Cross Country Love Fest

by Jeff Clark on Dec 29, 2008 6:42 PM EST in News/Links Comment 16 comments

First Steve told us about his on going love fest for the Blazers. Now Ben from Blazers Edge is Bromancing Rondo:

But Rondo, Rondo, wherefore art thou, Rondo? Sure his jumper is still sitting unclaimed in a lost-and-found department somewhere, but his defense, agility and beyond-his-years maturity are the envy of any team currently unhappy with their PG situation. Today, one beat writer called Rondo "the perfect PG for the Blazers." Yeah, pretty much.

He even had some excellent quotes from Nate McMillan on Rondo:

I think he has been a real key to that team. You know, I have to look at the other guards (on the ballot) but I think he's a perfect match for that team.

You're talking about an unselfish guard that has three scorers who defends and delivers the ball and he understands that and is good at it. I think he's been playing really good basketball... he's a tough kid...

For him last year to win it and be able to grow with those veterans and basically this year expand his game, for you to even ask that question, maybe if he wasn't on that team we wouldn't even be talking about that.

He's looking like an All Star because he's had that opportunity to grow and play with great players.

Feel the love!

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I'll take LaMarcus Aldridge

If the Blazers want Rondo, I won’t even ask for Brandon Roy. I’ll take LaMarcus Aldridge or Greg Oden. And I’d be willing to throw in Powe or BBD if they give us Steve Blake.

by Brickowski on Dec 29, 2008 7:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

um no

by TheAncientRivalry on Dec 29, 2008 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sort of Agree, Sort of Disagree

First of all I wouldn’t trade Rondo for anyone. But if we do in this hypothetical I, too, would take Aldridge. Greg Oden’s injury history reminds me of another #1 pick (whose name has slipped the remnants of my mind). He’s the Center who was taken by, I think Portland, ahead of Micheal Jordan. He hardly ever played because of injuries right from the start of his NBA career.

by TrueGreen on Dec 30, 2008 10:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Portland did take Sam Bowie ahead of Jordan in 1984,

but he went second after Hakeem.

-sw

Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.

by Steve Weinman on Dec 30, 2008 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Steve, Thanks for filling in my blanks and for correcting me. Hopefully Oden won’t be haunted by Sam Bowie’s experience, especially when it involves the same team. That would be eerie.

by TrueGreen on Dec 30, 2008 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aldridge = overrated

People love that he hits jumpers, overlooking the fact that he doesn’t do much else well for a big man. He’s grabbing 6.8 rebounds per 36 minutes this season— exactly the same rate as Glen Davis, and well below Powe and Perkins. His FG% this year is a mediocre (again, for a big) 48%. His assist, steal, and block rates all look pretty mediocre, too.

Again, people see a seven-footer hitting jumpers and think, this is a versatile player— ignoring the fact that he’s playing a big man’s position and putting up mediocre numbers in most of the big man categories.

Granted, the Blazers are loaded with young talent, but Aldridge is low on the list of players I’d want.

by PJ Martinez on Dec 29, 2008 7:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Here is what Id have to get from the blazers for Rondo

Fernandez, Blake, Aldridge, Pryzbilla. Why so much? It would be the only way to compensate enough to make it worthwhile and make us better for sure now and later.

If the Blazers were to actually try to get rr id think theyd think trying Blake, Pryzbilla, and Aldridge would be farther than theyd want to go

Its all silly and for fun. We are stuck with rondo:>))))

by wahz on Dec 29, 2008 9:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Looking toward the future, isn’t Rondo the least likely to be traded beyond the next year or two? Am I wrong that he and Perk look like the foundation for the 3-7 year future?

by Thruthelookingglass on Dec 30, 2008 1:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

any comment

that mentions wanting steve blake on our team automatically is disregarded here. well, i don’t think he is very good, and more so i couldn’t stand those maryland teams :)(seriously though, what a dissapointment those teams were in regards to pro players)

by ChainSmokingLikeDino on Dec 29, 2008 9:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Steve Blake and Rondo are averaging the same points this year.

Both at 11.4. Dont hate on my boy Blake.

by Sabonis4Ever on Dec 30, 2008 6:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That really means nothing

by TheAncientRivalry on Dec 30, 2008 8:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Eddie House is averaging almost the same points as Greg Oden

wanna trade?

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Michael Scott

by Jeff Clark on Dec 30, 2008 9:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know you've been campaigning for more Gabe Pruitt,

but this move would leave us a bit short on outside shooting off the bench, no?

I don’t know…guess it might help our length issues. :-D

-sw

Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.

by Steve Weinman on Dec 30, 2008 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with McMillan

Rondo has had the benefit of maturing in an environment that is superheated with great players. Some have said he only appears to be this good because the Big Three make him look good, and that bothers me. I’m glad McMillan has pointed out that Rondo is talented AND that the Celtics environment has hastened his development.

It’s no knock that he gets to start for the Celtics. Holy cow, he’s taken a dream come true and made it even better!

by Thruthelookingglass on Dec 30, 2008 1:35 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We Can't Blame Rondo Or Danny

It’s not Rondo’s fault that he was drafted by the Celtics a year before KG and Ray turned up. I wonder what Phoenix is thinking now. I like your statement in the first paragraph. I would extend it by saying the starting five are all interdependent on each other. Each player’s individual success depends on the success of all the others. But the mantra of this TEAM is TEAM success, not individual success.

by TrueGreen on Dec 30, 2008 10:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

True

These guys are interdependent, and it is a TEAM. Man, and I love it that they are our team too. I just see Perk and Rondo as the torchbearers for the future. And to your point, I do think Perk and Rondo have figured out how to complement the three veteran stars. Perk shows up and provides grit—he pounds on the opposition down low. Rondo organizes and delivers. I’ve been worried about all the layups he’s taken lately, but eventually other teams will work to keep him out of the lane and he’ll again focus more on distribution.

And yeah, did we ever owe Phoenix a fruitcake for Christmas? Geez! Didn’t everyone know Danny would have killed to get Rondo?

Peace out TrueGreen, you are so right!

by Thruthelookingglass on Dec 30, 2008 10:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs