I just wish people could be rational about Rondo. At least somewhat. Here are the facts about what Rondo really is: Hes a premier passer. Perhaps the best in the league. He finds angles that make you think he has the ability to bend time and space. Even the most ardent Rondo hater can admit this guy is like a pool shark when it comes to finding passing angles. Hes a vicious competitor. The guy gets pissed when an 8 year old beats him in connect 4. Like legitimately pissed. Its a mental defect. And I say that in a complimentary way. The best of the best have a mental defect that makes losing impossible to accept. Like, irrationally impossible to accept. Every elite competitor has it. Rondo has it. He is growing as a player and as a person. Has he butted heads with people? Yup. Even with Doc Rivers. But Doc and Paul Pierce butted heads and that turned out great. Rondo and Doc butted heads too, and thats blossomed into a very good relationship that continues to this day. But... His competitive nature gets the best of him sometimes. That manifests itself negatively. Its not as bad as it used to be, but its not as controlled as it could be. His defense has taken a back seat to his offense. Once upon a time, Rondo was an elite-level defender. Now, hes a gambler and, sometimes, a turnstile. Im not happy about this. But this is why I like the ball-hawking Avery Bradley. Rondo + Bradley is a nice combination. Still, itd be nice if Rondo was more of the defender he used to be. Welcome to the NBA. As ones offensive responsibilities increase, his defensive responsibilities decrease. His shooting still leaves something to be desired. Though... his mid-range game seems to have improved a bit. Hes never going to be a pure jump-shooter.... but thats not his game. If you want Rondo to be Russell Westbrook, then youre going to be disappointed. But, if you want Westbrook to be Rondo, youre also going to be disappointed. Thats just how it is. Theyre different players. In the end, Id personally prefer the playmaking ability and competitiveness to be the point man for my team. Rondos a prick to the media, but hes not a prick. Hes won an award for his charity work (which is rarely publicized) and hes never done anything to alienate a fan directly. Hes mostly popular in the locker room (unless youre Ray Allen) and hes proven to be a loyal teammate. Oh, and his playoff performances... you know... when it really counts?.... have been sublime. Hes also made it clear hed like to stay in Boston. Hes not going to be a primary scorer, but this is a league that has determined you need THREE stars. Rondo can be one of those three.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 02:44:06 +0000
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