Rondo: "I知 not the team leader"

[bfrombleacher]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4697645/follow-the-leaders

"I知 not the team leader," Rondo said Monday before the team departed for Turkey. "Everybody keeps saying that, [Celtics president of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge] put that pressure on me [by calling Rondo the team's best player]. There痴 15 guys on this team. Paul [Pierce has] been here for 15 years and I知 still following in his footsteps. I might be a leader as far as point guard wise, and I値l accept that role. But three or four guys are the leaders -- Kevin, Paul, and even [Jason Terry]. They are the veterans. I知 going to lead the young guys, and try to lead the older guys as well. But I知 still following."

The article also has Doc and Pierce throning him the new leader.

Still wondering if Rondo or KG is the more important player? Or if Rondo can "take over" the team and pump up his stats to become the MVP next season? I think they probably don't care. They just want 18.

[nickagneta]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4697645/follow-the-leaders

"I知 not the team leader," Rondo said Monday before the team departed for Turkey. "Everybody keeps saying that, [Celtics president of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge] put that pressure on me [by calling Rondo the team's best player]. There痴 15 guys on this team. Paul [Pierce has] been here for 15 years and I知 still following in his footsteps. I might be a leader as far as point guard wise, and I値l accept that role. But three or four guys are the leaders -- Kevin, Paul, and even [Jason Terry]. They are the veterans. I知 going to lead the young guys, and try to lead the older guys as well. But I知 still following."

The article also has Doc and Pierce throning him the new leader.

Still wondering if Rondo or KG is the more important player? Or if Rondo can "take over" the team and pump up his stats to become the MVP next season? I think they probably don't care. They just want 18.

Everyone knows as Rondo goes so goes the Celtics. Even Rondo. But Rondo has sooooooo much respect for KG and Pierce there is no way he would do something so disrespectful, in his mind, as to claim leadership of this team when they are still here.

I think Rondo disclaiming leadership of this team says more about just how great a leader he is than stating openly and/or braggadociously that he is the leader does.

[butterbeanlove]

Rondo is more comfortable calling himself the best PG in the league than calling himself the leader of the team.

Which is fine with me.

[dark_lord]

rondo might be considered the leader in terms of play.....but the true leaders of the team are pierce and kg imo

[SHAQATTACK]

Way I see it , Rondo runs the offense for Doc, he is the quarterback and thats a huge job and most on court responsibility.  KG seems to manage things mostly on the defensive side .

I think ROndo is "one " of the team leaders. One of two main assistanct Chiefs... 
  The guy that everybody respects and is gonna listen to NO MATTER WHAT on or off the court other than Doc is KG.

Pierce makes a great VICE PRESIDENT , bottom line KG is the HEART and SOUL of the Celtics today. 

KG is much like Larry Bird in that regard.

[Clench123]

His modest self.  Respect, bro.

[Valentines_at_Popeyes]

Way I see it , Rondo runs the offense for Doc, he is the quarterback and thats a huge job and most on court responsibility.  KG seems to manage things mostly on the defensive side .

I think ROndo is "one " of the team leaders. One of two main assistanct Chiefs... 
  The guy that everybody respects and is gonna listen to NO MATTER WHAT on or off the court other than Doc is KG.

Pierce makes a great VICE PRESIDENT , bottom line KG is the HEART and SOUL of the Celtics today. 

KG is much like Larry Bird in that regard.

I totally agree.  I recently read that Terry considers himself the captain of the bench.  I starting to like that idea as well, setting the tone and expectations for the bench.  This guy is flying his way into my heart. 

[indeedproceed]

I like Rondo's response, and it's typical of him. It's not false modesty, but an intelligent and honest account of how he sees the situation.

Well maybe it isnt so typical. It is more revealing than the smug 'no comment' answers he usually gives ('that's not my call', 'I don't worry about that', stuff like that)

[mmmmm]

I think they probably don't care. They just want 18.

This^.

[BostonNative]

So this means rondo is not ready to step up and take over right? This is not good news since EVERYONE has said its his team but yet he still say he not ready for it.

