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[lrybrd]

Although I truly value the unique skills that Rondo brings to the table on offense, he is an absolute dog on defense.  He gives absolutely zero effort on the defensive side of the ball.  He may go for a steal (once his man beats him off the dribble - which happens far too frequently)but then he dogs it the rest of his time out there.  I'm watching last night's game against the Grizzlies and Tony Allen (yeah that Tony Allen) is lighting the Cs up like a Christmas tree because Rondo can't exhibit any effort on the defensive end of the ball. 

Just watch Rondo a little bit during the Cs next game.  He'll make a half-hearted effort to stop the ball when someone's else's man gets into the paint and then make no effort to close out on his man.  Whenever he gets picked, he just stops, yells at one of his teammates to pick up his man and then makes no effort to defend the person who picked him.  Instead, he'll sit like a brick inside the lane.  He is constatntly floating on defense.  It is absolutely maddening to watch.  I understand that he may be hurt right now but he does this all the time. 

I can't believe that this guy has won NBA defensive awards!

In my opinion, Rondo's game has severely regressed this season.  Can't remember the last time that he took over a game. I am not going to blame him for all of the team's struggles this season but I believe that he is a big part of the team's problem.  Between the lack of effort on the defensive side of the ball to his constant indecision on the offensive side (as to whether to shoot or more frequently pass in shooting situations), it is not hard to see why guys like Magic are killing him for not being aggressive enough and not stepping up his game in Ray's absence.   

[pearljammer10]

I mean. Dudes playing on one hip. His defense hasnt been great all year, but do we really need another thing to harp on Rondo about especially when he is hurt?

[BudweiserCeltic]

I mean. Dudes playing on one hip. His defense hasnt been great all year, but do we really need another thing to harp on Rondo about especially when he is hurt?

My thoughts precisely. I would've welcomed this thread earlier in the year, but doing it while the guy is hurt, serves no purpose.

[CelticG1]

Rondo is really good defensively when he needs to be (playoffs). Having to shoulder the defense during the regular season is too much so that will come and go.


As for his defense last night it was pretty atrocious but I think he was pretty injured as his lateral movement was not very good.

[pearljammer10]

Rondo is really good defensively when he needs to be (playoffs). Having to shoulder the defense during the regular season is too much so that will come and go.


As for his defense last night it was pretty atrocious but I think he was pretty injured as his lateral movement was not very good.

I saw an interview on NESN yesterday where Rondo basically said "Its going to be great having Avery back because he is a better pick and roll defender than me. It will take pressure off me to run through those picks and it will help because he just does it better than I can and that will take a lot of pressure off."

I thought these were perfect honest words coming from our young leader.

[lrybrd]

Defending the pick and roll is about effort.  Rondo picks and chooses when he want to exert that effort.  While I understand that he plays a lot of minutes on offense, his matador defense is causing the whole defense to break down.

I also understand that he is playing hurt but this has been a problem all season long.  Also, the hip didn't seem to be bothering him when he decided to buckle down on defense in the beginning of the 4th quarter when the Cs were trying to make the game interesting.  That is my point.  He has to be all-in on defense to make the Cs defensive system work. 

I'm not a frequent Rondo-basher but watching the consistent lack of effort from him (on the defensive side of the ball) this season is disheartening to say the least.     

[scaryjerry]

yawnnnnnnn this teams problems are because of the entire team....I'm rondos biggest fan and think he's been playing among his worst stretches of games in over a year and am chalking it up to nagging injuries right now...go blame someone else. to say his game has regressed is ridiculous and wrong..how about credit him for sucking it up and playing as opposed to crying about his defense

[Chris]

Rondo has been disappointing, and his defensive effort has definitely fallen off after the first couple weeks of the season. 

However, this team has bigger issues.

Also, I expect Bradley taking over the on-ball defense to be a HUGE plus for this team, and Rondo in particular.  Rondo is very overhyped as an on-ball defender.  While he can torment guys occasionally, his strength is as a floater in the team defense, reaching in, hunting down rebounds, etc.  With Bradley covering the other teams ball handler, it frees up Rondo to do the things he is best at, which is what made the team so dangerous down the stretch last year. 

