Rondo is an ELITE defender. He's been a 1st team all-nba defensive player TWICE. I'd equate Rondo to someone like Tony Parker. Decent mid-range shooters, but their real value is their ability to penetrate and distribute. The main problem I have with Rondo is his injury history. He's only played in 42% of Boston's games over the last 2 years. I'm really ok with any of the following: Rubio Rondo Lawson Dragic Bledsoe We should be cautious to look at this too one-dimensionally. I don't think any single one of these guys gets us over the top, but one of them plus a decent PF could. Brandon Bass Ersan Ilysova Ryan Anderson Taj Gibson Nikola Mirotic Thad Young So give me any combination of these two lists and I'm pretty happy.
you jump on someone for a spelling mistake but call me out for making fun of your useless posts. Priceless. and yes, we do need players who complement our stars. That's part of the reason Ariza will be a better fit and many including Carl -Lloyd Christmas- Herrera would like a stretch 4 to allow Dwight to have the post for more one on one matchups. but right now, our problem is that while we solved many of our defensive issues, we've create offensive issues in that only Harden can really create (bev is the epitome of a 3 and D PG). So while there may be problems with Rondo's game as a pure fit, he would give us another option at being able to create offense.
When Harden/Howard have the ball, and defenses collapse on them, they'll pass the ball to the open man. As defenses rotate, the ball keeps getting passed around the perimeter. And when the ball gets to Rondo, the defense will let him take the shot. And since the shot clock has been running the whole time, he can't reset the offense. He has to shoot. Did Jordan run the offense? Did Kobe? Did Drexler? Did Wade? I've watched every game he's played for the past 2 seasons. He's not an off-the-ball player. It'd be great if he could add that to his game, but thus far, he hasn't.
IF Morey trades for Rondo....or Rubio.... it means the team dynamic is changing and Harden is going to be working off the ball and in the high post a lot more. Morey won't be bringing in Rondo or Rubio to play off the ball. Morey will be bringing in Rondo or Rubio to handle, set up, penetrate, run pick-and-roll, and then throw the ball to an open Harden....and in the process cut down our turnover rate drastically. The team dynamic will change if we get a playmaking PG like Rondo and Rubio. And you will have to take that to mean Morey has studied it, looked at all the analysis, and determined that we will be better with Harden off the ball a lot more.
I should add too that my preference at PG is Dragic. - Still young (28) - No injury history - Like Harden, a combo guard - Can play effectively with Harden, Beverley, and Daniels. - Good 3 point shooter - Good assist to turnover ratio The question for the Rockets would be can Dragic/Harden/Ariza/Howard beat Westbrook/Jackson/Durant/Ibaka or Parker/Ginobili/Leonard/Diaw/Duncan? I honestly don't know...so it would depend on the bench you could build or who you add at PF.
And since then, he's torn his ACL and hasn't proven himself to be fully recovered. At this point, it's impossible to claim that he's still an elite defender.
Right. If memory servers, the skinny on Rondo is that his personality is very abrasive and it rubs his teammates (aka role players aka minions) the wrong way. I just don't see there being enough oxygen in the room for both his and Harden's egos. Thou shall not upset the cornerstones of the Rockets...
Lol well it seems Rondo for this team would be terrible in your black in white hypothetical situations! Wait a minute, let me create my little black and white, simple minded little situations to counter you sir! When Harden and Howard get the ball passed to them by Rondo, they will be in position to score, and they will score. When Rondo passes the ball to a wing on the Perimeter... they will open, and they will shoot and score. What if no perimeter players open!? Rondo will drive into the paint, and kick the ball out, or simply score at the basket if not doubled on the drive. Tada Rondo's a perfect fit!! LOL no **** he ran the offense the last 2 seasons! There wasn't any other option besides have Beverley or Lin run the offense. He was a off ball player in OKC who developed into a ball dominant player in Houston, seriously your too funny.
The question is that if the rockets can or can not get Dragic first rather than if they can or can not beat OKC or Spurs with him. The clutchfans seem to be always confident to get a star from other team by using our role players because we have Morey. At a time, a hot topic was that if we should or not trade Harden for Melo to have a team with LeBron, Melo, and Howard, what a great dream, and a great time we had.
Good post. agree with everything you said. The team would change with Rondo (or Rubio). This isn't a guy like Lin who you ask to change his game because he's not good enough to be the primary ball handler. Some seem to think that Harden's elite skill is distributing. It's not. His assist to turnover ratio ratio is ranked 73rd in league. That's not terrible, but it also means he's not exceptional at it. Harden's elite skill is finishing. Plain and simple, Harden can put the ball in the basket from anywhere on the court. He's got it all.....driving, mid-range, and 3s. In contrast, Rondo's elite skill is distributing. He's consistently been in the top 2-3 in assists per game, and top 10 in assists to turnovers. Those worried about our transition game........why? Harden and Ariza are both very good in transition, and it's not like Rondo is bad at it. Besides, the transition game virtually disappears in the playoffs. One overlooked benefit of adding Rondo is how much he would help Howard. Throughout the season, we heard over and over that our players were having a hard time getting the ball into the post. You know who can do that quickly and from multiple angles/places? Rondo.
My hypothetical is actually very common and occurs countless times throughout the season. Our offense tries to create open shots in the paint and open 3's. Once again, you're assuming that Harden will be moving off the ball. You know what they say about people who make assumptions, right? Looks like you're forgetting about a guy named Dwight Howard...
Rondo is not the same player before his injure. Another problem to have him is that both Howard and him are bad shooters on the line. He is not a good fit with Howard, but Dragic is.
lol This is what everyone seems to be forgetting. The team is Harden and Howard. The dynamics of these two are what Morey is looking to complement not change. Harden is going to be the primary ball handler regardless of who they bring in. Another big to complement Howard defensively is the holy grail right now. Get that and we go deep at least. Yes a good to great PG would be icing on the cake but that PG would have to be able to work with Harden being the primary ball handler. Knowing this then a Rondo is an ill fit. Dragic can be that way I think but he would have to cede some PG time. I think he can but he has a bad contract for this team knowing what the holy grail is. Morey will not give up his flexibility till he gets that PF spot taken care of.
My hypothetical is very common as well buddy Im not assuming anything. Are you completely ignoring Harden in OKC? Just pretending Harden didn't play off the ball? Howard is NOT an elite passer, he didn't even average 1 assist for god sake, just completely silly that you mention him a possible ball distributor. Your so far off on all of this, I can't even debate it with you any longer.
