If Rondo becomes Stockton & Green becomes King, can we win?

[TitleMaster]

Ok, this is an ultimate what-if scenario.

If Rondo takes his current game and incorporates all of John Stockton's moves like continually setting picks & hitting a bunch of outside jumpers; while at the same time, Green becomes like Bernard King, a virtually unstoppable scoring forward, who can hit his shots from nearly anywhere on the court, does that get us a title, provided that the other role players handle their assignments well?

[fantankerous]

Neither Stockton nor King ever won a title.

This hypothetical doesn't appear at all worthwhile.  Rondo and Green are very different players from Stockton and King.  So really the hypothetical is: if Rondo and Green improve, do we have a better shot at a ring?  The answer seems kind of obvious, no?

[PhoSita]

Why stop there?

If we're transforming our players into Hall of Famers with vaguely similar attributes, why not turn Rondo into Stockton, Bradley into Dumars, Green into Bernard King, Sullinger into Moses Malone, and Olynyk into Dirk?

Then we'd definitely be in for a run of multiple championships!

[D.o.s.]

Neither Stockton nor King ever won a title.

This hypothetical doesn't appear at all worthwhile.  Rondo and Green are very different players from Stockton and King.  So really the hypothetical is: if Rondo and Green improve, do we have a better shot at a ring?  The answer seems kind of obvious, no?

Agreed.

Also, the Green-King comparison is laughable. Very different players.

[Fafnir]

Why not just turn Green into Bird and leave Rondo as is, done!

[TitleMaster]

Well, here's the thing ... Green doesn't have Bird's passing ability and thus, no comparison there.

He does, however, have quickness and the crafty ability to get to the right spots, for high percentage shots. And that's where the King comparison comes in, King was a high percentage, crafty scorer, before he tore up the ACL and never came back to form again.

As for Stockton, well, he's got the consistent outside shot which Rondo lacks, to complement his assists total. Plus, he's always setting picks, which keeps defenses working. These are all areas which Rondo can pick up on.

With the above stated, adding a few role players, like a Tony Allen-esque wing defender, Perkins-like enforcer down low, inside-out versatile guy like a J Posey, I believe, gets us into a form where we can contend.

[TitleMaster]

Neither Stockton nor King ever won a title.

Well, if Ostertag is your center and your only go-to move is a pick & pop with Malone, or a dish out to Hornacek for a 3, then it's no wonder that they didn't stand a chance against the Bulls.

[mmmmm]

Why stop there?

If we're transforming our players into Hall of Famers with vaguely similar attributes, why not turn Rondo into Stockton, Bradley into Dumars, Green into Bernard King, Sullinger into Moses Malone, and Olynyk into Dirk?

Then we'd definitely be in for a run of multiple championships!

This sounds great ... but I'm still stuck on the fact that I just don't see Green as all that similar to King and other than being great, innovative pass-first PGs, Rondo isn't all that much like Stockton.

I think it would be easier to shove them into the magical HoF-prototyper-machine and spit out:

Rondo -> The Glove
Bradley -> Dumars
Green -> Worthy
Olynyk -> Dirk (with a touch of McHale)
Sullinger -> Unseld

 

Ahh ... to dream sweet dreams during the lulls of summer ...

[fairweatherfan]

I think we'd make a good run until we got taken down by Fab Melo as Hakeem Olajuwon.

[Fafnir]

Well, here's the thing ... Green doesn't have Bird's passing ability and thus, no comparison there.

Why leave at passing?

There is also dribbling, rebounding, shooting, team defense, and trash talking to consider.

[TitleMaster]

Green -> Worthy

The only problem with Worthy was that his go-to Tomahawk jam, was the flashy decoy move, when defenders would anticipate Kareem's Sky Hook, and thus, him receiving that back cutter pass for the jam, was his main weapon of choice.

I believe that Green could make that his 2nd weapon of choice, the first, beating his man off the dribble. That would make Green the most versatile scorer for the Celtics, as he'd inspire routine double teams.

[D.o.s.]

I think we'd make a good run until we got taken down by Fab Melo as Hakeem Olajuwon.

 

[mmmmm]

I think we'd make a good run until we got taken down by Fab Melo as Hakeem Olajuwon.

[mqtcelticsfan]

Let's turn Bradley into Ray Allen, Jeff Green into Paul Pierce and KO into KG. I bet we cruise to the 2008 NBA championship.

[BballTim]

Well, here's the thing ... Green doesn't have Bird's passing ability and thus, no comparison there.

He does, however, have quickness and the crafty ability to get to the right spots, for high percentage shots. And that's where the King comparison comes in, King was a high percentage, crafty scorer, before he tore up the ACL and never came back to form again.

As for Stockton, well, he's got the consistent outside shot which Rondo lacks, to complement his assists total. Plus, he's always setting picks, which keeps defenses working. These are all areas which Rondo can pick up on.

  Rondo's pretty good at setting picks. He doesn't have Stockton's outside shot but he's better at the rim. Stockton was a more efficient scorer but didn't really score much more than Rondo overall. Rondo's clearly the better rebounder though.