Best PG Rotation in the NBA?

[SuigintouEV]

Around 2 years ago, the Raptors had a trio of Juan Dixon, Jose Calderon, and TJ Ford at the point. When Ford was in, they got a lot of penetration and assists, etc. He was easily the most important of the PGs. Jose Calderon was very effective against bench defenses, he would penetrate very often, and when he wasn't wheeling and dealing, he was just being a steady guard who ran some sets. His defense wasn't all that great, but not many bench guards really made him pay for, either. Juan Dixon was a clear step below the other two, and for the most part he mainly just played backup 2 in small-ball. Inconsistent as hell, but when he was on, watch out, guy just couldn't miss. Those Raptors were not a great team, probably not even good, but they did win 47 games and at the time thier bench which didn't really have great players, was considered a top 5 or so bench - guys like Kris Humphries and Bargnani really fed off of Jose's ability to minimize the dropoff from the starters. What's more, having 2 effective PGs meant that if one struggled, the minutes could be adjusted so the one having a good game would give better play.

This PG rotation kind of reminds me of that one. Except...a hell of a lot better:

You've got Rondo, who's making a case for being a borderline all-star, who's a definite impact player. We've seen this season that he's a player that gives other teams headaches. However we've seen at other points in the season that when Rondo struggles, the team does in fact struggle because a struggling Rondo is a flawed basketball player. He's the most valuable PG on the team, but there's games, or more specifically, certain teams against which he does get exposed to an extent.


What we saw today is that while Steph was a limited player as a team leader, as a 6th man he's very damn effective. He can penetrate, handle, and even stick the open jumper (which is a bit of a change of pace from Rondo, with Starbury's ability to shoot, you can probably run more KG post-ups when he returns and not have that be foiled so easily). While probably he lacks some of the skills and athleticism to be an upper-tier starter at this point in his career, lest we forget, he is a former all star who's around the same age as the big 3. Off the bench, his ability to create plays for guys like Powe, Big Baby and House could contribute to what was earlier this year a brutal bench becoming the best bench in the NBA (and that's without a 3pt shooting wing)! And if Doc's rotations are such that Pierce or Ray is always on the floor, then you've always got a deadly 3pt shooter at a wing position playing beside him, taking advantage of his penetration. That also means that those extra 4 minutes pierce plays beside Steph, he can coast offensively a lot more than he would have beside House, where he was essentially point-forward.

Finally you've got house. We all know that he's not a PG and that he's hot-and-cold. But playing beside Steph at the 2 makes him all the more effective, and what's more, it'll be easier to not get hurt by him having a bad game come playoff time - because you can bench him without a severe dropoff. Also, he's yet another change of pace - his ability to spread the floor and hit the 3 is probably a lot better than anyone on the team not named Ray Allen. Defensively, a lineup of Steph and House at the 2 and 1 isn't great, but against benches (and the smaller cavs' backcourt), it'll probably not hurt too much.

It looks like adding stephon marbury has done more than just give the team a decent backup - it makes the entire BENCH better. Steph had 5 assists today, and they were generally great assists, and the team made a run or two while he was on the court. On december 25th the Celtics lost to the Lakers, not because the starters were outplayed, but because the bench was out played. On June 25th the same thing will happen, only to the other team.

[Jammer]

Before Steph arrived,
I would have said the Celtics were third,
behind New Orleans (Chris Paul plays 40 mpg)
and Denver.

I thought Steph would move the Celtics past New Orleans and Denver.

Based on his overall play to date, that hasn't happened.

I think the Celtics stated plan, per one of the Boston local papers,
was to hope that Steph could win one or two playoff games all by himself.

That still could happen.

But Steph's slower than he used to be (he's 32),
doesn't have as good a left hand as I thought,
may not realize that he shoots best inside 20 feet,
and could still stand to lose a few pounds.

I don't think you realize that Chris Paul is performing at a higher level
than any PG in history, last year AND this season.

And Billups is still solid on offense and defense, and can shoot the 3 well.

Overall, I don't think the Celtics move up past
third place where I had them before Steph arrived.

But if Steph can help win a playoff game or two,
he's earned his keep.

[Kefa461]

Before Steph arrived,
I would have said the Celtics were third,
behind New Orleans (Chris Paul plays 40 mpg)
and Denver.

I thought Steph would move the Celtics past New Orleans and Denver.

Based on his overall play to date, that hasn't happened.

