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"Cancerous"/ "Finished"/"Days are numbered" Rondo with 21 assists last night.

If the Pelicans make the playoffs next year with Rondo, and assuming he's healthy/starting, he could leap-frog Bird for all-time playoff assists this time next year.

He might end up in the top 5 all-time playoff assists leaders if sticks he sticks with the Pelicans.
 
If the Pelicans make the playoffs next year with Rondo, and assuming he's healthy/starting, he could leap-frog Bird for all-time playoff assists this time next year.

He might end up in the top 5 all-time playoff assists leaders if sticks he sticks with the Pelicans.
The Pels BETTER resign Rondo. I'm hoping they keep this entire team intact.
 
Easy to play the "I told you so" game now. But what Rondo did 3 years ago in Dallas was one of the most disgraceful, shameless examples of an athlete absolutely not trying in the history of sports. And it's not a coincidence that he's on his 3rd team in 3 years after that.
 
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Easy to play the "I told you so" game now. But what Rondo did 3 years ago in Dallas was one of the most disgraceful, shameless examples of an athlete absolutely not trying in the history of sports. And it's not a coincidence that he's on his 3rd team in 3 years after that.
He’s had his moments for sure. Lol just a Terrible situation for everyone involved in Dallas.
 
Easy to play the "I told you so" game now. But what Rondo did 3 years ago in Dallas was one of the most disgraceful, shameless examples of an athlete absolutely not trying in the history of sports. And it's not a coincidence that he's on his 3rd team in 3 years after that.
Bad situation for all involved. Who can deny the rift between player and coach. Yet look at where Carlisle and the Mavs are today and look where the Pels are today.
 
Bad situation for all involved. Who can deny the rift between player and coach. Yet look at where Carlisle and the Mavs are today and look where the Pels are today.
Is that an excuse for trying to lose?

Because I saw Rondo's last game in Dallas, and that's exactly what he was doing.

Dallas paid him nearly 13 million dollars to play basketball that year, BTW.

 
Is that an excuse for trying to lose?

Because I saw Rondo's last game in Dallas, and that's exactly what he was doing.

Dallas paid him nearly 13 million dollars to play basketball that year, BTW.




I’m usually in your corner in these discussions, but I have a hard time understanding whether you’re being literal here.

“Trying to lose” is a statement without the necessary evidence to make it stick. Rondo played a total of 37 minutes that year against Dallas and absolutely played like crap. He made horrible decisions with the ball and lacked the intensity that we typically see from him. How that equates into “trying to lose” is a condition that you’ve presupposed for this discussion, and it certainly doesn’t quality as completely objective, unless there’s real evidence that Rondo wanted to lose. Is there?


Did he act like a baby in the series and hurt his team? Yes. Does that act as evidentiary intent that he wanted to lose? Not hardly.
 
I’m usually in your corner in these discussions, but I have a hard time understanding whether you’re being literal here.

“Trying to lose” is a statement without the necessary evidence to make it stick. Rondo played a total of 37 minutes that year against Dallas and absolutely played like crap. He made horrible decisions with the ball and lacked the intensity that we typically see from him. How that equates into “trying to lose” is a condition that you’ve presupposed for this discussion, and it certainly doesn’t quality as completely objective, unless there’s real evidence that Rondo wanted to lose. Is there?


Did he act like a baby in the series and hurt his team? Yes. Does that act as evidentiary intent that he wanted to lose? Not hardly.
Well, he didn't really seem to care whether his team won or lost. I think there's a fairly strong equivalence there.
 
Easy to play the "I told you so" game now. But what Rondo did 3 years ago in Dallas was one of the most disgraceful, shameless examples of an athlete absolutely not trying in the history of sports. And it's not a coincidence that he's on his 3rd team in 3 years after that.

I actually argued that the criticisms of Rondo were premature, because Rondo had and still has talent. He failed in Dallas, and quite significantly actually; but Dallas doesn’t justify the definitive tone so many had regarding writing him off, although most were directly referencing Rondo’s month of December with the Bulls in their collective rejection of him.
 
I actually argued that the criticisms of Rondo were premature, because Rondo had and still has talent. He failed in Dallas, and quite significantly actually; but Dallas doesn’t justify the definitive tone so many had regarding writing him off, although most were directly referencing Rondo’s month of December with the Bulls in their collective rejection of him.
I don't know who's writing him off, but if you're looking at his career, his time in Dallas counts. And it's spectacularly negative.

Rondo is, in many ways, a specialist. I'd almost compare him to Dennis Rodman. He's a guy who defines himself in a somewhat limited way, but can be truly spectacular in that limited way. Give Rondo some scorers around him, let him try to get 20 assists, and he will perform. Ask him to do a lot more than that, and you're asking for problems.
 
