118 replies to this topic

[Chito]

By Gary Lee
LakersNation.com

Is Rajon Rondo the Point Guard the Lakers Are Looking For?

This is Rondo's Happy Face.

Amongst all the trade rumors swirling around the Lakers, the one that Eric Pincus threw out a couple of weeks ago – Rajon Rondo for Pau Gasol – is the still the most intriguing to me. At the time, most “experts” were saying that the rumors were false and the story had no legs. But now, reports from ESPN say that the Celtics are “aggressively pursuing” trades for their “high-maintenance” point guard.

Clashes with coach Doc Rivers have also led to the Celtics souring on their All-Star point guard who is only a few years removed from leading the Celtics to tremendous playoff success. Rivers’ played so many mind games with the media, like his famous “starting five” never losing to anyone, so imagine the kind of mind games he played with his own players to try and motivate them.

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Even as Lakers fans, we can all admit that we saw how smart Rondo was in the 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals, so much so that it’s most likely Rondo probably saw right through Rivers’ mind tricks and never respected River’s enough to hold back his thoughts and listen.

Now, we all know that the Lakers have been searching for a point guard for the past few years. Not just any point guard as there are all different kinds:

• Scoring Point Guards: Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook
  
• Pass-First Point Guards: Jason Kidd, Jeremy Lin
  
• Defensive Point Guards: Mario Chalmers, Kirk Hinrich
  
• Play-Making Point Guards: Chris Paul, Deron Williams

Notice where Rondo is – a combination of a passer and a defender. This sounds like the point guard the Lakers are going to need if they’re going to make a run in the playoffs.

The Lakers don’t need a scoring point guard yet because they have Kobe Bryant who is averaging 23.7 field goals attempts a game and even with two bigs down low, shows no sign of letting up.

The Lakers need a play-making guard, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to get one since CP3 is barred from coming to the Lakers, Deron Williams is a Dwight Howard signature away from staying in New Jersey and Chicago would literally start a riot that made the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 look like a campfire if Rose ever left for the Lakers.

All Rondo would have to do is play solid defense to stop the top point guards in the league like Westbrook, Rose and Paul and then set up the bigs and wings for easy scoring opportunities like he did in Boston.

In the last three years, Rondo has averaged 9.8, 11.6 and 9.6 assists per year with the Celtics. Imagine what kind of numbers he could put up with a skilled big men with soft hands and solid offensive game.

Now, the last and most important factor about Rajon Rondo that makes me want him rocking the purple and gold – the kid is a winner. Laker fans saw the way he led the Celtics back to the 2010 Finals with his grit and determination. The guy reminds me of a mini-Kobe Bryant with the way he gets angry at anyone who doesn’t want to win as much as he does. Remember the way he fought in Game 7 of the 2010 Finals with those clutch 3′s from the corner?

With his basketball smarts, defense and play-making abilities plus that will to win that you just don’t find in every player, Rajon Rondo definitely has to be someone the Lakers need to get.

Full article also found at LakersNation.com

[Nanizm]

Hell no. There is a reason that the Celtics cant wait to get rid of Rondo. He stifles the offense with his inability to hit an outside shot. I cant see why people just overlook this like its not a big deal. When the guy that has the ball in his hand a good portion of the time on offense cant shoot worth a lick it hurts your offense due to teams not having to honor that players outside shot. They can back off of the ball handler and cheat on other players making it difficult for them to get a good shot off. I’ve been saying this all along.

Kurt Rambis was on Mason and Ireland yesterday and admitted this yesterday. He was responsible for devising the defensive game plan against the Celtics in the finals. He stated that he was able to have players that were on Rondo lay off of him to crowd the paint or double on other players in the perimeter. He said that after this, other teams started using the same game plan. He believes this is the reason that the Celts are shopping him.

[KB DOOM]

I agree with Nanizm, Rondo would improve the Lakers team at the point guard position (I think any average point guard would do that), but he can't shoot to save his life. Besides no perimeter shot he does have an ego/stubbornness that might clash with Kobe and maybe other team mates. I also think because of his attitude he will never take consideration or help to try to improve his shot. So what other team defenses have been doing with Rondo anad the Celtics, they will do to the Lakers if they were to acquire him.

[Los Lakers]

Honestly, the main bad things I have against this guy is his crappy attitude, his cheap shots and inability to follow instructions. Mixing that in with what the Lakers have now will probably cause hell to break loose. Not a good idea to mix a guy with an attitude like Rondo's with The Black Mamba.  

[Hayter]

yes, yes & more yes.  don't want to see pau leave but if he has to leave, you gotta get a pg like rondo.  everyone and their mama says the lakers need a pg, then when rondo's name comes around, a arguably top 5-6 pg in the league, everyone wants to pass on him.  gtfoh.  he does too many good things to make up for his lack of shooting.  

i hear everyone say yes to getting these average pg's but say no to rondo...  what am i missing? he's so versatile.  there are 7 triples doubles this year.  rondo has 2 of them.  

i hear names like johnny flynn, jose calderon, devin harris, raymond felton, ramon sessions being thrown around here and how good they are.  gtfoh.  none of them come close to rondo.

[EvenSteven]

Nanizm ranks Rondo, at best, the 21st best PG in the NBA.  So please please don't do it... ;)

[Nanizm]

Hayter, on 03 March 2012 - 08:26 AM, said:

yes, yes & more yes.  don't want to see pau leave but if he has to leave, you gotta get a pg like rondo.  everyone and their mama says the lakers need a pg, then when rondo's name comes around, a arguably top 5-6 pg in the league, everyone wants to pass on him.  gtfoh.  he does too many good things to make up for his lack of shooting.  

i hear everyone say yes to getting these average pg's but say no to rondo...  what am i missing? he's so versatile.  there are 7 triples doubles this year.  rondo has 2 of them.  

i hear names like johnny flynn, jose calderon, devin harris, raymond felton, ramon sessions being thrown around here and how good they are.  gtfoh.  none of them come close to rondo.

None of the PGs you mentioned would cost the Lakers Pau Gasol. Rondo is an offensive liability, changes how you have to run an offense and isn’t worth giving up Pau.

The only PGs worth giving up Pau are CP3, Deron, Rose and Westbrook, that’s it.

[Nanizm]

EvenSteven, on 03 March 2012 - 01:23 PM, said:

Nanizm ranks Rondo, at best, the 21st best PG in the NBA.  So please please don't do it... ;)

I actually rank him 9th out of 30th for starting PGs but I will have to drop him to 10th behind Kyrie Irving soon.

[Hayter]

Nanizm, on 05 March 2012 - 07:24 AM, said:

I actually rank him 9th out of 30th for starting PGs but I will have to drop him to 10th behind Kyrie Irving soon.

there goes your credibility right out the window with that comment.  oh by the way, 18pts, 20 assists and 17 rebounds yesterday.

you probably rank jeremy lin ahead of him, eh?

[Nanizm]

Hayter, on 05 March 2012 - 08:10 AM, said:

there goes your credibility right out the window with that comment.  oh by the way, 18pts, 20 assists and 17 rebounds yesterday.

you probably rank jeremy lin ahead of him, eh?

I am flattered that you ever thought I had creditability.

[Hayter]

Nanizm, on 05 March 2012 - 08:55 AM, said:

I am flattered that you ever thought I had creditability.

just a tiny smidgen.  we all know he's better than #9.  don't make me pull out stats to support my argument.

[EvenSteven]

Nanizm, on 05 March 2012 - 07:24 AM, said:

I actually rank him 9th out of 30th for starting PGs but I will have to drop him to 10th behind Kyrie Irving soon.

Rondo's ability to dribble drive and finish at the basket makes up for his sub-par outside shooting ability.  I would rank him 5th, behind Rose, Westbrook, Paul, and Williams.

[Nanizm]

Hayter, on 05 March 2012 - 09:42 AM, said:

just a tiny smidgen.  we all know he's better than #9.  don't make me pull out stats to support my argument.

I don’t think he is, but I understand why people rate him higher. I don’t like how he changes the way teams defend his team because he cant shoot. PGs are supposed to make the job easier for the other players, not harder. In late game situations where the game is close you want your PG to have the ball in his hands. You really cant do that with Rondo because he cant hit free throws. You cant hide him like Shaq and just keep the ball from him. Even though I say I rank him 9th and soon to be 10th because Irving will be a top 5 PG in 2 years, I would still take other PG that I rank below him because of Rondo’s weakness.