[CelticG1]

Please ....just like rebounding they both take A LOT more than just effort. I really doubt that Dwight Howard has given the most effort on defense and rebounding in the past 5 years and he's been the cream of the crop.

[mgent]

Rondo is really good defensively when he needs to be (playoffs). Having to shoulder the defense during the regular season is too much so that will come and go.


As for his defense last night it was pretty atrocious but I think he was pretty injured as his lateral movement was not very good.

I saw an interview on NESN yesterday where Rondo basically said "Its going to be great having Avery back because he is a better pick and roll defender than me. It will take pressure off me to run through those picks and it will help because he just does it better than I can and that will take a lot of pressure off."

I thought these were perfect honest words coming from our young leader.

I liked putting Bradley and Lee on Conley last night, allowing Rondo to play off the ball.  Obviously Tony and Conley destroyed us but a lot of that was due to excellent ball movement by the Grizzlies.

[scaryjerry]

Rondo is really good defensively when he needs to be (playoffs). Having to shoulder the defense during the regular season is too much so that will come and go.


As for his defense last night it was pretty atrocious but I think he was pretty injured as his lateral movement was not very good.

I saw an interview on NESN yesterday where Rondo basically said "Its going to be great having Avery back because he is a better pick and roll defender than me. It will take pressure off me to run through those picks and it will help because he just does it better than I can and that will take a lot of pressure off."

I thought these were perfect honest words coming from our young leader.

I liked putting Bradley and Lee on Conley last night, allowing Rondo to play off the ball.  Obviously Tony and Conley destroyed us but a lot of that was due to excellent ball movement by the Grizzlies.

a lot of that was due to Terry being in the game...pretty much let Conley out of the box.

[pearljammer10]

Rondo is really good defensively when he needs to be (playoffs). Having to shoulder the defense during the regular season is too much so that will come and go.


As for his defense last night it was pretty atrocious but I think he was pretty injured as his lateral movement was not very good.

I saw an interview on NESN yesterday where Rondo basically said "Its going to be great having Avery back because he is a better pick and roll defender than me. It will take pressure off me to run through those picks and it will help because he just does it better than I can and that will take a lot of pressure off."

I thought these were perfect honest words coming from our young leader.

I liked putting Bradley and Lee on Conley last night, allowing Rondo to play off the ball.  Obviously Tony and Conley destroyed us but a lot of that was due to excellent ball movement by the Grizzlies.

a lot of that was due to Terry being in the game...pretty much let Conley out of the box.

Good point. Its amazing how terrible Terry is on the defensive end. There was one play, it might have been Allen taking it to the hoop, where Terry was in position to either take a charge or make some sort of defensive effort. Then the Grizzlie just went to the hoop Terry backed off and let him score an easy two.

I mean foul him, take a charge, freakin' flop for all I care, do something!! Its amazing how toasted he gets each and every time.

[LB3533]

Give Rondo some slack right now, cause he's hurting.

Outside of steals, Rondo has never been the greatest defender ever.

[vinnie]

I mean. Dudes playing on one hip. His defense hasnt been great all year, but do we really need another thing to harp on Rondo about especially when he is hurt?

If his injury is that bad that he cannot guard anyone, why is he playing? In the postgame show last night, Doc said the injury is not bothering him at all.

[CelticG1]

I mean. Dudes playing on one hip. His defense hasnt been great all year, but do we really need another thing to harp on Rondo about especially when he is hurt?

If his injury is that bad that he cannot guard anyone, why is he playing? In the postgame show last night, Doc said the injury is not bothering him at all.

If you were watching him (at least to me) it clearly bothered him I don't care that Rondo and Doc said he was fine. Its more not using it as an excuse.

The sad thing is that his defense is still be better than Terry and his offensive.impact is still greater than any guard on our team, even on one leg.