The fact that he's still this good makes all that bullshit he pulled the last handful of seasons even more ridiculous and embarrassing.

Being old and done is one thing, it happens to everyone. Rondo threw a multi-year, multi-team tantrum and has demonstrated more than a decade of problematic behavior. Every criticism of him is justified.
 
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Is that an excuse for trying to lose?

Because I saw Rondo's last game in Dallas, and that's exactly what he was doing.

Dallas paid him nearly 13 million dollars to play basketball that year, BTW.

Losing was all on Rondo?? So NBA teams have never tanked for higher draft choices? And Mavs owner Mark Cuban was never fined $600k for suggesting it?
 
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Is that an excuse for trying to lose?

Because I saw Rondo's last game in Dallas, and that's exactly what he was doing.

Dallas paid him nearly 13 million dollars to play basketball that year, BTW.


I remember that series well, and I don't know what the hell was going on in Rondo's head. In every game that series it really seemed like he was intentionally trying to either foul out, get kicked out or get benched.

Which seemed so strange considering 1) Dallas really seemed like a great fit for him when that trade was announced, you'd think he should've been happy to be there; and 2) he's normally such a hyper-competitive dude, it was just bizarre seeing him repeatedly trying not to compete and seemingly looking for ways out of games.

Something bad was going on in his head at that time. He just plain quit that series. Who knows why.
 
The fact that he's still this good makes all that bullshit he pulled the last handful of seasons even more ridiculous and embarrassing.

Being old and done is one thing, it happens to everyone. Rondo threw a multi-year, multi-team tantrum and has demonstrated more than a decade of problematic behavior. Every criticism of him is justified.

I’m not, nor have I, argued that the criticisms regarding his behavior aren’t justified.


I’m arguing that the criticisms regarding the projections on his career being finished are not and were not justified.


Two totally different arguments. The projections were ridiculous and still are.
 
I don't know who's writing him off, but if you're looking at his career, his time in Dallas counts. And it's spectacularly negative.

Rondo is, in many ways, a specialist. I'd almost compare him to Dennis Rodman. He's a guy who defines himself in a somewhat limited way, but can be truly spectacular in that limited way. Give Rondo some scorers around him, let him try to get 20 assists, and he will perform. Ask him to do a lot more than that, and you're asking for problems.

Rondo’s time in Dallas, and his playoff failure there, is not the argument, at least not from my end. I’ve been addressing (and obviously rejecting) the notion that his career was finished after his infamous “December to Remember” in Chicago, which was the intent of two threads I resurrected this week.

The interpersonal criticisms of Rondo in Dallas are mostly valid - although I still don’t accept that he wanted to lose, as you suggested, or the “equivalency” of poor play on the court expressing a desire to lose - but those particular criticisms are not really what I’m addressing. Even if they were, it’s impossible to project a player’s career being “finished” based on a two game playoff performance.

The projections were premature.
 
I’m not, nor have I, argued that the criticisms regarding his behavior aren’t justified.


I’m arguing that the criticisms regarding the projections on his career being finished are not and were not justified.


Two totally different arguments. The projections were ridiculous and still are.

You think it's accurate to call negative projections about a 31 year old point guard who had shown 3 consecutive years of not only poor play but awful attitude premature?

Clearly they were inaccurate. But guys with a reputation for being difficult and wearing out their welcome don't typically turn it around and get rejuvenated in their 30s.

Besides, what's the end game here? To defend Rondo? The perception of him is and was accurate. You don't get to gloat when you were being awful on purpose.
 
I wonder what the narrative of this thread would be if this player played for another team in college. People will defend UK players blindly, even harder than they would their families. Rondo is a great player; however, the BS he pulled in Dallas was worthy of criticism.
 
Oh please. I've seen NBA players essentially seem to quit many times. Just watch some of them play D, they're ready to go home half the time and smoke bud and swim in their Olympic pool.

Rondo isn't much different than half of those guys. He's got an attitude. He's just easy to pile on.

Cal has done something similar. Go back and watch the 08 Missouri tournament game.
 
You think it's accurate to call negative projections about a 31 year old point guard who had shown 3 consecutive years of not only poor play but awful attitude premature?

Rondo led the league in assists in one of those three years (with Sacramento), and helped the Bulls to a 2-0 series lead while he was healthy, plus moderate by not awful stats in Chicago. His season with the Mavs was split between time in Boston and overall he had decent stats that season, finishing the season with about 8 assists/game between the two teams.

