RealGM

I write this thread after calming down for over an hour. So, this isn't a rash thread.

I have loved Rondo's potential all year and I do think he has all-star ability. But, I remember me getting eviscerated in a thread after TJ Ford dismantled Rondo about 5 games into the season.

I indeed pulled the trigger too early and for the most part Rondo has delivered in the second half of the regular season.

But, but, but, but...

Rondo was so bad Friday I hope Sam I Am rested his legs up. Rondo can't be allowed to be this inept.

This was perhaps the least effective game by a PG I have ever seen. Especially on a championship level.

Here is Rondo's line:

1-3 shooting, 2 points, 5 assists, three rebounds and three turnovers 30 minutes. He played worse than Sam Cassell has this series.

Now, this is coming off a 20 point, 13 assist dominant performance.

We scored 69 points tonight. We struggled offensively largely due to abysmal PG play. House gave a nice lift and it was no coincidence the offense ran better when he was in there.

But, this is 14 post season games and I would say in at last half of them Rondo hasn't been very good.

The problem here is we are killing Ray Allen for his playoff run when I have only see a couple of open shots for Ray. Ray struggled when Rondo struggles. This is all about PG play. Rondo has to get people the ball in spots where they can be successful.

You know what's scary? I don't know what Rondo brings to the table. If he is good Rondo, the Celtics are unbeatable. If he is mediocre Rondo the team is still very good. Friday's Rondo? UNCOMPETITIVE.

But the one thing Rondo didn't do in the second half of the season is have these kind of "WTF?" disappearing acts.

That can't happen. You can't have your starting PG be so erratic from game to game. I would rather have Rondo at a solid 8 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds in 26 minutes with a nice rotation with Sam and Eddie than 20 pt 13 assist Rondo then a terrible Rondo.

Celts weren't helped by the refs, but Rondo is the reason we only scored 69 points.

Even Sam Cassell when he is missing shots is still dangerous. Rondo had perhaps the least impactful 30 minutes I have ever seen. What was his function out there?

I can't blame Doc for game 6. He made all the right moves (I even like the looks baby got, though he has to finish them).

I just don't get how you can go 20 13 to inept. That is just too risky to count on. We have entrusted our season to this guy, and I don't think he is up to the task.

We played a brilliant defensive games and have scored under 80 THREE TIMES this series.

Great players are good most of the time. Rarely are they non-factors.

Rondo is too erratic. If he is tentative on Sunday or not effective, I would go to Casell and then House very early. Celts can't afford inept Rondo to show.

How can you have confidence in Rondo?

You can't trust him.

So the Celtics have gone 73-22 with Rondo as the point guard and now on the biggest game of the year to date you want Sam Cassell to be the lead point guard?

You don't think, at the very least, that Rondo had a small part in Delonte West turning it over 4 times and having zero assists and pretty much not letting West drive to the basket? You don't think West will essentially abuse Sam Cassell?

Least effective game by a point guard you have ever seen? Sure, it wasn't an especially good game for Rondo offensively, but c'mon. He still had 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals. Did you notice that Sam Cassell is 0-for-his-last-13?

Go away.

Rondo has been the second best guy on the team this series and you want to, like, bench him or what? Your analysis of basketball is very subpar.

When Boston gets to Detroit, Rondo's play is going to be crucial against Chauncey Billups.

to be honest, i think the reason they only scored 69 points is simple, tons of jump shots.

boston should win on sunday, lebron will be the only guy on that team that should score big, z will have his.

but you cant let wally and delonte out hussle rondo and allen. two superior players, we love delonte but for god sakes we know he isn't this good.

as long as no one is actively looking the pass the ball when they SHOULD be taking the shot, the teams offense looks good, but when your passing just because you heard doc say it a million times when your open under the hoop like when rondo was at one point tonight, thats when the offense looks like crap.

if boston loses, ill obviously be pissed. this is after i cooled down earlier when i said i would have cared. but they really shouldnt lose, other then lebron you cant let the rest of that team surpass there talent.

Rondo was brutal! House should have gotten more minutes at PG.

The problem with Rondo is, and that has been the case this whole season, that he has games when he is completely passive on offense. And when he is like that he is useless.

That usually happens on the road. I attribute this to his inexperience and his lack of confidence in his jumpshot. He just needs one more season under his belt to become more consistent...

When he attacks, gets to the rim, break down defenses, take jumpshots with confidence he is one of the best PG`s in the league! When he doesn`t he looks like he did yesterday.

However, I am confident that on Sunday at home we will see the good Rondo!

Rondo is young and doesnt seem to play well infront of a hostile crowd. This messes up our offense. He will get better with age. He has made tremendous strides this season.

Vincenzo

I can't blame Doc for game 6. He made all the right moves

Yeah, like taking the ball from Rondo's hands and initiating with Pierce.



We need MORE Rondo.

MORE. RONDO. NOW.

I think its even simpler than that. Being as young as he is he's almost a non-factor on the road. Similar to Cleveland's role players, the disparity between being home and road is unreal.

On the bench he looked like he wanted to cry. his negative body language todaywill probably resonate to a point where Cassell will get more playing time on Game 7.

please no sam cassell!

bring in house, but dont give up on rondo. he plays good at home and will have a great game 7!

