It's cool when CP and Deron play their backsides off against the Bobcats and Wizards and pump up good stats, but I really want to see them racking up 44/10/8 against the best team in the NBA.
Rondo could average that if he wanted, but he doesn't. The quality that makes Rondo deserve to be a Top 5 player in general is his ability to always show up when needed and to outplay basically anyone. Where are CP and Deron in the playoffs and against Rajon? Oh right, they play on mediocre teams and RR always shuts 'em down.
Just because the NBA promotes the Clips or Lakers more than everyone else (except the Heat), it doesn't mean they are really legitimate contenders? The Lakers are old and have a terrible bench, but Clips are in fact good, but 2nd round is their ceiling, and the lobs and flashy plays aren't going to buy 'em nothing else than highlight clips on youtube..
If Rondo could average 44/10/8 then he should, and we'd have the last 5 championships. What a slacker.
Trust me, he could. What's the point in playing your mind off vs the Bobcats/Hornets/Nets/Wizards?
So are you saying he tanks it for most of the season? Not really the type of player I'd be interested in. Some players are able to play their best against all competition. Ask Michael Jordan, the driving force behind a 72 win team. Why take nights off? Is he tired?
I think it's reasonably prudent that Rondo not play as aggressively during the season as he does during the playoffs. We're not better off with our best player fighting through more nagging injuries than he gets now. OTOH, he learned about (somewhat) coasting through the season from PP/KG/RA. I'm assuming that you're not interested in that type of player?
He should probably play less minutes then if that is the goal.
It's not the minutes, it's the pounding that he would take.
Statistically speaking, his numbers are pretty similar in the regular season and the postseason. In some areas, worse. This year, for instance, per 36 minutes, he scored 1.4 more points, 1.2 more rebounds, and 1.6 less assists. Other postseasons have similarly marginal increases and decreases in given areas.
The difference between "tank mode season" Rondo and "full effort playoff" Rondo seems to be truly no difference at all.
Regardless, my intent was to say that the idea that CP3 inflates his stats against poor teams and that is why he outscores Rondo is pretty ridiculous.