First, I appreciate a post with basketball logic - even though I completely disagree with your conclusion. I have no interest in building around Rondo - or even going forward with him next season - because his ball-controlling offensive game, not to mention his growing ambivalence toward defense, is ill-suited to the group of players.
We have two options: Dump this roster and rebuild from scratch around Rondo, or dump Rondo - unless, of course, you're satisfied with the 20-23 product or Rondo has a similar revelation and remakes his ball-stopping offensive game. The second alternative is FAR more reasonable, doable and attractive than the first, and here's why:
Rondo needs the ball in his hands to be effective but as the first half of the season evidenced, he lost his gauge on exactly how long is too long in his own hands. He is simply not a scorer, even though his mid-range jumpshot has improved, his foul shooting remains below average for his position.
Further, it is his defense - or his unwillingness to play same - that has fallen off the ends of the earth.
When he wants to play - when the cameras are rolling - Rondo can be an asset to anyone's team.
But it's simply irrefutable that the ball moves better on the offensive end without him. It's time to begin entertaining the notion that this group of players is just better with Bradley and Lee in the backcourt.
And defensively, the improvement is predictably documentable when you're not dealing with forced interior rotations because Rondo's turned his man loose. Again. It's just disingenuous to try to separate Rondo's injury and this team's improved performance. They are related - not because Rondo isn't talented, but because his game is a square peg in a round hole with the other players in Doc's rotation.
Rondo was the right guy at the right time with three premier scorers.
He is not the right guy to build this franchise around going forward. There will be value available for Rondo in the summer. Ainge needs to go get it and propel this rebuild on the fly forward.
The way I look at it, this streak of wins and quality play based on ball movement and a slightly more up tempo game without Rondo may just be the best thing that has happened for him/the Celtics. Because now Rondo can see that this team can operate without him controlling the ball for 17-20 seconds every possession and focus on playing better defense and trying to improve our productivity not stifle it by being overbearing.
Rondo definitely holds the ball too much. He isn't willing enough to make the hockey assist, getting the ball out of his hands early so that it can be worked to the open man. He would rather wait and wait and wait and hope that someone slips open, or that he can lead someone into space (and he has an incredible ability to do that).
But seeing that this team is perfectly capable putting up the same assist numbers without him gives Rondo the opportunity to see what parts of his game can be incorporated to take this team to another level. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective, that just happens to be the way he has been playing. His mid range game is getting better each year (still not great but certainly capable) and he has shown he can make great off the ball cuts to the basket (a la Avery Bradley). He certainly can help this team by using his vision and the ball in his hands to make guys better AND without the ball in his hands using that same court vision to get himself in good position.
Yes his defense has gotten even more lackadaisical but I think a large part of that has to do with effort and him hanging his hat so much on his assists rather than his overall game. He has the talent to be a solid on ball defender, but sometimes its like he is just waiting for the ball to get back in his hands. I think he can rededicate himself to being an honorary pitbull if he wants to.
Yes a lot of these problems have to do with Doc and his utilization of his guys, but this roster is easily the most complicated out of any of the legit playoff teams. Give the guy a bit of a break. So many new guys, balancing all these different styles and needs, a total lack of size and injuries to boot. Its a constant work in progress, but when it clicks it looks GOOD.
It all comes down to whether Rondo is going to try to work his game into whats best for the team or if he is just going to fall back into his old ways of dominating the ball. If he isn't fine, move him, but lets at least wait until he is healthy so we can get full value back and give him a chance to try to integrate, move the ball more and use his athleticism to put our defense back to where it was. Maybe I am just too stubborn to give up on such talent that just needs to be used differently.
Topic: (Merged) Celtics better with/without Rondo debate (Read 37012 times)