[jamesofwhite21Participant]

Let’s be honest. There is a lot of pressure on Rajon Rondo now. He went from guarding LeBron in the playoffs last year (and looking pretty good while doing it, given his and LeBron’s respective skills and what we expect them to do with each skill set) to flopping as LeBron spins like a ballerina past him making him look like a fool.

Derrick Rose was guarded last year somewhat similarly to how Rondo is guarded now. I already know that Rose has to be kept in front at all times due to his unfair speed and stupid first step, but as a rule of thumb typically they weren’t feared in the mid-range game unless Rose got the elbow since he has such a good jumper from there; so we need not go into picking apart the differences in the two players’ game.

Any pointguard or defender lined up against Rondo is like a corner in zone coverage, he has 10 to 15ft at times of real estate and shows he can’t to a whole lot with it offensively. Sure he has extraordinary passing skills, but given that nobody has to truly guard him he takes some of that away from himself. There aren’t a lot of jumps as drastic in terms of overall improvement in one offseason as I have ever seen like the one we’ve witnessed from DRose. He is playing out of his mind. It’s just stupid how well he can finish in the paint sometimes. If Devin Hester can get a 100 rating for speed in Madden (that was a bogus idea from the get-go) then DRose should get a 200 for ‘inside scoring’ on 2K. He’s unreal.

But my point is this, seeing as DRose has made himself the youngest MVP in L history, and he is a one man show these days… Rondo is in the hot seat. No I don’t mean that he could be traded, that’s ridiculous… but the pressure is on. If Rondo doesn’t work to and commit to improving his offensive game, then he will be the Patrick Ewing to Rose’s Michael Jordan (no I’m not comparing Rose to MJ but any idiot gets the Jordan – Ewing analogy). They both play in the East, they both are assumed to be at least in contention on a year to year basis, and they both are top 10 point guards in this league. If Rondo doesn’t put some time in Rose is just going to embarass him time after time. Does anybody else see/acknowledge this?

Having to compete with Deron Williams, Chauncey Billups, Jrue Holliday, Jerryd Bayless, Rose, Darren Collison, Brandon Jennings, John Wall, DJ Augustin, Jeff Teague and all the other B-Role PGs… Rondo has to improve his offensive side. Because all the aforementioned players has a SEMBLANCE of an offensive game. If Rondo could improve his scoring he would have insane numbers due to him already being a great assist guy and rebounder for his size.

Am I crazy or does that make sense? In my opinion he’s slacking. He’s not a rookie anymore. Players that emerge make it clear who is here to do the work and get better and who is here to play for some money and hope things come easy. DRose this year is a prime example. And if Rondo is a pointguard that wants to be remembered he better get ready for some gym time this offseason… and that time may be soon cus Boston is looking soft against MIA so far…

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

i gotta say, theres a difference between guarding rose and lebron… namely lebron is 6’8 prolly around 260… rondo has lengthy arms and will definately give rose a lot of problems defensively…

[sammybuckeye13Participant]

Since Rondo established himself as one of the league’s best PG’s due to his great passing and defense I’ve been adamant in saying he is not a top 5 PG because it is simply unacceptable for someone who is 6-1 and left open very very often to NOT BE ABLE TO HIT A WIDE OPEN 15 FOOTER WITH ANY CONSISTENCY. Any of the aformentioned PG’s, even younger relatively unproven guys like Holiday could average 10 assists in that Celtics offense with Pierce, Allen, Garnett and Shaq to pass to.

Rondo’s defense is unqestionably elite, but his failure to develop any semblance of a jumper means he is either simply unskilled or is not putting the work in.

If Rondo could nail 15 footers like even an average player for his size, the Celtics would be borderline unbeatable considering the weapons they have (Allen outside, Pierce in the midrage, Garnett closer to the basket, Shaq in the basket). 

