Rondo - The Point Guard Ainge Wanted Banks To Be

[spf211]

Reflecting on it now, with the Celtics winning their 17th championship, it's interesting to review the various attempts Ainge made at reconstructing the Celtics.

Out of the '03 draft we nabbed Marcus Banks and Kendrick Perkins. In Ainge's first draft he had about a month to prepare before making his selections but he still wound up with the starting center on his championship team and a point guard -- he felt at the time -- who could be the same.

Banks was considered to be a lock-down defender with incredible speed -- the only flaw in his game being his jumpshot. The scouting report was nearly identical on Rondo, except Rajon may have been tagged a worse shooter but a better distributor. Although their body types are different -- with Rondo relying on his length for distruptions, Banks on his combination of bulk and quickness -- their team impact could be the same on a talent level.

You get a quick point guard to push the ball up the floor and initiate a group offense -- pentrating the lane when available -- and then use that same guard to put defense pressure on the backcourt, primarily using speed to force turnovers.

What's most interesting to me is that the flaws in Banks' game are entirely mental. Was the Brain Doctor not in heavy consultation early in Ainge's tenure? Or was the selection of Banks a major impetus to start brain typing our Celtic athletes? There can be little question that the mental make-up of the championship team was very finely constructed -- especially when you consider the mix of Ray Allen, Garnett, James Posey and Eddie House.

Banks' headstrong attitude was only magnified and made worse with Doc Rivers and his penchant for riding young guards. Meanwhile Rondo, with his reserved attitude, has been the perfect fit for Doc -- accepting all criticism and long stretches of riding the bench without having it effect his ability to perform.

I wonder if Ainge does not search out similar prototypes at other positions -- at least when it comes to forming a starting 5. We heard for months that Danny was scouting Kentucky games before Rondo was drafted -- and Rajon wound up going a full 10-12 spots higher than projected, a somewhat surprising pick at the time. Even going into the draft the Celtics hinted there was only one player in the first round they were interested in.

Just some food for thought.

[GuyClinch]

I don't think Ainge would agree with that. Banks is NOTHING like Rondo - and never has been. Banks was a scorer in college who happened to rack up some assists. But he was a scorer. He has tried to play the same way in the pros.

I don't think Ainge EVER imagined Banks would go through stretches where he was scared to shoot. Banks is like a wannabe Allen Iverson or a mini Baron Davis. Whereas Rondo has to be cajoled into shooting at times. If we want to make a comparison to the player Ainge hoped Banks would become - a mini C. Billups would suffice.

Banks also enjoys shooting the three pointer - something Rondo again hates to do. Banks is a career .340 3 point shooter - and shot 40% from 3 this year.

Banks problem was never lacking a jumpshot. He just was never able to balance his offense play with the flow of the team. Individually his skill set is excellent. It's the team concept thing he doesn't seem to get that well. In addition Rondo has more court vision..

Pete

[sam_I_am]

The problem with Banks is that he really doesn't have much NBA talent. He is strong and quick and a solid 1 on 1 defender but he is a 6 foot tall shooting guard. It is the exception that guys like that can play in the NBA. Having point guard skills - which Banks completely lacks - is a definite requirement as is being a good jump shooter another of his deficiencies.

Being a 40% shooter when left wide open is not the definition of good shooter. We all can talk percentages all day but a good shooter is somebody like Eddie House who must be defended not Bruce Bowen who manages good percentages mainly because he isn't guarded.

Rondo is amazingly gifted. He isn't just fast without the ball. For all of Banks' speed, he is actually slow when he must dribble to get up the court. The ball actually seems to speed up Rondo. I really do not mean to pan Banks but this is an unfortunate comparison for him. Rondo, as we have seen, can improve his shooting to the point where he can be relied on to hit a fair amount of wide open jump shots. I have no doubt that he can be the 3 point shooter Banks is right now - which is not very good but adequate. In the future, Rondo will continue to be left wide open - as DJ was back in the day. And like DJ, Rondo will improve to a point that he can be trusted to take the open shot whenever it is there and to hit enough of them to keep the defense honest.

[Kobe_not_MJ]

Agreed. Watching Banks play was like watching a drunk driver drive.

[31to6]

I'll play - I agree enough with the OP to toss out there "was Jumaine Jones a prototype Posey?" IMO, kind-of-sort-of yes.

[Dirty Water]

Agreed. Watching Banks play was like watching a drunk driver drive.

HA! That is an awesome analogy. Simple yet described perfectly.

