Don’t Hate The Player
Gary Payton is wrong about the Celtics’ PG.
I like Rajon Rondo. I can’t help it. His odd skill set—his wild ball fakes when he gets in the paint, how he rebounds like it’s 1962, the randomly skewed stat lines—appeals to someone like me. The appeal, however, doesn’t exactly permeate to everyone.
Gary Payton, I would surmise, hasn’t exactly boarded the Rondo train. Doing the NBATV thing right now, Payton must surely be the source for some off-air yapping because when Rondo’s name came up last month, Ahmad Rashad immediately went fishing for a Rondo assessment from G.P., and well, he got it: “I respect the man’s game, I’m just saying he got put into a situation.” Payton then references coat-tail guys like M.L. Carr and John Salley. Good stuff.
(In a related note, who are we to argue? If anyone knows what it’s like to be “put in a situation” it’s G.P. He was in one in 2004 (L.A.) and also 2006 (Miami), eventually earning that elusive ring in South Florida.)
Truth be told, Rondo is more than just a guy playing alongside K.G.-Pierce-Allen. Importantly, Rondo’s a guy they trust. K.G. said on multiple occasions that “it starts with our point guard.” Yes, the defending champs who possess three guys heading straight to Springfield rely on a 
22-year old with a, shall I say, less than reliable jump shot who prefers the paint to the perimeter.
You could make the case that Rondo’s development was harder because of his surroundings. There are plenty of young guys who come in with bad teams, get the necessary minutes and develop at a nice pace. For those who think Rondo’s opportunity—playing with the caliber that he is—is easy, imagine if Sebastian Telfair remained in Boston.
Playing with three All-Stars, no matter how much they sacrifice, would never be easy for a young point guard. It can’t be. Yes, it would beat the heck out of playing with misfits, but you have to win their trust, keep everyone happy, make sure everyone is getting touches, score when they’re sagging off you, and do whatever is possible to make sure they don’t get mad at you. Rondo’s options were to wilt or thrive. He chose to thrive. He’s a much-improved player.
Just how much better his team makes him, though, is a hard to determine. Remember Matt Maloney? White guy, shot threes, looked like an accountant? Anyway, he broke in 
with the Rockets in ’97, played with Olajuwon-Drexler-Barkley and was a serviceable point in his first two years. But when the old dudes inevitably broke down, so did Maloney’s career. Gone, just like that. Can we be certain that isn’t Rondo?
Thankfully, I think we can.
There are some things you just can’t ignore. It was Rondo who broke open Game 6 of last year’s Finals, seemingly in many places at once, setting a tone that lasted the full 48. Last week, Rondo busted Indiana—by now you’ve surely heard—with 16, 13, and 17, but the most impressive part wasn’t that only Magic Johnson had pulled a similar triple-dip in the last 25 years, but that Rondo had achieved it roughly 113 seconds into the second half. Basketball-Reference has Rondo listed fourth in defensive rating for this season. And I just got done reading the first of what will likely be many “Rondo an All-Star?” columns. What just happened?
I’m certainly not ready to approve this All-Star talk just yet—first Calderon, then Devin Harris, now this?—but there’s no denying Rondo has arrived as a very good pro. You can live with his inconsistency, his home-versus-road disparity (see: Playoffs, 2008), and the fact he’s still raw all because of who he plays with. He gets a free pass. Call it the Robert Horry Theorem: You can play without having accountability because of your great teammates.
So now we watch. Rondo needs to step in and replace James Posey as Boston’s fourth You-can-count-on-me-for-every-playoff-game player, he needs to continue to have outings like the Pacers game where we wonder “Can he really be an All-Star in the next two years?” and he needs to keep making everyone happy. And most importantly, if he is the starting point guard on a repeat championship run, Gary Payton might be “put in a situation” where he takes note of Rondo’s game. Imagine that.
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I agree on Rondo btw,he’s the type of player that will always either be vastly underappreciated or slightly over-rated.
jordan farmar- no
jameer nelson- no
jj barea- no
deron williams- yes
chauncy billups- hell yea
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*guzzles cheap scotch directly from bottle*
Devin Harris, Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Jose Calderon, then a couple of guys are about the same Augustin, and Duhon
Augustin is playing 3 less minutes per game is averaging the same amount of assists, 2 more points, 3 less rebounds and 2 less steals. ANd rondo is averaging 2 steals. Just based solely on defensive abilities Rondo is better then augustin will ever ever ever be. Take into effect rebounding and the fact that this is rondo’s 3rd year, and he has a ring. You are going to try and say augustin is better? Give me a break.
