Is IT better than prime Rondo? (POLL)

[mr. dee]

Let's see..

At IT's current age, Rondo already accomplished the following:

- 4x NBA All-Star
- 1x All-NBA 3rd Team
- 2x All-Defensive 1st Team
- 2x All-Defensive 2nd Team
- 2x Assist Leader
- 1x Steals Leader
- Led his team deep in the playoffs

But nope. Let's forget it forget it since IT dropped 42 in a single game.

[LarBrd33]

Btw, Rondo is as good as he's ever been.  He averaged 11.9 points, 11.7 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals with .454% shooting and a career high .365% from three.    His per minute assists were the highest of his career this season.  Rondo will always rack up stats as long as he's allowed to command an offense.  The trouble has always been his lack of offensive ability making him a liability off the ball and limiting what an offense can do.  No-doubt, he had great performances on a Boston team that had hall of fame talent on it, but consistently the team seemed to either adapt and stay even or improve with him off the court.   We improved when he left.  Dallas got worse when he arrived.  And despite his statistical antics this season, the Kings finished tied with the 8th worst record in the league. 

He's a quirky player that you could probably incorporate into a winner, but he was always supremely overrated.  He had huge games with huge minutes.   His performances in 2009 alongside Ray and Pierce were pretty epic, but in a lot of ways he was the beneficiary of the surrounding talent and a system that catered to his strengths and weaknesses.   

Thomas is a very different player.  Despite Rondo's gift of distribution, I think it's very clear Thomas is superior on the offensive end. 

[GreenFaith1819]

Let's see..

At IT's current age, Rondo already accomplished the following:

- 4x NBA All-Star
- 1x All-NBA 3rd Team
- 2x All-Defensive 1st Team
- 2x All-Defensive 2nd Team
- 2x Assist Leader
- 1x Steals Leader
- Led his team deep in the playoffs

But nope. Let's forget it forget it since IT dropped 42 in a single game.

The hilarious thing here is that some of these posters weren't even around here or were pups back when Rajon was doing his thing here.

And the Usual Suspects hid in Lurker Status when he had his best years, from 09-12.

[mr. dee]

Btw, Rondo is as good as he's ever been.  He averaged 11.9 points, 11.7 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals with .454% shooting and a career high .365% from three.    His per minute assists were the highest of his career this season.  Rondo will always rack up stats as long as he's allowed to command an offense.  The trouble has always been his lack of offensive ability making him a liability off the ball and limiting what an offense can do.  No-doubt, he had great performances on a Boston team that had hall of fame talent on it, but consistently the team seemed to either adapt and stay even or improve with him off the court.   We improved when he left.  Dallas got worse when he arrived.  And despite his statistical antics this season, the Kings finished tied with the 8th worst record in the league. 

He's a quirky player that you could probably incorporate into a winner, but he was always supremely overrated.  He had huge games with huge minutes.   His performances in 2009 alongside Ray and Pierce were pretty epic, but in a lot of ways he was the beneficiary of the surrounding talent and a system that catered to his strengths and weaknesses.   

Thomas is a very different player.  Despite Rondo's gift of distribution, I think it's very clear Thomas is superior on the offensive end. 

What Rondo lacks in offensive end makes up for his defensive end when engaged.

Let's not forget that IT average 20 PPG one season with the Kings and they were still hitting ping-pong balls.

None of them will be considered a superstar, but both will excel on a right system and personnel. Rondo excelled with Doc Rivers and IT excelled with Brad Stevens.

[GreenFaith1819]

Rondo's usual detractors will post lengthy diatribes in vain attempts to discredit Rajon Rondo's time here.

Some...change their spots like chameleons.

Yet others are caught up in the new.

Like Bruce Hornsby and The Range - "That's just the way it is. Some Things Never Change........."

I'm happy for IT4, Marcus Smart and BOS.

I suppose that the Sully Fat jokes and the perennial Trade Marcus threads are on hold - for now.

So, we'll dig up CelticsBlog favorite Whipping Boy - Rajon Rondooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhh...........

[LarBrd33]

Rondo's usual detractors will post lengthy diatribes in vain attempts to discredit Rajon Rondo's time here.

Some...change their spots like chameleons.

Yet others are caught up in the new.

Like Bruce Hornsby and The Range - "That's just the way it is. Some Things Never Change........."

I'm happy for IT4, Marcus Smart and BOS.

I suppose that the Sully Fat jokes and the perennial Trade Marcus threads are on hold - for now.

So, we'll dig up CelticsBlog favorite Whipping Boy - Rajon Rondooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhh...........

I loved Rondo.  I still love him.  He was overrated here.

