Rookie Rondo vs. Rookie Smart?

[konkmv]

Smart will next year avg 12p 5as 3r 2 st... and wil improove every year

[255 Rings]

Smart will next year avg 12p 5as 3r 2 st... and wil improove every year

Those are the numbers I expect from him by the end of this year, not the next. He needs to bump up his PPG to a decent 14-15 PPG by next season, and I know he can because not only is he proving everyone wrong about his perimeter shooting (numners don't lie), he's also husky enough to push opposing PG's out of the way either in the post or through drives.

[BornReady]

From a stats perspective they are similar

But from the eye test u could see rondo being better because of the plays he was making

[greg683x]

Having Allen, House, Posey, Kg and PP might have helped Rondo in the assist department just a smidge...

Perhaps, but the only Allen on the team during his rookie season was Tony.

Allen Ray?  lol that mightve been the year before.

[Eja117]

definitely Rondo

[Vermont Green]

Very difficult to compare rookie seasons even though they play the same position because there are both pretty unique players.  The stats look pretty even and by my eye test, I would say pretty even in terms of what I expect of Smart going forward compared to what you would have expected from Rondo moving forward at that time.

Rondo had glaring weaknesses that he has never overcome (shooting mainly).  Eventually, the league figured out how exploit that.  Smart is still not a good shooter either, he still has plenty to prove.

The defense thing is a funny one.  My eye test tells me that Smart is a better defender, by a meaningful margin.  I know that Rondo has the All Defensive team accolades but I never thought Rondo was that good of a defender.  Smart seems to have the ability like a shut down corner to take a player out of the game.  I never saw that with Rondo.  Rondo was always a very productive rebounder and I think that figures into the all-defense awards.

Rondo also has some all star years and I don't think it is likely that Smart will be an all star (maybe) but I don't think that means Smart won't be as good as Rondo.  There were 5 or 6 excellent PGs in the west through those Rondo all star years but much weaker talent in the east.  Antoine Walker was an all star too but I never thought of him in the same way I think of some other all stars.  It is kind of the same for me with Rondo.

Bottom line, I like Smart and I think he will be better than Rondo.

[clover]

Smart will next year avg 12p 5as 3r 2 st... and wil improove every year

I see Smart playing 36 minutes a game next year, and so far he's scored 10/36. Given how much he's improved from the start of the year, however, I don't think that's out of range for his next year average.

[Pucaccia]

Smart will be better than Rondo. I kept on waiting for Rondo to get better at free throws and 15 footers. It never happened.  There is no coincidence that we are playing better since the trade. Evan Turner is better team player than Rondo. I do appreciate all that Rondo did especially in the playoffs.  But for this team right now, I take Smart.

[D.o.s.]

Having Allen, House, Posey, Kg and PP might have helped Rondo in the assist department just a smidge...

Perhaps, but the only Allen on the team during his rookie season was Tony.

Allen Ray?  lol that mightve been the year before.

Same year, spelled Allan

[Smitty77]

Perfectly reasonable debate...they play(ed) for the same team as rookies etc.

Obviously, apples and oranges, the two share little in the style department.

Rondo has a handle, comparatively, Smart does not.

Rondo is an assist machine to the point of setting records on a team that has the most records.
Smart is finding his groove, but, I don't think his assist numbers will ever be gaudy.

Someone used this descriptor here last week.

Smart is a terror on defense. Rondo is a good defender.

For an old Boston Celtics fan "terror on defense" is just about all there is. What this dynamic creates for a team on the floor is difficult to quantify. Russell/Garnett required the opponent's coach to plan for them.

Adjustments would have to be made etc, but, that is not the da&* point. The opposing players/coach had a little KG running around INSIDE of their heads for the whole game yelling at them.

Should Smaht get enough of this juju going for his self? The enemy will be ours.

Maybe you're referring to where the two players are as of today, but if not... Rondo was 1st team all defense twice and 2nd team twice. Among active players he has the 8th best careerr defensive rating per 100 possessions. That qualifies as something better than 'good,' especially among point guards.

Let's be honest for a moment.  Rondo made the All-NBA Defensive squad BECAUSE he played off his player and roamed and went for steals.  He could do that BECAUSE he had KG covering his back when his man consistently got by him due to his hedging. 

Smitty77

[SHAQATTACK]

First year Smart destroys Rondo ......

And Rondo had much better vets to work with during his first seasons

Rondo still can't hit a bull in tail ......and totally awful free throw for any guard including Jr High

Rondo was fast and tricky in the paint .  Now he is kinda fast , lazy and still can't shoot.

[MBunge]

I'd agree that rookie Rondo had that special quality which I don't think Smart has necessarily shown.

On the other hand, Smart has already made himself into a dramatically better shooter than Rondo has ever been and looks less likely to ever slack off defensively like Rondo came to do.

Mike

[mmmmm]

There is no coincidence that we are playing better since the trade.

Let's be clear.  The schedule has been massively easier since the trade.  Not only was it filled with teams that were crappier by every ranking, we even had the good fortune to hit some of the few "good" teams when they were missing star players.

It will continue to be easy for the next 5 games.

Then it will be harder for the following 12 (though nowhere near as difficult as November and early December were).

Then it gets easier again.

[Snakehead]

Rondo averaged 6.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals on 42%/20%/65% shooting in 23.5mpg

Smart averaging 6.8 points, 3.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 37%/35%/67% shooting in 24.4mpg

Similar...

but rookies generally improve the second half the season.  Smart's yet to have his best statistical games this year.  His season ending averages will be better than they are right now.

This.  By virtue of his minutes going up alone.

[Pucaccia]

There is no coincidence that we are playing better since the trade.

Let's be clear.  The schedule has been massively easier since the trade.  Not only was it filled with teams that were crappier by every ranking, we even had the good fortune to hit some of the few "good" teams when they were missing star players.

It will continue to be easy for the next 5 games.

Then it will be harder for the following 12 (though nowhere near as difficult as November and early December were).

Then it gets easier again.

What is clear...is having a west coast trip with back to backs with different time zones and higher altitudes is not a massively easier schedule. Does doesn't matter who you play, it is still tough.