I think the Celtics stated plan, per one of the Boston local papers,
was to hope that Steph could win one or two playoff games all by himself.

That still could happen.

But Steph's slower than he used to be (he's 32),
doesn't have as good a left hand as I thought,
may not realize that he shoots best inside 20 feet,
and could still stand to lose a few pounds.

I don't think you realize that Chris Paul is performing at a higher level
than any PG in history, last year AND this season.

And Billups is still solid on offense and defense, and can shoot the 3 well.

Overall, I don't think the Celtics move up past
third place where I had them before Steph arrived.

But if Steph can help win a playoff game or two,
he's earned his keep.

Warming up huh.......it's gonna get better....

[Jammer]

But, if as the original poster suggests (prematurely, I say)

the Celtics were to have the best PG rotation in the NBA
(meaning better than New Orleans),

well, then the Celtics would win EVERY playoff game by double figures.

Since that ain't gonna happen,

I think comparing the Celts to Chris Paul (and company, but Chris plays 40 mpg),
well, keep on dreaming.

But if Rajon ever gets a consistent shot, he will challenge Chris Paul
for best PG, but I don't think it will be this year,
although I'd love Rajon to average 20 ppg in each playoff series.

[JMillott]

Steph allows us to play Bill Walker and rest Pierce, without Steph it was obvious that Doc had to keep Pierce on the floor to run the show so teams wouldn't press against House.

Now we can rest Pierce to get Walker on the floor and actually have a better shot creator in Marbury then Pierce. Marbury's court vision and ability to run the pick and roll/pop game makes every member of our bench better.

We also have a 110% super athlete in Walker who is completely fresh, not on scouting reports and after months of waiting and learning knows the system while being desperate to keep his role. This kid already had a high motor when we drafted him but he is hungry for these minutes even for him.

[SonicYouth34]

Once Steph gets his "sea legs" we will have a great rotation.

[BillessuR6]

It is an absolute joy to watch another player beside Rondo in the backcourt who can actually handle and dribble the ball....

When Marbury gets in form he will be a huge addition. Yesterday was by far his best game for us and he will only get better.

Rondo, Marbury, House at PG probably is the best rotation in the league...(Paul by himself isn`t a rotation, jammer)

[Jammer]

Rondo, Marbury, House at PG probably is the best rotation in the league...(Paul by himself isn`t a rotation, jammer)

Although I am not a Chris Paul fan,
because he can be neutralized by a defender with size AND quickness,
there aren't any matching up against him,

so Chris Paul + whoever >>> Rajon + Eddie OR Rondo + House + Steph.

What really scares me is whether the Celtics will be able to
maintain the 3rd best point guard rotation that they HAD ALL YEAR,
of Rajon Rondo and Eddie House,
now that Steph has been added to the mix.

There have been a few bright spots since Steph's arrival,
but also losses to Detroit, Orlando and Miami.

[SuigintouEV]

look, cp3 does not play 48 minutes a game.

it's inevitable that he's going to rest for 8 minutes a game.

8 nutes is a lot of time. enough time for two separate 4 minute, 10+ point runs etc

CP3 is a great player, but even with all his impact, his lack of a good backup (AD and Devin brown are pretty bad) especially on a team so reliant on PG play, means that the hornets don't have an effective PG rotation. They have the best PG in the league but they're not satisfied. Every time I watch a hornets game, the announcers are reminding viewers how the hornets could moderately maintain a lead when they had Jannero Pargo, and how badly they miss the guy.

If they miss Jannero Pargo, that means they lack a legit backup, which means they don't have teh best PG rotation in the league.

[biggamejames2]

The C's Pg rotation is behind Chicago's Rose/Heinrich.
The C's pg rotation is behind Detroit's Stuckey/Iverson
The C's PG rotation is behind Utah's Deron Williams/Ronnie Price
You could also make a case it WAS behind Allston/Brooks in Houston pre-trade
Monte Ellis/Jamal Crawford is a pretty dirty PG rotation as well
I could go on and list other comparable tandoms but i think i made my point that saying Rondo/Steph (I refuse to call House a PG) is not top 3 in the league. I would definitely say that if Steph were to live up to his potential they would be by far the best PG tandom in the NBA but there's no chance of Steph living up to all that potential at this point in his career.

BTW give me Terry/Kidd/Berea as well as Nash/Barbosa over Rondo/Steph as well.