When was T-Mac voted into an all-star game when he didn't deserve it? Yea he led in votes at the 2 position a couple time when he was broken but he never actually go the nod. I know, I know we all hate tracy around hear but lets be rational. Every time the man was voted into the all-star game (I.e actually making the team) he deserved it. The man, in his prime, was a sight to behold. Those are just the facts. *Insert "I hate T-Slack/Back" post here*
Except the fact that he can't shoot makes him terrible against any team with a decent paint defense. Which was what he was vs Lakers and Orlando. He's not bad, but elite is stretching it.
Is there even a concrete definition of an elite nba point guard? It doesn't seem you could define it the same way you could define something like a "basketball" or a "chair" Would it be a stretch to say that because of the different variables for each potential candidate (different teams,circumstances,era's etc.) that it could be indefinable?
I never mentioned any of the other series but the finals. My whole point was that he wasn't being guarded IN THE FINALS. And the Lakers only planned for him if planning to ignore him is a plan. Keep bringing up triple-doubles but Boston didn't need rebounding out of its point guard in the finals, they needed him to keep defenses honest, which he certainly was not able to do and something that someone who is supposedly 'elite' should be able to do.
I don't consider Rondo a superstar. They're far and few in between. Only time I'd consider a player being a superstars is if they've proven they can carry a winning record team. That being said, Rondo's been surrounded by KG, Pierce, and Allen. 3 unselfish players working in unison. Having those 3 surrounding him really removes a lot of the pressure of running his game. He's had great games and is definitely a good player but i think it's blown out of proportion just how valuable he is. I don't know if there would even be a thread on this topic had he not been surrounded by his particular teammates. It's one thing to be expected to play your game, and another to be expected elevate everyone else's all the time. There's a reason why Boston's known to have the big 3 and not the big 4.
First, I'd like to apologize for my tone and for the way I responded to your earlier posts. Not sure why I was so abrasive, but it was definitely uncalled for. The Lakers, like other teams in the postseason, did play off of Rondo. I don't think they were completely ignoring him. Overall, I thought Rondo, playing within the confines of the offense, did well to make them pay for their approach in defending him. Not to sound like a broken record, but his triple-double in Game 2 of the Finals, which included scoring in double digits in the 4th qtr to save that game for his team and hand the Lakers their only home loss of the postseason was a good example of keeping the defense honest. He came close to a triple-double in Game 7 that almost helped pull off the upset as well. I realize the main focus of your argument is on this year's Finals, but I think it's important to point out that in last year's playoffs Rondo averaged 16.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg, & 9.8 apg. IMO he was the best player in this year's playoffs. Another aspect that some ignore is the fact that he's the best defender at the pg position as well (1st team all-defense this past season). This is a hypothetical, but I'm pretty sure that he would've won Finals mvp had the Celtics been able to pull out the series. He's also one of the best, if not the best, rebounder at the pg position, one of the top assist men in the league, and led the NBA in spg this past season. My argument is that there are 2 , maybe 3 pgs at most, that are better than Rajon, which is why I think there is a case that he is elite at his position. Lol @ he's not bad. Go look at what he did to Orlando in last year's playoffs and he almost averaged a double-double along with 2 spg against them in this year's playoffs.
The only elite PG I can think of who isn't a good shooter is Jason Kidd. BUT Kidd is still a way better shooter than Rondo. 1. Kidd shot under .300 at 3pt only twice in 16 seasons, one of those was his rookie year. Rondo shot OVER .300 only once in 4 season, and his career average is a horrific .244. 2. Even more importantly, Kidd is respectable at the line at 78% while Rondo is a very poor FT shooter at 63%. If you can't hit the outside shots, you have to be able to drive, which Rondo can. But like someone pointed out, when he faces a team with good interior defense like the Lakers, he is totally ineffective because they just foul him hard whenever he drives. 3. If you are not a scoring threat as a PG, that takes away your passing lanes. This is why Rafer Alston was so ineffective even though he was a great ball handler and a decent passer. Rondo can finish at the rim a lot better than Rafer. But he is still a liability on offense when teams just back off of him and dare him to shoot. Kidd's lowest assist average since his rookie season was 8.7. Rondo's assist average since his rookie season was 7.8. Not bad, but not at Kidd's level, especially considering that he has Pierce, Allen, and Garnett to pass to.
