Rondology

[elrod enchilada]

Bill Simmons notes that if the Cs win 60 games this year, Rondo will be the first point guard in NBA history to start for such a team while only 23 or younger in league history.

Here is something else to consider.

At present pace, Rondo is on tap to have 689 assists this season. That would be the second most in franchise history, topped only by Bob Cousy's 715 in 2959-60.

If Rondo continues to generate assists at the same rate he has for the past nine games, he will end the year with 753 assists, by far the most in team history, and a per-game average of 9.2.

Before he is through, Rondo could dominate this list like Russell dominates the rebounding list. That is how much talent he has.

Now if only he could shoot...

[elrod enchilada]

oops. Cousy did that in 1959-60. sorry about the typo

[elrod enchilada]

PS-- The Cs have had 5 hall-of-fame point guards: Cousy, KC Jones, JoJo White, Nate Archibald, and DJ. Each, like Rondo, commandeered teams to NBA championships. So it is not like being the top assist guy in the history of the Timberwolves.

[Gant]

Bill Simmons notes that if the Cs win 60 games this year, Rondo will be the first point guard in NBA history to start for such a team while only 23 or younger in league history.

Here is something else to consider.

At present pace, Rondo is on tap to have 689 assists this season. That would be the second most in franchise history, topped only by Bob Cousy's 715 in 2959-60.

If Rondo continues to generate assists at the same rate he has for the past nine games, he will end the year with 753 assists, by far the most in team history, and a per-game average of 9.2.

Before he is through, Rondo could dominate this list like Russell dominates the rebounding list. That is how much talent he has.

Now if only he could shoot...

I'm confused. Rondo was 21 turning to 22 last year and the Celtics won 66.

[elrod enchilada]

Duhh. I need more coffee. Simmons wrote two consecutive 60 win teams. My bad.

[Gant]

Duhh. I need more coffee. Simmons wrote two consecutive 60 win teams. My bad.

That makes sense. ( I just had too much coffee and I'm hyper alert.)

[DorfonCeltics]

Elrod, I think this is a great indication of what we can expect from Rondo over the next 6-8 years. I think he's the best in the league (yes even better than Chris Paul) at driving to the hoop baseline and find his open guys on the perimeter. He has a natural ability to set up his teamates for good looks. Some Rondo haters like to point out the fact his passes aren't always spot on but they are missing the fact that he is finding his teammates in the midst of 7 footers swarming him at the baseline. I've always dreamed of having a pg who was top 5 in the league in assists and I think Rondo has finally developed into this pg.

[wigglestrue]

With today's much looser standards for crediting assists, add another -- what -- 2 to 3 assists for Cousy per game? As it is, Cousy led the NBA in assists for 8 consecutive years, more than half those years beating the runner-up by more than two assists per game. I understand what your point about Rondo is, but let's not risk diminishing how great Cousy was.

[Kefa461]

Rondo has such an upside for a 22 year old it is unbelieveable.....Perk (if he can stay healthy) has an up side too but Rondo is gonna be something if he continue to work at it. We as a fan base have to be and Danny(thank goodness) we keep us focused on this fact.....we have one of the best young points in the NBA......

[aboubata]

I just wish rondo doesn't occasionaly just stand around on D or lose his guy. he seems to lose interest during the game.

[elrod enchilada]

Hey Wigglestrue, no insult to the Cooz intended. I am a huge fan, though most of what I have seen is grainy black-and-white clips. I mss him as an announcer.

I don't know much about the liberalization of assist rules. I follow it pretty closely today an dI don't see Rondo getting any cheapies, for what iot is worth.

Assists have never been a perfect measure. They miss the "hockey assist;" when a guy makes the great pass to the guy who makes the pass that is the assist. Sometimes the first pass is the key to the play working.They also do not include when the pass goes to a guy who gets fouled in the act of shooting, if the attempt does not go it. Often times those are the best assists because they force the defender to foul. Both of those are limitations.

As for Rondo, keep in mind that Doc is playing him far fewer minutes than Cooz, though recently his minutes are upticking, as Doc realizes Rondo is a soon-to-be 23 year old world class athlete, and not some geriatric coming off double ACL reconstructive knee surgery. He can play 36-40 mpg easily. This 32 mpg stuff is insane, espcially when there in no credible backup point guard on the roster.

[Dave_From_NB]

As for Rondo, keep in mind that Doc is playing him far fewer minutes than Cooz, though recently his minutes are upticking, as Doc realizes Rondo is a soon-to-be 23 year old world class athlete, and not some geriatric coming off double ACL reconstructive knee surgery. He can play 36-40 mpg easily. This 32 mpg stuff is insane, espcially when there in no credible backup point guard on the roster.

I think the opposite of you on this. The reason that Rondo only plays 32 minutes a game is because we have no credible backup. Playing him 40 minutes a game risks him being fatigued or injured by the playoffs, and with no backup PG then we're toast.

[Rocky5000]

Rondo

THE THIRST CRUSHER

[SonicYouth34]

I wish he'd stop gambling so much on D and stay in front of his man, but I guess that's what makes him unique. Other than that, not bad for the 21st pick and 3 million dollars

[elrod enchilada]

DaveFromNB--

Your theory doesn't make sense to me. No other stud, and only a few star players, under age 32 plays less than 35 mpg. It is absurd to think Rondo is some dainty flower who can't handle playing 36-38 mpg in the regular season. Or, at least, I see no evidence yet that he is some special case wimp, unlike similar players at a similar age, including point guards.To the contrary, he strikes me as an astonishing athlete who could play 36-38 mpg, and even prosper from the experience. He is going to have to play 40-42 mpg in May and June if we have any hope of getting no. 18. He ought to get used to it now.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/statistic ... eason=2009

Jeez, even Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are playing 36 mpg, and they are a lot closer to the AARP than Rondo. And Pierce gets the living hell beat out of him damned near every game.

Playing 32mpg may make sense for a KG, but not a Rondo. By this logic, The Celtics should have played Bird and Havlicek and Russell far fewer minutes in the regular season. Do you think that would have won them any more titles? There is no evidence this effected them negatively in the playoffs. They got plenty of rest. If they had played 32 mpg in the regular season it would have just cost us games, and possibly HCA and some of those flags that hang in the rafters.