Joe Johnson Out, Rajon Rondo In All Star Game

by wjsy on Feb 22, 2012 1:22 PM EST

A. Sherrod Blakely and Gary Washburn are both reporting that Rajon Rondo has been selected to replace Joe Johnson for the All Star Game this Sunday in Orlando. He joins Paul Pierce for his third straight appearance. Hawks fans will argue that Josh Smith should have been the logical replacement for his Atlanta teammate, but Rondo has been a beast since coming back from injury. We can argue whether or not he's a top-5 point guard, but numbers don't lie. He's second in the league in assists and a potential triple-double threat every night.

And let's be clear: this is the All Star Game. Whenever I think about this weekend, I always recall something Isiah Thomas said about playing in the ASG: "I don't want to be remembered for my scoring. I want to be remembered for my passing." An exhibition game like this is tailor made for Rondo. There is no other player in the league better at finding angles, fitting a bounce pass between two defenders, and putting enough English on it so it gets there.

Congrats and happy birthday, Rajon. Tear it up.

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ugh

There is no other player in the league better at finding angles, fitting a bounce pass between two defenders, and putting enough English on it so it gets there.

qualify it with “in the east” because theres at least two players (steve nash and chris paul) who are just as good (if not better) than rondo at making passes, jason kidd is constantly under rated as well, and rubio is at the least more flashier.

Waiting for the Prodigal Son to Return KH12 BITCHES!!!!
In the Chemi-meter we trust!

by piccolomair on Feb 22, 2012 1:29 PM EST reply actions

Comparing Rubio to rondo? Thats a new one... Now I am totally speechless

by Celtics5 on Feb 22, 2012 1:45 PM EST up reply actions

passing

i directly said

and rubio is at the least more flashier.

and the whole subject of my comment was on passing

i didnt say rubio was somehow the better player….

Waiting for the Prodigal Son to Return KH12 BITCHES!!!!
In the Chemi-meter we trust!

by piccolomair on Feb 22, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Rubio flashier?

seriously?
i don’t know what you were watching, but you clearly haven’t seen rajon’s alley-oops, assits and cutting to the rim.

rubio is pretty good, but he’s miles from rondo.

I don't follow rules, I let the rules follow me.

by relja111 on Feb 22, 2012 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

We don't have many players

running with rondo to turn many of his flash passes into flashier layups and dubks

by Karasu on Feb 22, 2012 5:40 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Rubio’s flashier and has the benefit of playing in an Adelman run offense where they actually, you know, run.

by muckduck on Feb 22, 2012 8:58 PM EST up reply actions

Rondo is the master of the bounce pass

He is better than anyone in the league at exactly what wjsy describes.

by European NBA fan on Feb 22, 2012 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

steve nash is the master of the bounce pass

and you guys clearly havent seen rubio play…the only person who passes in a similar way to nash is rubio. If you wanted to give rondo a specific criteria in passing in which he excels, its putting english on the ball due to his large hands and fingers.

Waiting for the Prodigal Son to Return KH12 BITCHES!!!!
In the Chemi-meter we trust!

by piccolomair on Feb 22, 2012 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

You haven’t seen enough Rondo bounce passes :)

Rubio has great court vision, and makes some incredible passes too, but I have not seen enough of them to say how great his bounce passes are.

by European NBA fan on Feb 22, 2012 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

i dont think rubio is better at bounce passing than rondo

he just has a very similar style to moving the ball as steve nash, its a very flashy style of play, i dont think that means rubio is a better passer than rondo, but his style is tons of flash and rondo is more of a a smarter accurate passer while rubio passes are just fun to watch, even when its not an alley oop or whatever.

Like i said i think rondo is great at putting that spin on the ball to make accurate passes, but steve nash is the best bounce passer ive ever seen, his transition from dribbling to passing is so smooth. The man is a freakin magician. And cp3 might be hands down the most accurate passer in the nba.

Waiting for the Prodigal Son to Return KH12 BITCHES!!!!
In the Chemi-meter we trust!

by piccolomair on Feb 22, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

I think we more or less agree

My point is that Rondo can find angles, that the others can’t, because of the spin. Nash is a joy to watch. He makes me want to play pick up games with him all day long.

by European NBA fan on Feb 22, 2012 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

rr has to lead the league in careless passes!

by mdowell04 on Feb 22, 2012 6:21 PM EST up reply actions

We don't even have to worry about him needing the rest!

Congrats to Rondo.

(And a hair more value for one of Danny’s assets.)

by clover on Feb 22, 2012 1:37 PM EST reply actions

He just can't look too good at ASG, haha

I’m so excited about the trade deadline though because I know there’s no other way to go but up from here.

by vgarcia890 on Feb 22, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Rather indifferent about this

I was actually hoping Pierce would come up with some fake “injury” and skip the game.

We could have had 5 full days of rest and practice. Having the entire team together for consecutive days to practice would have been a real benefit right now.

Oh well, I’m happy for Rondo anyways.

" Hell yeah I'm trying to gain an advantage out here. If you can't handle it, get off the court."- Kevin Garnett
"Stats are for losers."- Rahim Morris (FORMERLY-Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

by KG's Knee on Feb 22, 2012 1:40 PM EST reply actions

I don't think we would have had the team together anyways

Guys tend to spend the All-Star break with their families or on a beach somewhere. I’m guesing Doc heads to Orlando himself to spend time with this wife, or heads to Durham to watch his son play Virginia Tech.

by KY Celts fan on Feb 22, 2012 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

The elephant in the room

Josh Smith deserved it more.

by Celticsdude on Feb 22, 2012 2:07 PM EST reply actions

Just saying

Josh Smith has been a beast since… the season started.

Josh Smith is almost averaging a double double.

Josh Smith is a triple double threat every night.

Josh Smith fills up the stat sheet with points, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals and highlights.

Josh Smith has led the Hawks, a team playing without one of their best players (Horford), to the 6th the best record in the East.

Josh Smith has not been injured or suspended this year.

They see me rollin’…

by Celticsdude on Feb 22, 2012 2:15 PM EST reply actions

i think this decision was done by the coaches

and there were plenty of articles after the reserves were chosen about how coaches had bias, that they felt some players, despite their production, werent praise worthy, and i think josh smith is one of them…but i agree with you, it sucks that atlanta lost its only all-star despite having another player who at least deserved consideration

Waiting for the Prodigal Son to Return KH12 BITCHES!!!!
In the Chemi-meter we trust!

by piccolomair on Feb 22, 2012 2:31 PM EST up reply actions