04/19/24
May 17, 2010
How Good is Rajon Rondo?: Charlie Pierce thinks he's tops. Whether you agree or not, worth reading the first paragraph destruction of Skip Bayless.
posted by yerfatma to basketball at 03:33 PM - 11 comments
Skip Bayless=the guy everyone at the bar wishes would shut the eff up already.
Rajon Rondo=incredible to watch. Guards who can rebound are a) smart and b) hard workers.
posted by Uncle Toby at 04:42 PM on May 17, 2010
I'm no fan of Charles P. Pierce, but anyone who can reduce Skip Bayless to the semi-literate, uninformed blowhard that he really is can't be all bad.
The biggest reason that Rajon Rondo is so good is that he knows what he can and can't do in any particular game against any particular team. Steve Nash is about the only other active point guard who can do this, but as Pierce pointed out, he can't guard Rondo. John Stockton is one who, when he was in his prime, was as effective and adaptable as Rondo. One of Rondo's better attributes is that he is very coachable in spite of his stubbornness. Once he understands that his way is not necessarily the best way, he will accept what he is being taught and improve upon it. It seems to be one step at a time with him, and he doesn't appear to regress.
posted by Howard_T at 04:57 PM on May 17, 2010
When Allen and Garnett got signed, Bob Ryan immediately started hollering: "What about the rest of the team? You can't win with three guys".
Ryan singled out Rondo as a big question mark that was likely to never amount to much. Ryan was pissed because guys he thought were better got traded away, and Rondo was never going to be as good as they were.
Great to see that Rondo has exceeded Ryan's initial expectations.
(Wonder if Dwight Howard would be a different player at this stage if the Orlando sports media had a Sgt. Bob Ryan telling it like he saw it every day).
I like how Rondo often looks and plays bigger than he actually is.
Lately, some of the things he's done - even the routine things - have had a special extra dimension to them, a certain presence, touch, and feel that is remarkable to behold.
Whether he is the gold standard or not, some things that are happening on the court are now described as being "Rondoesque". He's experiencing a dizzying ascension to immortality, it would seem.
posted by beaverboard at 05:11 PM on May 17, 2010
Rondo is awesome, but gimme some Nash. I might be biased, though.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:24 PM on May 17, 2010
Anything that makes Skip Bayless look bad is good to me. His irrational rants in the morning literally make me want to throw my remote into the TV wishing it was him I'm hitting.
posted by jmd82 at 07:39 PM on May 17, 2010
To me, Rondo doesn't resemble a pure point guard at all. He's a really active and athletic small-forward in a two-guard's body who happens to play point guard. Pure point guards can hit free throws and 15-to-20-foot jumpers on a consistent basis, right? When Rondo learns to do this, he'll be right up there. He does have it where it counts, though - he elevates his play when it matters and has the ability to take over games. Even though I can't stand Boston, I like watching Rondo play. He's got "moxie".
posted by apthomason at 01:01 AM on May 18, 2010
Rondo is doing things that only 2-3 players in the history of the game have ever done... to include Wilt Chamberlin and Oscar Robinson. And he is but a pup still. As time goes by and he gets better as a shooter, he could be the best to play the game. I am a Celtics fan and love the defense they run and don't think Doc gets his due credit. But, when you B-slap the Cav's and then go in for game #1 in Orlando and make Superman look like Clark Kent... it is pretty awesome. And, it all revolves around him.
As for Skip Bayless... he needs to just put a sock in it....
posted by Mickster at 01:04 AM on May 18, 2010
I wish we could lock Colin Cowherd and Skip Bayless in a closet and let them troll each other to death.
posted by apoch at 06:32 AM on May 18, 2010
Great to see that Rondo has exceeded Ryan's initial expectations.
Kind of unfair to single out Ryan for not knowing what Rondo would turn into. Rondo was a mystery when he got to the Celtics: clearly athletically gifted, but with a reputation for being difficult to coach (benched by Tubby Smith). Lest we rewrite history, remember that Rondo got benched during th 2008 playoffs as well. His complete and total lack of a shot from beyond 2 feet made him a liability on the offensive end as often as he was a positive that first year
posted by yerfatma at 08:14 AM on May 18, 2010
Rondo is doing things that only 2-3 players in the history of the game have ever done... to include Wilt Chamberlin and Oscar Robinson. And he is but a pup still. As time goes by and he gets better as a shooter, he could be the best to play the game.
Um - those other guys did it for more than one game. Remember that Jason Kidd has had well over a hundred triple doubles from the PG position. The difference is that Rondo scored 29, not 11 or 12.
Maybe hold back on that statue for a bit, there hyperbole-man.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:01 PM on May 18, 2010
Lordy I love me some Charlie Pierce, at least when he's on my side of the argument.