Even if he continues to play D like an animal he will never be in the company of Rose, DWill and Paul if he can’t learn to shoot and thus he WILL always be in Rose’s shadow a la Ewing to Jordan. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The Celtics really miss Perkins and Shaq down low.  I think that is why they are down 0-2 to the Heat.  Plus, the Heat have two really, really, really good players.  They also have some guys who can hit open jump shots.

I think Rondo can take over and give the Celtics a chance if he drives the lane EVERY TIME and either get a lay-up, shoot a floater, kick out to a shooter, or post up Bibby.  He needs to concentrate on getting to the line and posting up.  I think they need to put Rondo on Wade.  If Rondo can contain Wade one-on-one then I think Pierce with the C’s big men backing him up have a chance to neutralize LeBron.  That could make the game a shooting contest between Ray Allen and Mike Bibby.  In that case, I like the Celtics’ chances.

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Here’s the problem with Rondo getting to the line though: he shoots 61% for his career there. He’s just an all around bad shooter, which severely limits him in my eyes.

And Rondo can’t contain Wade one-on-one. No one in the league can, especially when the Heat are cutting like they have been these playoffs.

[SteroidParticipant]

The fact that they need him to play well just shows how much he means to this team. I could dig up countless threads on how Rondo wasn’t the MVP of this team. When Rondo is on getting triple doubles, then they win. It’s no mystery. People give him critism from every angle. It’s funny how people talked down on him like he isn’t their most important piece, then when he plays bad, he gets critism too. If he isn’t important then why would they need Rondo on to win?!? People need to make up their mind.

[HitsterParticipant]

Rondo does need to step up his game if the Celtics are to get back into this series and as Steroid says he is probably the Celtics key player now despite having all those 20,000 point guys on the roster.

I don’t know if Shaq would be able to contribute hugely on court after his lay off but his return could boost the team merely by his presence and his sheer size could be a factor.

With Miami having had two home games you could expect them to win both those but it puts huge pressure on Boston to have to win games 3 and 4 as otherwise Miami will be at matchpoint. Also Boston will have to win at least one game in Miami if they want to progress to the Conference Finals.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Mkadoza,

I like Rondo shooting 61% from the line rather than about 25% on jumpers.  Plus if he gets to the line he gets the other guys in foul trouble.  Rondo really has to force the issue.  He has to make the Heat guards work on defense.  If he takes 15 free throws or more in the next game I really like their chances.  He needs to make at least 12 free throws for them to win.

I just don’t see how the Celtics can win without Perkins and Shaq.  And Jeff Green isn’t giving them that much.  He’s a good player they can build around in the future but this current edition is going downhill fast.  If they lose to the Heat then they might want to blow up this team in the offseason unless they go after a big man (Tyson Chandler would work). 

Rondo is a good piece for the future, as is Big Baby.  Other than that they really don’t have a lot.  Jeff Green may be worth keeping as a sixth or seventh man. 

The key for building around Rondo would be to have a great scorer/shooter at the two and a good front line that can get up and down the court as well as defend.

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Honestly, this isnt about Rondo. It never has been. Boy dropped 20-6-12 with next to 0 impact on the game. They need Paul Pierce to be his punky, snarky, savvy, assissin like self, and KG needs to focus on the everything else game. 10 rebounds, 4+ assists. But 11 shots and 2 free throws for PP is never enough. They don’t have the scoring where Ray and Paul can score 20 points combined and win. I don’t care WHAT Rondo does if thats the case, especially against the Heat.

[SteroidParticipant]

So what if they are 20,000 point scorers? Do you think anyone that plays them fears or cares anymore that they are going to be in the Hall of Fame one day? No. The fact is that these guys are past their prime. Rondo is their most important piece now. He gets these old men the ball in their spots, and he can affect the game outside of scoring. KG can still make jump shots, Paul Pierce can get hot, but they can’t play the way they used to play when made a living scoring all those points you mentioned. No one piece of this unit is better than the whole. They are the definition of a team that runs off synergy. Rondo might not be a top 5 PG or a bad shooter, but he fits in perfectly for what the Celtics are trying to do as a unit.

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