BUT - then again - this is ESPN we are following here, LOL.....so what is exactly the truth?
No, we're really following the Dallas PR staff and mavs.com's beat reporter:
https://twitter.com/EarlKSneed/status/590976998769430529
Or, alternatively, we're talking tin foil hats. It's pretty cut and dry, really.
Yeah, the same PR staff that gives Dirk Nowitski a free pass as he can't hit the broadside of a barn with a Tactical Nuke.
Dirk is an NBA legend and Mavs Lifer. One bad game will not bring him down to Rondo's level, especially considering (though it shouldn't even be relevant) Dirk's strong performance in game 1.
Rondo has been to the All-Star game a few times. He's not a legend. He's has not just one bad game but a really unimpressive 2-3 year stretch starting with the injury, making a pitstop for a lackluster 6 months of stat-padded basketball in Boston and ending with an absolutely pathetic performance in game 2.
I appreciate what Rondo did for the Celts from 2008-12, but I really don't understand how Boston's blue collar fanbase likes him anymore. He's a spoiled brat who thinks he's smarter than everyone else and believes the team needs to be built around him.
There are plenty of guys in the NBA just as intelligent as Rondo who don't let their intelect constantly disturb their team. That's not smarts, that's just being a jerk. I haven't watched the Mavs much but when I have I've observed Rondo's notably apathetic efforts to adjust to their system, particularly with respect to playing off the ball. I don't see Rondo diving to the rim when his defense takes his eyes off him to check Ellis or Parsons or Dirk. I don't see him crashing the offensive glass like he used to. I don't see any of the effort he put into being a dangerous off ball weapon despite his poor shot. All I see is a stubborn point guard who costs his team possessions against a formidable opponent on the road in protest of his coach calling the plays (last night's 8 sec violation). That's not the Rondo any of us used to know, so I can't understand why his supporters still love him as they do.
Define "Legend".
To me, Tim Duncan is a Legend. He will go down in history as a complete Superstar. Russell, Kareem, Hakeem, Larry, Shaq, Wilt, Michael, Dr J.....these guys played BOTH sides of the ball at an Elite level.
Larry and Magic could be debated defensively - while Larry won 3 2nd team defensive awards, Magic didn't win any.
But Larry and Magic are certainly Legends.
Dirk is not in their category.
Dirk's international flair helps with his appeal, but he is not on the same level as those guys.
So what is Dirk, again?
And define "Blue Collar Fanbase". I've been a diehard C's fan since 1981....does that make me "Blue Collar"? Does my admiration of what Rajon Rondo did for us make me any different than the "Blue" collars?
Does my steadfast refusal to toss Rondo under the bus here make me non-Blue? Or does it make me Green?
You won't find a post anywhere of me saying that Rajon Rondo is perfect. But neither will you find one of me saying that Larry Bird was perfect. Nor Paul Pierce.
In today's day and age, player's mannerisms, habits, expressions - can be read so many ways. Some of it true, some of it purely false.
Whatever Rondo's struggles in DAL, whether professionally or otherwise - won't take away from the fact that he had some incredible seasons in BOS.
Never will.