Cs dependence on Rondo-this year and last

by illantari on Apr 20, 2009 11:43 PM EDT

This has been confusing me for a bit now, so I thought I'd see if someone more basketball knowledgeable could explain it to me. And don't tell me it's because of James Posey.

Last year, as much as I love him, the Cs often seemed to win despite of Rondo. He was wildly inconsistent and would often disappear on the road, regular season and playoffs. Yet the team chugged along, the ball kept moving, and the wins kept coming. Eddie played point, heck even TA brought up the ball at times and yet we still seemed to have an offense.

This year, I've said it before in game threads, but it often seems like the team can't do ANYTHING without Rondo. The Mavs game where he got his second triple double, it seemed like Rondo was the offense and the defense. In the regular season, he's out for 2 games and the Cs are 0-2. Tonight he goes out 5 mins and the team is -10, with what felt like 4 consecutive turnovers. It's almost like they fail at basic basketball functions which only peripherally have to do with having or not having a competent point guard.

Why is this so? It can't just be that he's better-if it was we'd win more win him but wouldn't necessarily stop functioning without him. Is it just greater dependence on his playmaking? A coincidence? Totally unrepresentative sample size?

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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I dont think we won despite rondo last year

I thought rondo got better game to game last season, and was the best player on the court for many of our home playoff games, including game 6 of the finals.

Hes gotten better this year, is composed, has a ton of heart and will do anything it takes to win…hes gotten better for sure, to the point im convinced its turning into his team before our eyes…doc even made a comment about this today. but I think you overexaggerate on how his play wasnt any good last year…I thought he was a very good player for us last season and started the progression of what we’re seeing now…and I personally think theres still a ton of upside there

by TheAncientRivalry on Apr 21, 2009 12:06 AM EDT reply actions

Oh I definitely didn’t mean we won the championship despite of him, just a few individual bad games from R2 along the way. It just seems that this year Rondo can’t have a bad game or the whole team will as well.

That said, I hope to god that his ankle is ok and he’s ready to go for the rest of the series. And I can see the torch being passed from PP to R2.

by illantari on Apr 21, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I still have no idea . . .

How Paul Pierce won the Celtic MVP award on celticsblog frontpage poll. Rondo by far. I love Pierce but this year we are nothing without Rondo.

by rrc589 on Apr 21, 2009 2:50 AM EDT reply actions

Howd KG get over 100 votes?

When hes had one of his worst years and missed half of it?

who knows

rondo got 2nd on that poll, and rightfully so. Pierce was the mvp of the celtics in the regular season

by TheAncientRivalry on Apr 21, 2009 6:29 AM EDT up reply actions

But why is he the MVP?

Let me ask you a question . . .

Assuming a KG-less but otherwise full strength Celtics team this year, let’s say Rondo and Pierce each miss 10 games at separate times against the same teams.

Which Celtics team will have the better record out of each of those 10 games? The Pierce-less team, or the Rondo-less team?

The team without Pierce will have the better record without a doubt, hence Rondo is the Most Valuable Player on this Celtics team.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s not the best player, but he is our most valuable for sure this year.

by rrc589 on Apr 23, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions