I've stood behind this team a long time, myself...since 1981, to be exact. I became a fan because of some tall kid from French Lick that stood out amongst his peers and competed with the best...and at times WAS the best.
I've stood by this team during the Lean Years. To the chronic complainers, research Lean Years. I don't think it gets much worse than that. To lose a heartbreaker like Bias...then get a talent like Lewis...only to have tragedy strike once again.
People say Bias was going to be special....well, Reggie WAS special, period:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni7t4swtdYw
To see the Big Three age, without Bias and then Lewis...that was TOUGH. To see the Lean Years begin...was tough.
What we see now? What we are seeing is Danny's Plan in action...some of you all won't ever experience a Lean Years.
What we are seeing now, even with the losing, is Danny setting up this team to compete for playoffs and Banners in the near - not far - future.
Perhaps some of us SHOULD experience a Lean Years...it would probably make better fans. Too bad you won't see it with this team and that is a GREAT thing...I think.
Even though Rondo is the best player on this team he should NOT shoulder the burden of the blame. Rondo is, despite the over-analysis of his game...despite his flaws - the Future.
I hope we continue to be patient and let Danny and Coach Stevens do their work.
Agree 100% TP.
Rondo's proven his worth in the biggest moments.
He's on a team that's loaded with scrubs or role players. We've seen the results when you put him with some good, solid veterans and some solid three point shooting to stretch the floor. We've seen the ease at which he creates shots and opportunities that suit their strengths and preferences.
Do any of these critics really believe we get to the ECF in 2012 without Rondo? Or we take the Lakers to 7 games in 2010 with KG on one leg without Rondo?
Get it through your skull:
Rondo's team mates are NBA role players. He's clearly the only guy close to being an All Star on this squad.
Hopefully one or two of his current team mates advance their games to his level at some stage- but currently his best team mate is Jeff Green aka Uncle Snooze.
What do you expect from this roster? Would Chris Paul or Steph Curry give us any more wins? How would they look playing next to Olynyk, Avery Bradley, Bass and Jeff green?
Our team has three starting caliber NBA players -Green, Sully and Rondo.
Our team has one starting caliber NBA championship team player and that's Rondo.
If you'd rather wait 5 years and hope that we draft the next KG whilst trading away Rondo that's fine- but understand that by trading Rondo you are very likely closing the window on a Celtics championship contender for the 5-6 years AT LEAST.
He's not the go to guy at the end of the game but he's a VITAL piece in a Celtics championship team in the next 5 years.
I don't believe he's worth max money either, but I do believe he's a top 3 player on a championship team and those are extremely hard to come by. We've got him now so why give him away after waiting so long for the 2015 offseason
and the free agents that we might be able to put around Rondo that will be potentially available?
I 100% guarantee that all of you calling for a Rondo trade now, will be pulling your hair out after just 2-3 seasons of horrific draft rebuilding and disappointment.
Can you just imagine how poor this team would be offensively right now with no Rondo?
Do you honestly believe we'd be better than the Lakers are right now? We'd be fighting Philly for the number one pick with Smart, Sully, James Young, Olynyk and some mid/late first round picks as our great hope for the next 5 years. How delightful!
Take a deep breath and wait for this summer. Most of us who supported last year's and this year's front office tanking have only done so because we've understood how important these picks and assets will be for getting Rondo an All Star team mate in the 2015 offseason. It's what Danny's been waiting for since Shaq's foot went bad in 2010-11 and what he's been hauling all these picks and creating these rosters with horrid defensive holes and poor shooting - so we have as much as possible when the time comes to attain a game changing big man and lure a top 15 NBA player who's disgruntled. He tried with Love, but timing and luck weren't on our side. But eventually we will break through and attain a top 10 NBA player. He may be on our team in Smart. He may come via free agency like Marc Gasol- If we get really lucky we may get Jahlil Okafur this upcoming draft while keeping Rondo and signing a top free agent.
Imagine a line up of something crazy like
Rondo
Smart
James Young
Jahlil Okafur
Roy Hibbert
There is a method to this madness, no matter how frustrating it can be sometimes.
Rondo is playing with young kids and role players- and the most likely scenario in 2-3 years time is that he's a Celtic with one or two of the current roster members still around while a real nba contender adds pieces to him and 2 other stars.