So to answer your question, yes, I don't just think it was premature; it was premature, especially when given the full context. Again, Rondo led the league in assists just two years ago, shortly before the time folks started lining up their skirmish fire on him.
 
Oh please. I've seen NBA players essentially seem to quit many times. Just watch some of them play D, they're ready to go home half the time and smoke bud and swim in their Olympic pool.

Rondo isn't much different than half of those guys. He's got an attitude. He's just easy to pile on.

Cal has done something similar. Go back and watch the 08 Missouri tournament game.
This. People absolutely LOVE to pile on Rajon Rondo. Some even like to kiss the ass of Chris Paul while doing so. [laughing]
 
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I wonder what the narrative of this thread would be if this player played for another team in college. People will defend UK players blindly, even harder than they would their families. Rondo is a great player; however, the BS he pulled in Dallas was worthy of criticism.

So you think it's fair to lump all the pro-Rondo arguments into a box and stamp the label, "blind opinion" on it, because it doesn't square with your opinion?

Specifically, I like old school players. Rondo is one of them. Specifically, I like that he played for UK. That doesn't mean I support all of his periodic meltdowns. That also doesn't mean I reject all of his competitive nature or some of his "gray area" demonstrations. I've never made an argument that Rondo's piss poor attitude shouldn't be critiqued where it's warranted. Taking those critiques, however, to the level where one declares his career over is premature, and it has been factually proven to look shortsighted. That's the crux of my argument.
 
Imagine Calipari coaching

Morris
Hayes
Azibuke
Sparks
Rondo

Crawford and Bradley off the bench....that would have been fun to see. Cal would've made Morris a top 10 pick. Rondo would have been an All-American...he's really the PG that Cal loves with his toughness.
 
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Imagine Calipari coaching

Morris
Hayes
Azibuke
Sparks
Rondo

Crawford and Bradley off the bench....that would have been fun to see. Cal would've made Morris a top 10 pick. Rondo would have been an All-American...he's really the PG that Cal loves with his toughness.
Would have loved to see that. Especially so with Rondo and Azubuike. Crawford too, to an extent.
 
Would have loved to see that. Especially so with Rondo and Azubuike. Crawford too, to an extent.
Just the way Cal can motivate Freshman is special...amazing that was the #1 class and Rondo was the only one that found success in the pros. Morris could have been better with different coaching...Cal is a motivator and would have turned Randolph into a star. Combined with Hayes and Azibuke's experience it would have made for a tough group of guys.
 
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Just the way Cal can motivate Freshman is special...amazing that was the #1 class and Rondo was the only one that found success in the pros. Morris could have been better with different coaching...Cal is a motivator and would have turned Randolph into a star. Combined with Hayes and Azibuke's experience it would have made for a tough group of guys.
Definitely agree. It seemed like Morris only tapped into about a quarter of his potential.
 
I love Rondo and has an exceptional IQ at the PG spot. If I were a player I’d love playing with a pass first PG.

With that being said, I could’ve got 10 + assists with AD and how they were given out assists that night.
 
Imagine Calipari coaching

Morris
Hayes
Azibuke
Sparks
Rondo

Crawford and Bradley off the bench....that would have been fun to see. Cal would've made Morris a top 10 pick. Rondo would have been an All-American...he's really the PG that Cal loves with his toughness.
Imagine Sparks hitting an amazing off-balanced shot to send the game to overtime as time expired, for a trip to the Final Four. Oh, that happened already.
 
Imagine Calipari coaching

Morris
Hayes
Azibuke
Sparks
Rondo

Crawford and Bradley off the bench....that would have been fun to see. Cal would've made Morris a top 10 pick. Rondo would have been an All-American...he's really the PG that Cal loves with his toughness.
He coached a team with 7/8 guys higher ranked and more touted coming out of HS this year.

Also, why wasnt Darius Washington an all American or a top 10 pick?
 
He coached a team with 7/8 guys higher ranked and more touted coming out of HS this year.

Also, why wasnt Darius Washington an all American or a top 10 pick?
Because he was a severely undersized 2 guard, and not good enough at any specific thing to overcome it. Also, while he was a big recruit for Memphis at the time, he was never as highly rated as some people seem to think. His RSCI was 15.

Your point does have some validity, though. Cal can't make guys more talented than what they actually are.
 
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He coached a team with 7/8 guys higher ranked and more touted coming out of HS this year.

Also, why wasnt Darius Washington an all American or a top 10 pick?
Add a Senior Chuck Hayes and a Junior Azibuke to this past years team...and then add a good 3-point shooter in Sparks...yeah that would've completed last year's team.
 
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