What appeals to you more...young Smart or young Rondo?

[Eja117]

Smart strikes me as a player that makes his team better in a weird way, which is that he is a total game changer on defense.  But I think Rondo as young player just blows away young Marcus Smart.

Rondo became an all star. I'm not sure I see that in Smart's future. Rondo was a better shooter, way way better passer, way better rebounder, better scorer, and a very good defender. 

If you were a Rondo hater you sorta have to be a Smart hater.  I was a Rondo liker so I'm taking my time with Smart. I think I like him, but I'd like to see way more out of him.  His "progress" has really been unacceptable.

[Csfan1984]

Rondo wouldn't fit current team. Smart fits either team well. Yet Rondo had special abilities that surpass Smart. Guess you can't go wrong with choosing Rondo because if he plays D he is the clear favorite.

[Roy H.]

At the time, I was such a Rondo fan.

I'm disappointed that he decided that he morphed into a guy who played for stats, dominatedthe ball, and totally neglected defense.

But, early in his career, my hopes were higher for Rondo. I see Smart like TA, with fewer "bad Marcus" moments.

[Eja117]

I'm trying to ask myself if peak Smart will approach peak Rondo. I have my doubts. It seems like too many things to fix.

He might just be a really different kind of point guard than we are used to seeing.

It seems to me like this 3 headed monster of Smart, Avery, and IT is really helpful at being more than the sum of its parts in a big way. If one of them goes down for a while it would be a problem, but it looks like maybe Rozier would be able to step in at this point.

I have to give a nod to young Rondo because he didn't need to be getting mixed in with other guards to be effective when he was young. Eddie House spelled him a bit.

[Fred Roberts]

Young Rondo was better, wasn't he? I think he was a year older coming into the league and was much more refined running the point, with great handles and distribution skills.

I think Marcus could become just as good or better in different ways. He's tough as nails.

[Eja117]

Young Rondo was better, wasn't he? I think he was a year older coming into the league and was much more refined running the point, with great handles and distribution skills.

I think Marcus could become just as good or better in different ways. He's tough as nails.

I thought they were both sophomores that came out

[alldaboston]

I loved young rondo. His jersey is still the only one I have.  In fact, I loved rondo until we ended up playing far better without him. I still like rondo, but it's not the same love.

I like young smart, but I don't love him. Love the defense, hate the offense. And absolutely despise the calls he gets against him, as well as the way he complains.

Overall I voted young rondo.

[jambr380]

You could see Rondo was 'special' from the very first pre-season game of his rookie season. He just looked the part of dynamic, intuitive PG and he went on to prove everybody right. When the KG deal went down, there was never any chance we were going to keep Telfair; Rondo was our clear future.

Smart has shown to be one of the premier defensive guards in this league already, but [unfortunately] defense isn't prized as much as offense, of which he has very little. Even though he is a crafty passer, I don't see him running the point and he certainly needs to improve his shot. I think he can improve as a shooter, but he will never have the 'wow' factor that Rondo had.

[CelticSince83]

Young Rondo was better, wasn't he? I think he was a year older coming into the league and was much more refined running the point, with great handles and distribution skills.

I think Marcus could become just as good or better in different ways. He's tough as nails.

I thought they were both sophomores that came out

Almost the exact same age on draft day. 

[blink]

I think Rondo in his first few years was a better player than Smart.  2008-2009 and 2009-2010 were fantastic seasons for Rondo.  He was drafted lower than Smart, so the expectations were obviously lower so maybe that plays into it. 

We sometimes forget what a great defensive player Rondo was for us in those early Big3 era years.  On offense it really isn't a question, Rondo was way better.  Better passer, better ball handler, better at getting to the rim...

I think a good comparison for Smart is Tony Allen.  I don't mind that because I loved Tony Allen.  If he ends up playing that role with a bit better 3 point shooting I am fine.