESPN brainwashed young folk.

[fairweatherfan]

Or Smart could work his value up to land us a Carmelo Anthony or Roy Hibbert ?

get  out here man. Smart is the future.

I like him a lot too , but we still couldn't run the offense through him to close out the game . He isn't at that level yet, not to say he can't get here. For now he will be an awesome presence off the bench . Rondo is still a top level PG , and better at running the offense .

Smart didn't get the call from BS to take the shots.  I wish they would of given it to him at times.

That rebound out of nowhere was amazing.  The boxouts on Gortat was amazing . I mean what guard can even do that

Rondo. Lol.

Rondo gets rebounds in open space, but he doesn't have the strength to stop Gortat dead in his tracks like Smart did. After all Smart has about 50 lbs on Rondo.

  Rondo does get some rebounds in open space, but he gets a good amount of them in traffic as well. He's generally 1st or 2nd in the league in rebounding for point guards, he's much better at it than you imagine.

Not to step into a budding Rondo peeing match, but while Rondo is a terrific rebounder for a PG, I've never seen him hold off a big man fighting for position the way Smart did.  Which makes sense, Smart is bigger and stronger than Rondo.  Let's just focus on the nice, tough play Marcus made.

[fairweatherfan]

This is the kind of #hotspotstake I'd come to expect on this board after last night's game. 

Too many ESPN brainwashed young folk.

There were kneejerk reactionary fans way before ESPN.  The Internet just speeds up the process.

[Greenback]

I read the title of this thread and I got excited - but then I found out Rondo is still in Beantown.

Rondo played 20 minutes with 0 points, 0 for 3 from the field, 3 turnovers, 0 free throws, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 fouls...this is bad for even a bench player!

The Celtics lost in the 2nd OT when Olynyk fouled out and BS brought in Bradley...why not Zeller?

Tanks alot!

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

The same way they turned on Ray when Bradley got it going for a month...its about to happen with you. Start planning where you go next.

Couching things in the language of "they" doesn't immune yourself from being the very thing you may be critiquing. You are barking at phantoms.