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Revisited: Is Rajon Rondo a top 5 NBA point guard? By John Nguyen
11.4.2009 - Updated on 11.4.2009
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Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics has inked a deal for 5 years making him about $55 million richer. Congratulations Rondo. He earned it. Many people, outside of Boston, are questioning whether Rondo’s play is worth this much. The general tone from basketball junkies is that the Celtics overpaid and locked him up for too many years. Rondo fans theorize that if he waited until the offseason then a bigger payday would have been within reach. Regardless of either stance, Rondo got his. This kid was almost AVERAGING a triple double in the 2009 playoffs showing flashes of Magic, Kidd, and Oscar Robertson. He’s off to a fast start to this season averaging (through 5 games) 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 10.4 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. Rondo got his money. That’s a definite positive, but with all things, there is a negative to this madness; something that I can’t quite grasp.
There is a lot of hate for Rajon Rondo. This doesn’t include his biggest hater, Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets.
What is it about him that people despise? Is it because he has the swag of a leprechaun? Is it because Rondo picks fights with Rafer Alston, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, and Kirk Hinrich? You don’t like his Inferiority complex? Or is it because he acts hard knowing that Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Rasheed Wallace will back him up? How is Rondo’s play not worth the money? Bill Duffy, his agent can easily say, “Well, Ben Gordon signed a 5 year $55 million deal with the Detroit Pistons. He’s one dimensional and he got that loot. My client is multi-dimensional and can play good defense. At any given night, Rajon can put a triple double like Jason Kidd. Ben Gordon cannot do that.” With that perspective, Rondo’s play is worth more than $55 million don’t you think?
Towards the end of his rookie campaign, Rondo was putting up 10/5/5 games before Garnett and Ray Allen were on the team. During last year’s playoffs, he nearly averaged a triple double with 16.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists. In game 6 against the Chicago Bulls, the kid amassed 19 assists without turning the ball over once! In the playoffs! In February 12, 2009 against the Dallas Mavericks, the numbers were amazing: 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 14 assists. He did that while playing with the Big 3. Currently, Rondo is getting more consistent at putting up these types of statistics. That’s just fucking disgusting. So what’s up with the hate lately?
The argument of him benefiting from the Big 3 is laughable. Please remember that this is a team game. Of course Rondo will enjoy their Hall of Fame talent. Duh! That’s a given. Some of you claim that his numbers are inflated because the kid is playing with those dudes. Excuse me, but Rajon has to battle for rebounds against Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Kendrick Perkins, and the other team. “But he doesn’t score like Tony Parker, Chris Paul, and D-Wills.” So? Why does he need to? There are enough scorers on the team. On nights when the Big 3 doesn’t have it then Rondo will do his thing. No problem. He already proved that. What’s the big deal?
“Okay, take out the Big 3. Rondo wouldn’t be racking up assists like that.”
Excuse me. He will. He definitely will. Rondo has the vision to get people the ball. During the 2009 playoffs, without Kevin Garnett and an injury riddled roster, dude was racking up assists like popcorn. We all witnessed this. Scorers will be scorers no matter what team it is. The assists will be there as long as the consistency, unselfishness, and vision stay there. If this kid ever developed a consistent jumper then that would be game over for the entire NBA. This is the major flaw of his game just like Jason Kidd, but his slashing ability makes up for that.
“Hey man. Any PG can go to the Celtics and put up better numbers.”
Say what? Shut the hell up. Better numbers? Not many point guards can rebound like Rondo. You’re talking about better numbers? The kid is already producing triple doubles. How can a point guard obtain better numbers while playing with legends? If anything, the Big 3 is holding down the statistics except for assists and steals. Put Rondo on another team and his performance goes through the roof since he would have to shoulder more of the responsibility. Scorers will score no matter what their name is so his assists will hover around 10-13.
In my eyes, Rajon Rondo is flirting to be a top 5 point guard. Here is my list of the people ahead:
Rajon Rondo would be my number 6. Gilbert Arenas would have been in my top 5, but he hasn’t been durable the past 2 seasons. Derrick Rose is NOT better than Rondo right now. No way. He’s nowhere near Rondo defensively and has not put up triple doubles. Rose will be better than Rondo eventually, but not right now.
Why Boston lock him up for so many years? It’s time to lock up the young guns. Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen are about to retire in a couple of seasons. He will have to take over. His skills warrant the money and the future of the Boston Celtics relies on him. Rondo is 23 years young and has tons of playoff experience.