What a dum post. Rondo had 2 points(on 4 shots), 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 turnovers in 31 minutes. West had 10 points(on 7 shots), 0 assists, 3 rebounds, 0 steals, 4 turnovers in 45 minutes. And like Tommy mentioned post game, Rondo created a few other open shots which others didn't hit and if they did, he could of had double digit assists.

Would I have liked Rondo to be more aggresive in looking for his shots? Definetely. But calling it the worst performance by a point guard when looking at what the opposite point guard did is pretty absurd.

haha

I think you are the only one on this board, and possibly Celtic Nation that hates Rondo.

The problem was Doc did none of the things that worked in game 5.

In game 5, Doc spread the floor out and ran pick and rolls with Pierce as the ballhandler and Rondo setting the pick to ensure a mismatch for Rondo. In game 6 we went to this twice.

At this point -- after so many stagnant jump shots -- I'd even be thrilled with a play like "Give the Ball to Rondo and Clear the **** Out". He can basically beat anyone in the NBA off the dribble. He's also got the best eyes on the team, with one seemingly devoted to KG. When what's drawn up breaks down I trust Rondo to figure out a Plan B or C on the fly. Hell I'd rather rely on Rondo's instincts than plays at all. It's time for everybody to hop aboard Rondo's back, including Rondo himself. Take those open jumpers man, christ.

Rondo seems to lack confidence on the road during the playoffs which is really to bad, luckily game 7 is at home

MVP16 wrote:What a dum post. Rondo had 2 points(on 4 shots), 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 turnovers in 31 minutes. West had 10 points(on 7 shots), 0 assists, 3 rebounds, 0 steals, 4 turnovers in 45 minutes. And like Tommy mentioned post game, Rondo created a few other open shots which others didn't hit and if they did, he could of had double digit assists.

Would I have liked Rondo to be more aggresive in looking for his shots? Definetely. But calling it the worst performance by a point guard when looking at what the opposite point guard did is pretty absurd.

Absurd to the max. Seems like some people can't accept that two of the so-called big three just haven't been getting it done.

MVP16 wrote:What a dum post. Rondo had 2 points(on 4 shots), 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 turnovers in 31 minutes. West had 10 points(on 7 shots), 0 assists, 3 rebounds, 0 steals, 4 turnovers in 45 minutes. And like Tommy mentioned post game, Rondo created a few other open shots which others didn't hit and if they did, he could of had double digit assists.

Would I have liked Rondo to be more aggresive in looking for his shots? Definetely. But calling it the worst performance by a point guard when looking at what the opposite point guard did is pretty absurd.

Agreed. Rondo did play poorly, but this wasn't even close to his worst game of the year, let alone "the worst game by a PG I've ever seen".

As absurd as that comment was, calling for Sam Cassell is EVEN MORE absurd. Far more, in fact. I especially liked this quote:

Even Sam Cassell when he is missing shots is still dangerous.

Very dangerous, indeed.......if you are a Celtic or a Celtics fan. When he is missing shots, he just keeps missing shots. The guy still thinks he is an All-Star in his prime and just never stops forcing shots out there.

I like Sam as a player, at least when he was not a Celtic, and loved the signing but he has been terrible, selfish and stupid as a Celtic. Rondo played poorly and was way too passive out there, but Sam Cassell has just been comical as a Celtic and has no right being out on that court anymore. He had his chance, he blew it. Rondo is the starter, House is the backup and that's the way it should be.

Rondo played a poor game for him - but he has suffered on the road during the playoffs. As for the big 3 - as I said earlier its up to Ray Allen and KG to step it up.

Pierce is doing what he should against Lebron - playing D and concentrating on taking decent shots. He is simply NOT going to light up Lebron for 45 points, IMHO. I like to seen 10-12 shots from him and that's what he is giving us.

It's Ray Allen that SHOULD be feasting on Wally. LOTS of guards can beat up on Wally. We should just put TA in there some and make Ray earn more minutes.

KG is playing about as well as expected.

Pete

Agree with Pete on Ray and KG and PP.....

I wonder if Ray has always disappeared in playoffs? Maybe its a problem with him?

Pete, what do you think of Delonte's work for Cleveland?

Seems better than what Seattle made of him to me. No better as a scorer, but less prone to turnovers than the old West.

Kids Are Alright wrote:I wonder if Ray has always disappeared in playoffs? Maybe its a problem with him?

It's not at all. Coming into these playoffs, Ray Allen had averaged roughly 25 points per game on 48% from the field, 43% from 3 and 89% from the line. He's actually been the member of the Big 3 to step up most in the playoffs and the one to see his efficiency rise.

He should be tearing Wally apart.

Pete, what do you think of Delonte's work for Cleveland?

Seems better than what Seattle made of him to me. No better as a scorer, but less prone to turnovers than the old West.

Yes he has been decent. He still has the issues that hurt him - but he has been playing with a swagger instead of being fearful and that's helping him alot.

Pete

Rondo is my favorite player in the league so I am hardly unbiased, but even given that, every player will have a bad game from time to time.
Rondo is enormously talented and hard-working and unselfish, and fits into this team's play beautifully. Already in his second year he has had games where he played fearlessly and brilliantly. If, especially at this stage of his career, they are balanced out with a poor game here or there, that doesn't mean we are not extremely fortunate to have him on the Celtics.
Kobe, LeBron, KG --- they all have a bad game sometimes. Rondo is allowed to as well. They're human, these guys.