Who Should Start At PG For Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo or Ray Allen?

September 02 07

Danny Ainge on Ray Allen’s desire to play some point guard for Boston next season:

"When Ray Allen got here, he told me and Doc that he had played some point for George Karl in Milwaukee and that he wanted to do that here," Ainge said. "Tony Allen, two years ago, played the point and our offense was the most efficient of the season. Gabe Pruitt can defend and get us into our offense. And a lot of the offense is going to run through KG and Paul [Pierce] in the high post anyway."

My Quick Take: Acquire Ray Allen on draft day. Free Kevin Garnett from Minnesota. Help the Celtics become relevant again. After such a hectic summer, Boston GM Danny Ainge probably deserves a break. Well, guess what Ainge? Your work as Boston’s GM isn’t finished.

Right now, Ainge is facing questions about whether Rajon Rondo can start at point guard next season. Is Rondo ready to lead? Is the second year man capable of handling Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett?

He could be. Rondo performed well in short spurts last season, especially on the defensive end. He’s quick and has a feel for the game.

Here’s the problem. Allen, Pierce, and Garnett will see a steady diet of double-teams next season. Boston has to find shooters who can keep opposing defenses honest with their outside range. Last season, Rondo’s shot was shaky and defenders left him to help on Al Jefferson.

I have watched a lot of Ray Allen because I live in Vancouver, Canada. That’s three hours north of Seattle for any geographically-challenged folks. Allen, when he first arrived in the Emerald City, played point guard for about 20 games. He was great. Jesus Shuttlesworth showed his all-round skill-set; he can shoot, pass, and handle the rock.

So if Allen and Pierce start at the guard spots, then James Posey could take over at small forward. Posey’s three-point stroke would keep opposing defenses honest and provide space for the big three to work.

Rondo would hold his own as Boston’s starting point guard. But Allen makes more sense.

Who should start at point guard for Boston next season: Rondo or Allen? Get at us in the comment box below with your thoughts?

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17 Comments: Who Should Start At PG For Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo or Ray (...)

Posted by
ssssssss
on 09.7.2007

r.rondo u losser .

Posted by
JOHN
on 09.5.2007

RAY ALLEN, DUH. .

Posted by

on 09.4.2007

Rondo is going to be a very good point guard. He will start, and surprise alot of people this season. .

Posted by

on 09.3.2007

I really see this team resembling a lot of the dallas teams of late. think kg with us like how dirk plays in dallas. paul pierce as a better guard/forward option than george and stack. i think ray allen coiuld be comparable to what jason terry gives dallas.. and MORE! think of the lineup as a bunch of versitile guards and forwards and perks gonna come into the season in the best shape of his life and be able to hold the center position down and scott polard wasnt signed to just sit on the bench play him as another banger who can rebound let scalabrine ride the pine! I BLEED GREEN and give my best to those who do as well! .

Posted by
dre
on 09.3.2007

if they’re gonna run the o thru pp and kg they really won’t need a pg like rondo as much. but allen playing point? he’s gonna get killed on D. i prefer a tony allen/eddie house rotation and a bit of rondo for the 1 spot .

Posted by
mrhoopfan
on 09.3.2007

Rondo should start, if he can hit the open 15 footer consistently, they’re fine. Spus won a championship with Avery johnson who could not shoot threes to save his life!! .

Posted by
Matthew
on 09.3.2007

Definitely Rondo. Why is it that people want to bench Rondo because of his poor shooting, and then on the other hand suggest that Ray Allen play point guard. Has anyone ever seen Allen on defense? Neither have I. Now think about him guarding opposing point guards, arguably the most important position to guard. Ouch. .

Posted by
Penzy
on 09.3.2007

Kinda like asking "who should start at the 5, KG or Kendrick Perkins?". Sure, KG could start at the 5 (and probably will play a bit of 5 with some lineups) but it just wouldn’t make much sense given that KG will be at his best at the 4 and KP will do fine holding down the 5. Same with Rondo vs Ray Allen. The big difference I see between Rondo and Kendrick in the "starter but not a star" role is that Rondo only has 1 year in the league, so we’re a little less sure about how much progress he can make in his game (which was already decent in his rookie year). .

Posted by
steve
on 09.3.2007

i agree with you, ray allen should run point about 25 minutes a night, and should definitely be running it most of the time in the playoffs with the lineup you mentioned with pierce and posey then kg and perk......... ray allen did a great job as the pg not only in seattle, but he ran point in milwaukee as the backup to sam cassell for 5 seasons, and he was the pg at uconn........ he does a great job and i have seen him run point, he is a great passer and allaround player. he is very capable and the boston lineup will be much better with him running point, or at least have eddie house fill a damon jones type pointguard role like damon did in miami the first year with shaq, house would be perfect for that......... if rondo’s shooting is improved he is far and away the starting pg and their is no problem. i’ve watched him many times and he is a great pg in every sense on both ends of the floor except for shooting and lack of experience. Experience will come bigtime this year, and hopefully his shooting has improved so there is no problem, period....... i think boston is all set for this season. they are gonna be a dominant team. they would be a top team out west, theyre gonna kill the east. .

Posted by
vancouver man
on 09.3.2007

this one is hard, but somewhere in the season you must start rondo so when playoffs come rondo could be better either starter or bench player. .

Posted by

on 09.3.2007

PG Allen, SG Pierce, C Perkins, SF Posey, PF Garnett .

Posted by
PJH
on 09.3.2007

Get Earl Boykins! .

Posted by
Slim B2B
on 09.3.2007

Allen would be great at the 2 spot, start him there and Rondo runs point then takes a break. Insert Allen at the point and move them for Posey to come in at the 3 and swing Pierce in the 2 spot. You are picking your poison with this trio of All-Stars. Garnett could run the point as well at times. The Celtics have the talent now so let’s see how they use it. .

Posted by
Gm 4 Hire
on 09.3.2007

Rondo all aday long.. Ray is the best shooter in the league and he might play some point guard but his knees will never hould never hold up 82 games at the point guard position. Rondo will have the Rock! .

Posted by

on 09.2.2007

Gotta go with Ray Allen .

Posted by
wal
on 09.2.2007

whats wrong with rondo at the 1 allen at the 2 pierce atnthe 3 garnett at the 4 and i dont know jus throw anyguy in their the big three is good enough anyway .

Posted by
HoopsBlogging.com
on 09.2.2007

I think they should start Rondo - but use Allen as the backup PG option. Posey can come off the bench for Rondo and adjust the roster to the other option that you discussed.Rondo allows them to have a better fastbreak while Posey would provide more scoring threat.But lets face it...the double teams don’t really matter. You double one guy and the other two will beat you up for it. This is going to be one difficut team to guard. I’m thinking Chicago is the only team in the east that won’t have major problems on defense against the Celtics. (Ben Wallace on Garnett and Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng to spare). .

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Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

Who Should Start At PG For Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo or Ray Allen?

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