And Sully is still fat.  He's been awful in the playoffs.  Good chance we let him walk this Summer.  If he's not careful, he's going to follow Big Baby's path out of the league.

[GreenFaith1819]

Rondo's usual detractors will post lengthy diatribes in vain attempts to discredit Rajon Rondo's time here.

Some...change their spots like chameleons.

Yet others are caught up in the new.

Like Bruce Hornsby and The Range - "That's just the way it is. Some Things Never Change........."

I'm happy for IT4, Marcus Smart and BOS.

I suppose that the Sully Fat jokes and the perennial Trade Marcus threads are on hold - for now.

So, we'll dig up CelticsBlog favorite Whipping Boy - Rajon Rondooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhh...........

I loved Rondo.  I still love him.  He was overrated here.

And Sully is still fat.  He's been awful in the playoffs.  Good chance we let him walk this Summer.  If he's not careful, he's going to follow Big Baby's path out of the league.

You speak with a forked tongue.

"You love him, but yet he was overrated."

As my shipmates used to say while I was in the Navy - "Pee or get off the pot."

[greece66]

really cant answer unless the OP defines "better." better in what ways? shooting? defense? fit with team needs? ball handling?

^ p much this
Having prime Rondo in the present team would not make much sense because you have no great finishers to surround him with. On the other hand, surrounded with All Star talent, prime RR was not always, but often enough, amazing.

[Redz]

really cant answer unless the OP defines "better." better in what ways? shooting? defense? fit with team needs? ball handling?

^ p much this
Having prime Rondo in the present team would not make much sense because you have no great finishers to surround him with. On the other hand, surrounded with All Star talent, prime RR was not always, but often enough, amazing.

IT would have had a ton of options for penetrating and kicking out with the big 3 but would he have been willing to be a 10 point, 10 assist kind of guy?

To the OP,s point.  Kind of apples and oranges.

[PAOBoston]

Both have had their moments. I appreciate Rondo's contributions to the Celtics. That being said, he drove himself out of town with his attitude and poor play in his last 1.5 years in Boston. IT has been a breath of fresh air and has that scrappy dog nobody believes in me mentality that fans can get behind.

The Rondo chapter has closed. Time to move on folks. We have better things to talk about, like game 5.

[Celtics4ever]

They are different players, but I give IT the clear edge in scoring and shooting.  Rondo on D, when he played it and in passing.

I voted for IT, but Rondo could affect a game in many different ways with triple doubles.   IT has a harder road to go, as he is the main focus of the D,   Rondo had tons of guys who were the primary, secondary threat and he was the fourth threat and never faced a D schemed to stop him like IT.   Were this the case it would not even be close.   We saw what a team with Rondo as the star looked like here and it was not pretty.

[Banner18now!]

**** off at some of you the way you're talking about Rondo like he wasn't great during his time with the Celtics. Without Rondo in 2010 the Celtics don't get to the finals he was their best player that playoff run. Without Rondo the Celts don't get the ECF game 7 in 2012 and who knows if it wasn't for a blown call in game two of that series when Wade hit Rondo on a layup attempt with no call the C's may have been in the finals that year beating a heavily favored Heat team. Rondo is a classic Celtic player who played big in the moment I don't know why some fans crap on him. Yes he had flaws but I will remember  all the big games and big shots he had. One of my favorite players to watch the way he controlled a game and didn't have to score 40 to do it. How many times did he have over 15 rebounds? He had some of the craziest stat lines you will see. One comes to mind that Cleveland game I believe was 32 points 18 rebounds 13 assist. People have short term memory around here.

Ask Kings fans if Rondo is a selfish stat padder and you will get one answer

I could care less what he is doing in Sacramento I'm talking about his time with Celtics and what he did for them. If you call stat padding carrying a team to the 2010 finals or deep in playoffs in 2012 then it sounds like you have an agenda. It's clear there are people who don't like Rondo but to deny what he did in green and for the team you root for is pretty sad.

[passesofftodj]

How quickly many forget.  I love IT but he has yet to win a playoff series much less a championship (yes I realize RR had a lot more help). 

Rondo showed up BIG TIME in BIG GAMES.  Was he mercurial?  You bet.  Will we know what could have happened without the injury?  No, we will not.  They are really different players.

[passesofftodj]

How quickly many forget.  I love IT but he has yet to win a playoff series much less a championship (yes I realize RR had a lot more help). 

Rondo showed up BIG TIME in BIG GAMES and carried teams to series wins.  Was he mercurial?  You bet.  Will we know what could have happened without the injury?  No, we will not.  They are really different players.

[PhoSita]

I'd always prefer to have a point guard who can pressure a defense like IT