I don't remember what his rating was initially, they vary with the updates. But, basically, in association mode a player's rating is just how good he is at that moment (in the fake season). You can focus on a player in practice and bring his rating up drastically and you can develop him every month. You can easily make a guy like Rondo a superstar by just developing his jumper every month and doing intense practices.
Rondo is a rare talent, who can read team defenses and pick them apart, even without three-point range. He knows when to look for his shot and when to distribute. He can hit jumpers out to 19', but chooses to make the more efficient play every time and drives/dishes. He finishes well enough in half-court, transition to shoot at a better clip than most big men. There are many sweet-shooting combo guards in the league like Maurice Williams and Jameer Nelson, but Rondo is as pure a PG as you get. When he's aggressive, the Celtics offense is damn-near unbeatable; when he's passive, they're a below-average offensive team. That's how much he matters--on top of being one of the league's top defensive/rebounding point guards (lead Kentucky in rebounding I think). People who bash him either a) watched him play one game or b) (more likely) are box-score watchers like that Hollinger dork at ESPN. Anyway, I'm not necessarily a Celtics homer on the subject, because I knew that Marcus Banks was one of the league's worst players and that Delonte West's game has serious flaws (I'd still take him over his college teammate Nelson), but I knew Rondo was special as a rookie. That's why Boston's front office refused to part with him in the Ray Allen and KG deals. Rant over.
I had serious doubts about Rondo as a rookie. All I saw was athleticism. That's why I gave him major props last season (especially early on) for his incredible improvement. I went so far to say that he might be more valuable to them than Ray Allen. Unfortunately, some of his playoff performances put him back in many people's doghouses. This season Rondo has taken another step, which is why the Celts are winning 90% of their games. To bad for his reputation that he didn't look good against the Lakers. I agree with every comment you made about him above but he isn't playing at an All-Star level. What makes Rondo so valuable is he fits the Celts needs perfectly, which (I think) makes him seem better than he is to those here who say he should be an All-Star.
Fair enough I think Devin Harris has to get in ahead of him, but arguably not the other guys mentioned in this thread. Not that it really matters, I'd rather he not make it and see him and the other Celtics rest during February, esp. with all the physical punishment his style of play incurs him. His rookie year, to me, was the only bright spot in the Celtics backcourt rotation that year (though Alan Ray/Orien Greene had a few good games). I realized then why no teams wanted Dickau or Sebastian "holy crap he's bad" Telfair.
i dont know if any1 said this cuz i wasnt really payin attention but id take rose, devin harris, mo williams, jose calderon, and mayb jameer nelson over rondo in the east
I know I'm spamming this thread but--Calderon? You must spend a lot of time on Yahoo! fantasy basketball. Now he's a player I'd rank lower than Aaron Brooks.
Swap out Rajon Rondo with TJ Ford and I dont think the Celtics lose that much. I consider Ford a good player, which would make Rondo very good. But not "great". Rondo has long arms for his size, quick hands on defense and can rebound well for his position. Very good attributes to have but it doesnt make him Gary Payton type great.
his reputation that he can't shoot has been built based on the fact that he can't shoot. For the most part Rondo was "guarded" by Kobe, who effectively just pay Rondo for the pass or helped out on Cs, daring him to brick. Replace Rondo w Tyronn Lue, Andre Miller, Joran Famar, and the C's record would be about the same
Because on any given night, he could grab 15 rebounds, throw out 15 assists, or drop 25 points. Not to mention he is an AWESOME defender........
because the big 3 is actually doing their job........if the big 3 wasnt, rondo's would probably blame for the team losing..........rondo got lit up in golden state
au contre, take away the big 3, the Celtics team is but a doormat. conversely, Replace Rondo w any serviceable NBA PG, starter or bench, the Celetics would not lose a beat.
