This we will be better stuff is mind boggling. The Clippers were able to keep winning without Chris Paul. Does that mean they are better without him? The Bulls. No Rose. Still a solid, ball club. Does that mean they're better without him? No.
When a big part of your team goes out the rest of the team steps up and plays harder to make up for it. I think we'll be okay and I do not think the season's over but better? IMO, no. Different? Yes.
We are 2-0 against two top teams without Rondo for a reason. Don't let Rondo's triple doubles fool you. His defense especially is really hard to watch. He has the speed to be as good as Bradley, but no discipline to focus on them from the beginning to the end of a possession. It has seriously hurt us enough times, especially late in the games.
Also on the offensive end, its not so much his lack of consistent shooting, but also endless dribbling in one spot, walking the ball up lazily to the offensive end, and only passing it to kg/pp when the game is on the line. Its not even good passes, just silly telegraphed lobs.
Rondo is a good pg, no doubt. But not for our team. Not anymore. He might fit better for a team like Denver or Knicks , who love to play high octane offense. Would be perfect for the fakers.
Without rondo, you get a suffocating defensive tandem in Lee and Bradley. Watch what happened to wade tonight. Defense is almost as good as scoring. And the ball was passed around more , giving better opportunity for everyone on the court to score or contribute somehow.