Rondo vs Toine: Love/Hate Relationships & Celtics Fans

[Redz]

The hate on Rondo is reaching epidemic proportions these days.  He's always been a flawed player, but the pluses have far outweighed the negatives over the years.  It's clear both injuries and the lack of superstars to support him have negatively effected his game (and apparent confidence).  The free throw shooting I've always found maddening.  He has a flair for the amazing play, but sometimes the vanilla seems more suited.  He is a one of kind player and he was a key member a championship team. 

Right now, I'm leaning more towards the "Rondo annoys me" side, but overall I'd say I've always leaned more towards the "love" side on Rondo.  I've defended him for years with a Rondo hatin' co-worker (this has not been easy lately  ). 

As for `Toine.  I had such a soft spot for him.  He was a glimmer of hope when we needed it most.  I wished he would have stuck with the low post game and not heaved up so many awful 3's, but his exuberance always won me over.   

Toine had a lot of detractors, but on the whole the tone wasn't as extreme as the opinions on Rondo. 

My vote goes to Rondo.  Maybe it's just because it's fresher. 

[rondohondo]

Rondo is much better than Toine . Rondo actually plays to his strengths .....

[Roy H.]

I think I've had a fairly balanced view of Rondo.  I'm certainly critical of him, but I also really appreciate his strengths.

As for Antoine...  I had a totally irrational love affair with him. 

[Redz]

I think I've had a fairly balanced view of Rondo.  I'm certainly critical of him, but I also really appreciate his strengths.

As for Antoine...  I had a totally irrational love affair with him.

I think if you stuck with the Celtics through the entire post Bird era you had to love Toine just for giving us SOMETHING to grasp onto again.

[jambr380]

Rondo is much better than Toine . Rondo actually plays to his strengths .....

What are you talking about? Antoine was a (deserving) multiple time all-star who was actually able to carry his team in the moments that mattered most. I love Rondo and hope we can keep him and surround him with the right players, but Antoine could do it all and his passion rubbed off on those around him.

I get sick of the revisionist history that Antoine spent his entire career only taking horrible threes. There was a lot more to his game than he gets credit for.

[Rondo9]

Rondo is much better than Toine . Rondo actually plays to his strengths .....

What are you talking about? Antoine was a (deserving) multiple time all-star who was actually able to carry his team in the moments that mattered most. I love Rondo and hope we can keep him and surround him with the right players, but Antoine could do it all and his passion rubbed off on those around him.

I get sick of the revisionist history that Antoine spent his entire career only taking horrible threes. There was a lot more to his game than he gets credit for.

You could say the same for Rondo......

[Roy H.]

I think I've had a fairly balanced view of Rondo.  I'm certainly critical of him, but I also really appreciate his strengths.

As for Antoine...  I had a totally irrational love affair with him.

I think if you stuck with the Celtics through the entire post Bird era you had to love Toine just for giving us SOMETHING to grasp onto again.

Absolutely.  Just seeing exciting playoff basketball made the Antoine / Pierce era one I will always remember fondly.

[Redz]

Rondo is much better than Toine . Rondo actually plays to his strengths .....

What are you talking about? Antoine was a (deserving) multiple time all-star who was actually able to carry his team in the moments that mattered most. I love Rondo and hope we can keep him and surround him with the right players, but Antoine could do it all and his passion rubbed off on those around him.

I get sick of the revisionist history that Antoine spent his entire career only taking horrible threes. There was a lot more to his game than he gets credit for.

There's the passion! `Toine lovers unite.

Seriously though, that was the thing about Toine.  He could definitely dig deep and will a team to a win.  Rondo has shown flashes of that energy too (playing with one arm comes immediately to mind). 

[Jailan34]

Rondo is much better than Toine . Rondo actually plays to his strength.....

Fixed that for you.

[Redz]

BTW, Does it make me doubly old if I'm starting to feel old talking about Antoine, when I'm really a child of the Bird era?

[Rondo9]

Rondo is much better than Toine . Rondo actually plays to his strength.....

Fixed that for you.

Rondo has multiple strengths

[LB3533]

How did I miss this thread/topic?       Fair warning.....

I am, what many have called me, an "Antoine appologist". I wear that tag without shame.

The "love / hate" relationship with Toine is completely justified. (From a 'Toine fanboy).

That sort of relationship with Rondo is uncalled for and there is no credence for it.

In terms of Antoine, there is a boat load of statistical evidence to "love his game", and to "hate his game". The boat load, unfortunately, is heavy on the side of "statistical hate".

Antoine may have been the least efficient Celtic "all-star" / team captain, in the great Celtic history.

Antoine, however, was no idiot.....or at the very least, Antoine was smart enough to realize that he had to step aside when Paul Pierce emerged. This is the mark of the purest team captain, to know what's "best" for the team.

At that time, Antoine was the best player on the team. Paul Pierce was a "nobody". I will not forget Antoine recognized that Paul was better than him and it was better for the team if Paul was the "#1 option".

I am sure it was hard for Antoine to relinquish his "grasp" on the franchise (thanks Danny). But what better player, than a Paul Pierce, to relinquish the grasp to?

There are a ton of things about Antoine's game....that boggles the mind....drives, even his fans to go crazy with anger. I can only imagine what his coaches and teammates were going through. Why shoot so many 3's when you can have a greater success down low?

It is totally understandable to hate parts of Antoine's game. However, I really haven't heard anyone bad mouth Toine in terms of being a bad teammate.


For Rondo, there isn't a great bundle of evidence to hate on Rondo's game. As a PG, he accomplishes the main job for what his role on the team calls for. He does this primary function with great ability. He also performs a job that is not one of his roles main responsibilities. Rondo's rebounding adds much more to the team compared to the poor FT shooting or poor outside shooting.

Poor shooting from Rondo is not an abundant occurance compared to his rebounding positives which far outweigh how few times Rondo gets to the line to not make the FT, or few shooting attempts at a 20 footer.

Rondo's hate/love relationship is not justified. By many, he's still not even viewed as the best player on the team. Antoine's hate/love relationship is totally understandble.