[BakersDozen]

I'll play - I agree enough with the OP to toss out there "was Jumaine Jones a prototype Posey?" IMO, kind-of-sort-of yes.

Is Jones even still in the league? Last I remember he was a Bobcat. I had high hopes for him.

[Fencer reregistered]

And like DJ, Rondo will improve to a point that he can be trusted to take the open shot whenever it is there and to hit enough of them to keep the defense honest.

That is, of course, an utter contradiction -- but it was back in DJ's day too.

Some guys seem to be able to hit their shots ONLY when it's a clutch situation. DJ and EWill are two who come to mind. Rondo is kind of like that too.

[cisco]

I wonder what Phoenix is thinking now? They gave up Rondo for nothing more than cash and now he's a champion in only his second year.

Thanks, Phoenix!

[Gunny]

Hey guys, Wolves/Garnett fan here:

Before the start of the season when the Celtics were the heavy favorite to win the title, I had my doubts because I was so sure that Rondo was unable to run a championship offense. Point guard play is very important in this league and Rondo definitely stepped up when he needed to.

So I will admit that I was wrong, and that you guys have a heck of a young point guard to run your team for years.

Congratulations on winning the championship!

[sunshinekids99]

I've got to say I thought Banks was a very gifted basketball player. He could shoot the ball, he was very fast, and could be a very good defender. Plus he had a strong build that I thought could take a pounding in the NBA. But it has to be he didn't have a whole lot of basketball IQ or he was just too damn stubborn.

As for Rondo, he's made great strides from last year. And with that I fully expect him to improve more. I hate to keep harping on his lack of a shot, but it needs to improve. As this team moves on the importance of Rondo will only increase. I also hope he continues to prove me wrong saying he was a terrible pick.

[UGA Hayes]

The problem with Banks is that he really doesn't have much NBA talent. He is strong and quick and a solid 1 on 1 defender but he is a 6 foot tall shooting guard. It is the exception that guys like that can play in the NBA. Having point guard skills - which Banks completely lacks - is a definite requirement as is being a good jump shooter another of his deficiencies.

Being a 40% shooter when left wide open is not the definition of good shooter. We all can talk percentages all day but a good shooter is somebody like Eddie House who must be defended not Bruce Bowen who manages good percentages mainly because he isn't guarded.

Rondo is amazingly gifted. He isn't just fast without the ball. For all of Banks' speed, he is actually slow when he must dribble to get up the court. The ball actually seems to speed up Rondo. I really do not mean to pan Banks but this is an unfortunate comparison for him. Rondo, as we have seen, can improve his shooting to the point where he can be relied on to hit a fair amount of wide open jump shots. I have no doubt that he can be the 3 point shooter Banks is right now - which is not very good but adequate. In the future, Rondo will continue to be left wide open - as DJ was back in the day. And like DJ, Rondo will improve to a point that he can be trusted to take the open shot whenever it is there and to hit enough of them to keep the defense honest.

It doesn't get talked about much but Rondo is an amazing ballhandler. He almost never makes a ballhandling turnover. In my mind only Nash is better at dribbling a ball. I think its going to be interesting to see what happens if Rondo is given more responsibility in the offense and is allowed to probe more.

[GuyClinch]

Rondo is a great talent. But so was Banks. Rondo is alot more coachable - at least that's the impression he gives an outsider. And I think that's the reason for his success in Boston. Either way I am glad we didn't stick with West or draft Sergio.

Pete

[freakon0mics]

Marcus had the talent but not the brains. A big part in measuring a point guard is his willingness to give up the ball and the timing of it. Marcus didn't have that. He had the talent to become a phenomenal point guard, but we've seen that with many ex-NBA players. Add that with the fact that he wasn't coachable made it worse for himself.

[PPAW4Life]

I still remember Banks block on Steven Hunter against the Suns in Phoenix.

You've got to admit Banks was very gifted physically and was a tough dude just like DWest.

Gotta give Ainge credit for drafting some tough cookies.

I'm glad we hung on to Perkins....I think he will be a force.

[TheCelticTruth]

love rondo, he is everything except a great shooter you could want in a point.

i just hope he continues to play in all out attack mode as he did in game 6, where his speed itself is used as a weapon to stress, stretch, and penetrate the defense, and he lets the plays come from that.

[sunshinekids99]

Rondo tends to be a bit sloppy at times, but that is something that will change in time I'm sure. He also has to pick up his play on the road. He was a different player home and away this postseason.