And I’d take Stockton in 1996, hands down. If I could pick any point guard to lead my team through the Playoffs, it would be Short Shorts.
I hate Stockton. But mainly just beacuse he torched the ’90s Spurs nonstop. Guy was super clutch and defined “consistency”. I’ll take the (vintage) Glove.
before this season duhons best year was in 05-06 when he averaged 8 and 5. Your calling a guy whos best season outside of 7 seconds or less was 8 and 5 better then Calderon. Whoever it was that said that i hope you feel really good about yourself.
Rose, Harris, Calderon, Mo, Bibby, Rondo, in that order. DJ Augustin is not better than Rondo.
I know you were Z, but I’m talking about all the new people.
Can’t see Bibby as a better passer.
My point about Harris was regarding somebody’s rankings of the current best point guards in the East and who should be on the All-Star list. Devin Harris should be number one in the balloting for point guards.
Put RONDO on any team and he’s a star
But Bibby is only a star on Atlanta
Bibby w/ one all-star on his team is “just in the right fit”
Rondo with three all-stars is great anywhere
Great, always expect the best from you Ciolkstar.
Also, NBK: the Hawks HAVE been winning. The Hawks have been DEVASTATED by injuries this year, yet they still have a winning record. That’s most Bibby. Rondo has three more assists because of Ray Allen suddenly being unable to miss at the three spot (a change from last year, not any other year)
You’re a nutcase. Go back to latching yourself on Rondo’s rectum.
Maybe Kenny Smith was right when he said Jose looked so good because he was killing backups.
Calderon was really good the beginning of the season. He’s dropped recently. I guess I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt that he’ll pick up again. If he doesn’t, he’ll drop, simple as that.
I read the post and I think it was Ryne who had Calderon over Harris.
And, nobody can put Duhon down for the system while praising Nash. It just doesn’t work. You gotta make a choice. Either Duhon was underutlized before, or D’Antoni’s system is freaking outstanding.
I would give Harris the nod over everybody. Rose has been a beast, but Harris has been slightly better.
I really should drop Calderon though. He hasn’t been playing up to par the last few games.
NBK: That last one on Duhon made no sense what-so-ever.
Rose hasn’t been better than Harris. He’s just had the sweet crossovers and big dunks.
You know?
Nash would never have won an mvp without Mike but Duhon would never have done anythign relevant we never even would have him in this discussion without D’Antoni!
Don’t overthink though, you don’t want to hurt yourself.
Ciolkstar: we can agree to disagree. If I could just see Rondo take over without the big three, I think I’d be a lot more convinced. Just have a monster game without two of the three hall of famers, that would make me rethink things. You do have a good point too in that I can’t really gauge his leadership abilities with the team he’s in. He may be a far superior leader and we wont know until he’s on his own.
Chris Duhon for MVP!!!
My assessment: Harris/Rose, Calderon, Bibby, Rondo, Mo, Ford, DJ, Duhon.
Harris has played better than Rose all year. It doesn’t matter that we think (know) Rose is/will be a better player.
What that means is that a pg will get tons of assists on jumpers made because they’re looking to take that J. All the time.
Jason Kidd 19-16-16
Jessica Alba 34-28-34
harris has Vince and Yi. Thats it. He’s forced to do a lot more of the scoring because its needed.
Duhon has good shooters at every position on the Knicks. At least guys who can make a layup most of the time anyways.
Calderon is injured, has had his coach fired, adjustments to the system and a new big to incorporate that demands the ball and doesnt lend his game to assists very well.
Nash is on the down side of his career. He’s 34 and Terry Porter is making everyone unhappy. Ever think that Duhon might be averaging more assists/points not just because of the system, but because of the quality of player he is passing to? Or that he is older/more experienced? C’mon.
Those two dominated the Ivy League like no tandem before or since has ever done.
They went like 3 years undefeated in conference
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