Went from the riding the coattails of the Big 3 to being a back for Jrue Holiday. Yikes. Talk about a downward spiral. Thankfully Ainge got rid of this bum just in time.
Rondo obviously rode the coattails of the Big 3 in 2008 - no question, and maybe in 2009 as well. But the next four seasons (2010-13), he was at least the third best player on the team, and oftentimes the best player on the team. We don't come that close to beating the Heat in 2012 without Rondo's dominance - he was definitely our best player, and arguably the best player on the floor in that series, including LeBron. LeBron obviously had a monster Game 6, but Rondo was a flat out stud for that entire series.
It's fair to criticize him, but I don't think it's fair to criticize him without acknowledging his greatness as well.
Greatness of Rondo? Rondo had great performances. Sure, I'll give him that. Problem was it was not sustained nor was it consistent. Their was also no greatness in his general attitude. His failure to develop as a player ultimately doomed the core as they could not carry the load like they could previously.
KG's knee doomed that core. Ainge's persistent dangling of Ray Allen in trade talks and Ray getting sick of it doomed that core. The fact that we overstayed a 3 year window by 2 more years doomed that core.
Rondo's development - or in your opinion, lack thereof - was never the focus of the big 3 era. It was an off shoot. Laying the blame at his feet is wholly unfair and shortsighted.
Funny enough, if we close out game 7 and win in 2010, Rondo likely wins Finals MVP. Yet, somehow his lack of development doomed that core? Please.