What do you think? Is he a top 5 point guard? Was he worth the money?
[image:http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitaldustin/2326705266/] |
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Posted by
on 11.13.2009 | top 5 pg in the NBA should be able to make over 70% on the free throw line. . | Posted by
hmmm
on 11.12.2009 | RONDO IS THE MAN BUT NOT TOP 5 .. CLOSE THO . | Posted by
on 11.10.2009 | to no name as well, we’re not Rondo haters here. the question is is he a top 5 pg? he may be in the top 10 but not yet at the highest five alright! . | Posted by
on 11.8.2009 | Let me guess. MOST of you guys who say Rondo sucks are not fans of the Celtics? Some of you are probably fans of their rivals, the Lakers. I’m not surprised. Honestly, I don’t really CARE if Rondo is one of the top NBA point guards or not. What I do care about is how important Rondo is for the Celtics. I’m a Celtics fan and I have to say, Rondo is a great player to have on the C’s. Haters, think about this. Do you think the C’s would have won the 2008 NBA Championship if they had a mediocre point guard and not Rajon Rondo? I doubt it. It’s not a question of how good he is, but how IMPORTANT he is for the Celtics. I’m sure with Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Tony Parker, etc., the Celtics would still be champions. But answer this (like I’ve mentioned earlier), would the Celtics win the 2008 championship without Rondo? I doubt it. . | Posted by
Steve
on 11.5.2009 | Your line about him acting tough is why he is hated. He is a good player (not top 5 yet), but to act tough knowing those guys will protect you is really cowardly and shows poor attitude. Picking a fight with Billups or Bryant is a joke, they would snap him in half like a twig and he knows it - gutless wonder in my book. . | Posted by
on 11.5.2009 | NOT YET. wait & see. . | Posted by
hastings
on 11.5.2009 | You know what, you are probably right... doing all the little things isn’t important. Being top 5 in steals the last 3 years isn’t important. Being the starting PG on a championship team is no big deal. Like Mr. Nuyguyehn said, "almost AVERAGING a triple double" is really irrelevant. He is absolutely terrible at life. You guys are ridiculous, give him some credit. . | Posted by
ronh
on 11.5.2009 | Rondo is no way near a top 5 five point guard his job is real simple get assist and play passing lanes. Any point can play that role with three hall of famers. . | Posted by
supg
on 11.4.2009 | Rajon is definitely top 5 pg in the NBA. guys an animal and that’s why he gets hated on. just like people hate on Kobe. People always hate the guy on top, or in RR’s case, the guy quickly rising to the top. . | Posted by
on 11.4.2009 | NO NO NO and ummmmm NO . | Posted by
on 11.4.2009 | Rajon Rondo Sucks . | Posted by
hastings
on 11.4.2009 | Rondo would average 25, 10, 8, and 4 steals on the Nets... because like you said, the Nets suck! . | Posted by
Snika
on 11.4.2009 | Revisted because you cant think of any new topics....gtfoff this site, foool! . | Posted by
on 11.4.2009 | Devin averaged 21 and 7 last year, and made the all star team for a reason. He’s better than rondo and it’s not even close. The Nets just suck. . | Posted by
hastings
on 11.4.2009 | Devin Harris has a lot of potential, but we might as well throw Russell Westbrook and Brandon Jennings in the conversation if that is what we are talking about. Rondo is able to be crazy-efficient with 3-4 All-Stars on his team. And he is proven, and he puts up better numbers than everyone but CP3. . | Posted by
Roooo
on 11.4.2009 | 0-4 Devin harris...head to head with Rondo , Devin harris sucks...he got nuber s becuase he shoot toom much....Devin harris cannot play defense is 26 yrs old and his has no vision....one demensional player . | Posted by
D
on 11.4.2009 | Good analysis. I bet Rondo will be in your top 5 after this season. I think he’s easily better than Billups and Williams. I’d say Chris Paul, too, but he just played like a madman against the Celtics. . | Posted by
on 11.4.2009 | Devin Harris is better than Rondo . | Posted by
hastings
on 11.4.2009 | Great deal for Rondo and the Celtics, he is the future of this franchise. He is worth the money, and you are right... flirting with the top 5 PGs. Nash and Billups will have downgraded in 2 years, and Rose, Rondo, and even John Wall should be entering that conversation. Had they let him talk to teams next summer, this figure would have gone up. His talents are underrated, and he does all the little things that a winning team needs. . |
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