I took a look at some 2-man numbers and one thing that jumps out is that, well, the Bradley + Lee combination just hasn't been as good defensively as I think a lot of fans believe.
It has been giving up 105.2 points per 100 possessions - and that's measured over 407.8 minutes of play now, so is not an insignificant sample.
Meanwhile, the Rondo + Bradley combination gave up a miserly 97.4 points per 100 in 231.3 minutes before Rondo's injury.
That is a HUGE difference in performance.
We also know that Rondo & Bradley played great defense together LAST season for a more extended run: In 452.5 minutes on the floor together last season, Rondo + Bradley posted an other-worldly DRtg of 92.1 points per 100 possessions!
Basically, we have over 700 minutes of the two playing together on the floor and they have posted elite, championship - hell historic - defensive numbers. That's with a wide variety of players around them and opponents against them.
So, you can mark me in the camp that fully supports the idea of a Rondo + Bradley backcourt.
I was very excited when we got Lee as I thought he was an above-average defender who could hit 3s who would be a good young replacement for the role Allen was supposed to play off the bench. Well, after seeing him this year, that's where I want him. Off the bench. He's simply not playing defense as well as his reputation and his offense is sporadic.