[AshyLarry]

So this means rondo is not ready to step up and take over right? This is not good news since EVERYONE has said its his team but yet he still say he not ready for it.

He never said he's not ready. As said above, he just has too much respect for the vets, to say he's the leader.

Rondo has an odd, yet respectable thought process when it comes to things like this.

He'll be one of a number of leaders on this team, and he'll show it on the court. Rajon's the type to lead by example.

[crimson_stallion]

Look at this Boston team right now - who really has the greatest impact on the game both on the court and off?

The answer is Kevin Garnett.  Last season he not only had the highest +/- on the team (and it wasn't even close)  but also one of the highest in the league.  His on-court presence impacts the team more than any other player. 

If you look at the stat sheet you might THINK that Rondo has a greater impact becuase of the sheer numbers he records, but KG impacts the game by doing all the things you don't see on the stat sheet.

KG is one of the best in the league at setting screens, his ultra-reliable jump shot (he shot 46% from midrange last season) forces opposing bigs out of the pain, he's one of the best passing bigs in the league, he never gives up on a loose ball, he blocks and affects shots, he's great at defending the pick and roll and he's the heart and soul of Boston's league leading defense.

Rondo is not far behind in terms of his impact, but I honestly believe that losing KG for a game hurts us more then losing Rondo for a game.

RThe look at Pierce - he may not do quite as much as Rondo and Pierce on a nightly basis, but when the game is on the line there is NOBODY on this team who wants the ball more then Pierce.  He is one of the greatest clutch performers of the last two decades and his clutch play is the thing that gets us through so many of those tight "bar fight" games simply becuase he hits big shots at big times.

Rondo is an exceptional player and an exceptional leader - you could very well argue that he's right up there with those two guys in terms of his impact on the game and his ability to lead and take over a game...but you definately can't say he's ABOVE those two guys.

To me every one of those three guys ins critical and instrumental to the success of this Boston team.  Those three guys combine to form the very heart of this Boston team - take any one of them away, and we are half the team we are.  Those guys all lead by example with their resilience, their toughness, their maturity and their "never say die" mentality.

I completely respect what Rondo has said here, because I believe he knows all of the above as well as anyone does.  He knows [dang] well that hes a critical part of this team, but he also respects and acknowledges that he's merely a part of the body that makes this team live and breath.  Rondo is the brain that makes the decisions, KG is the heart that pumps life through the team, and Pierce is the muscle that does the heavy lifting.

[2short]

So this means rondo is not ready to step up and take over right? This is not good news since EVERYONE has said its his team but yet he still say he not ready for it.

that is what you got from rondo's statement 

[j804]

Amen to like the first 5-6 7 posts or whatever

I'm like agree agree agree lol

[BballTim]

Look at this Boston team right now - who really has the greatest impact on the game both on the court and off?

The answer is Kevin Garnett.  Last season he not only had the highest +/- on the team (and it wasn't even close)  but also one of the highest in the league.  His on-court presence impacts the team more than any other player. 

If you look at the stat sheet you might THINK that Rondo has a greater impact becuase of the sheer numbers he records, but KG impacts the game by doing all the things you don't see on the stat sheet.

KG is one of the best in the league at setting screens, his ultra-reliable jump shot (he shot 46% from midrange last season) forces opposing bigs out of the pain, he's one of the best passing bigs in the league, he never gives up on a loose ball, he blocks and affects shots, he's great at defending the pick and roll and he's the heart and soul of Boston's league leading defense.

Rondo is not far behind in terms of his impact, but I honestly believe that losing KG for a game hurts us more then losing Rondo for a game.

  Rondo also does a ton of things that don't end up in a stat sheet. But while KG is a great player, much of his "impact" came from being the only player on the roster over 6'8 that belonged in the rotation of a playoff team, one of only two decent players bigger than Pierce. (not meaning he's just decent, but that the big subs weren't) Hopefully we'll get decent enough play from Wilcox/Collins/Darko that we won't see the huge dropoff when he leaves the game, which would give him a lower plus/minus as well.