RealGM

BDL: Is there a point guard in the game who reminds you of yourself?

GP: (Pauses) No. I don't think anybody reminds me of me, because I did it on both ends of the floor. I played defense, I posted up, point guards don't post up [anymore] like I did, and guard somebody end to end, and get steals and stuff. Most point guards now, what they're doing is playing passing lanes, and some of them always talk about why they haven't been on first-team defense. Like Allen [Iverson] and Chris Paul, they're both my buddies, and I like them both, but that's not defense right now. Defense is more like an on the ball type of guy, like Bruce Bowen, but I don't think any point guard plays like that right now.

BDL: Who in your opinion is the best point guard in the game right now?

GP: Chris Paul.

BDL: Not Rondo?

GP: (Smiles) Nooo. No Rondo. Nooo Rondo. Chris Paul and then a close second would be [Deron] Williams.
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal ... nba,126975

Payton compared Rondo to players who ride superstars to rings, while doing little more than waving towels from the bench.

"I respect the man's game, I'm just saying, man, he got put into a situation," Payton said in November.

Rondo endured a horrific 5-for-24 shooting span over three games that started just before Payton's remarks.

"He's been playing well. Ever since Gary Payton been hating on him, he's been playing great," teammate Kendrick Perkins said. "But that's Rondo. We know what he could do. Now he's just really starting to show it."

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/ ... s_remarks/


i for one would have thought if i had to name a point that reminded me of gary, in terms of style of play, not demeanor it would be rajon. you put that mean streak in rajon though, and GOD DAMN, you got player!!!!

what is the Celtic point of view of all this. double-R is that dude. This kid makes the game for himself, plays the game for his team, & can get flashy as **** while playing that gutter defence.

of course he was put in the situation, he was the best they had to work with, worked on it, and quickly proved he's one of the best assets to currently contain. defeat expectations and overcome doubters to that chip.

This is the same Payton who jumped on the Kobe and Shaq bus to get a ring...

Rondo doesn't yet have Payton's midrange and post-up game- if he developed those, he'd be even more effective.

Payton ought to know about riding on someone's coatails to get a ring. He rode DWade's coatail so hard Wade had to get shoulder surgery.

Payton's just mad we didn't bring him back so he could get another ring. If Rondo gets a respectable jumper he's gonna be amazing (he's already amazing in my book though ).

Still, we all tend to underestimate how much player rankings are a matter of reputation and circumstance. A couple years back, Tony Parker and Steve Nash were elite, now they're forgotten. Rondo's not quite on the level of CP and Deron yet, but within his role on THIS team he's the best 1 for the job.

Gary is such a bitter old man now. I can't even watch nbatv when him and Chris Webber are on it. Each of them take turns yelling over each other saying random stuff that pops into their heads. Softspoken Eric Snow is better then him and he sounds like Cleveland Brown(family guy).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWSzC56ijf4

I never thought I'd say this, but... thank you Knicks fans for sticking up for Rondo. They've got some funny pictures on their thread.

here's their thread on the subject

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=859277

Rondo isn't close to Payton right now... Payton defended Jordan in the NBA finals when both those guys were in their prime.

Payton was also the 2nd best player on his team when he went to the finals (arguably the best, because Shawn Kemp and him were about equal).

Rondo is a better athlete so he may appear to look more talented to the naked eye. Payton had a much better defensive game, could shoot from 25ft in the clutch, and could take guys in the post.

Of course he's not close to Payton in his prime (at least not yet), but to take cheap shots at him for being on a great team is really silly.

Payton was a half court player and thats it. he was a very good one but was not good at pushing the ball for his teammates.

Payton is just bitter that Boston didn't sign him prior to the 07/08 season... he obviously knew the Celtics would win it all. Bitterness and pride always appear immature and just plain stupid, humility goes a long way.

s1ickd wrote:Rondo isn't close to Payton right now... Payton defended Jordan in the NBA finals when both those guys were in their prime.

Payton was also the 2nd best player on his team when he went to the finals (arguably the best, because Shawn Kemp and him were about equal).

Rondo is a better athlete so he may appear to look more talented to the naked eye. Payton had a much better defensive game, could shoot from 25ft in the clutch, and could take guys in the post.

This is a joke right?

What I can't recall about Payton is how much of his game he developed over the course of his career and how much was there from the start- viz., the mid-range/post-up game and the tolerable outside shot.

I think the funniest part about this whole thing is that the entire late stage of his career, Payton kept jumping from ship to ship to try to win a ring when he realized he couldn't win won as a lead dog. Payton was a stud in his day but his comments are not surprising- there's a reason why he was the loudest mouth in the NBA during his days. He is cocky as all he!! and retirement won't change that.

andy582 wrote:This is the same Payton who jumped on the Kobe and Shaq bus to get a ring...

Rondo doesn't yet have Payton's midrange and post-up game- if he developed those, he'd be even more effective.

No ****...then he rode Wade, Shaq, and the refs to a ring in Miami...

Pot, kettle, kettle, pot, GP....