[Nanizm]

EvenSteven, on 05 March 2012 - 10:23 AM, said:

Rondo's ability to dribble drive and finish at the basket makes up for his sub-par outside shooting ability.  I would rank him 5th, behind Rose, Westbrook, Paul, and Williams.

I don’t think it does make up for it and to say his shooting is sub par is to say my love for Kobe is luke warm. Rondo’s shooting is horrible and straight retarded. The guy cant even hit free throws. At any other position I would say its okay if a player is productive in other areas, but not a the point whose job is to handle the ball most of the time it is a liability.

Here is my top ten starting PGs:

1. CP3
2. Deron Williams
3. Derrick Rose
4. Russell Westbrook (reserving this spot for Kyrie Irving)
5. Nash
6. Tony Parker
7. Steph Curry
8. Kyle Lowry
9. Rondo
10. Irving

I know you guys are going to get on me about Curry and Lowry but I love these 2 guys. Curry because he can stroke it and still run the point well. Lowry because he essentially does what Rondo does, not nearly as well, but Lowry can hit an outside shot good enough that teams have to defend him.

[EvenSteven]

Nanizm, on 05 March 2012 - 11:26 AM, said:

I don’t think it does make up for it and to say his shooting is sub par is to say my love for Kobe is luke warm. Rondo’s shooting is horrible and straight retarded. The guy cant even hit free throws. At any other position I would say its okay if a player is productive in other areas, but not a the point whose job is to handle the ball most of the time it is a liability.

Here is my top ten starting PGs:

1. CP3
2. Deron Williams
3. Derrick Rose
4. Russell Westbrook (reserving this spot for Kyrie Irving)
5. Nash
6. Tony Parker
7. Steph Curry
8. Kyle Lowry
9. Rondo
10. Irving

I know you guys are going to get on me about Curry and Lowry but I love these 2 guys. Curry because he can stroke it and still run the point well. Lowry because he essentially does what Rondo does, not nearly as well, but Lowry can hit an outside shot good enough that teams have to defend him.

I respect your opinion, but there's no way Curry would be ahead of Rondo in my view, because he's not close to Rondo as a defender.  As far as Parker and Nash are concerned, value wise, considering the age factor, they are not ahead of Rondo.  I might give you Lowry being ahead of Rondo because he's has a better all around game as a PG.

[Hayter]

Nanizm, on 05 March 2012 - 11:26 AM, said:

I don’t think it does make up for it and to say his shooting is sub par is to say my love for Kobe is luke warm. Rondo’s shooting is horrible and straight retarded. The guy cant even hit free throws. At any other position I would say its okay if a player is productive in other areas, but not a the point whose job is to handle the ball most of the time it is a liability.

Here is my top ten starting PGs:

1. CP3
2. Deron Williams
3. Derrick Rose
4. Russell Westbrook (reserving this spot for Kyrie Irving)
5. Nash
6. Tony Parker
7. Steph Curry
8. Kyle Lowry
9. Rondo
10. Irving

I know you guys are going to get on me about Curry and Lowry but I love these 2 guys. Curry because he can stroke it and still run the point well. Lowry because he essentially does what Rondo does, not nearly as well, but Lowry can hit an outside shot good enough that teams have to defend him.

i'm shocked that your former fave, brandon jennings, didn't make the top 10..

[?QuestionMark?]

Long-term Rondo may be the solution at PG, but in the short-term it may not make much of a difference.  

While he's clearly a HUGE upgrade over the walking corpse that is Fisher, he can't shoot and Artest is still starting, so LA will still be playing a lot of 3 on 5 offensively with teams packing the paint.  He'd probably will help LA get more turnovers to run...but LA doesn't exactly have a lot of athletes to run the floor with him.  If they do get him, LA would need a complete makeover to compliment his game.  

While I think he's overrated, he's still one of the top PGs in the league, and after watching scrubs like Fisher, Atkins, and Smush Parker be trotted out there are LA's starting PG, I like the idea of getting a legit lead guard.  But I'm not sold that it's worth trading Gasol.  

Ironically, we could have drafted Rondo if Mitch didn't waste a 1st rounder in a trade for Chris Mihm.

[Nanizm]

?QuestionMark?, on 05 March 2012 - 08:18 PM, said:

Ironically, we could have drafted Rondo if Mitch didn't waste a 1st rounder in a trade for Chris Mihm.

I dont remember the Lakers being high on Rondo even had he dropped to their 26th pick. I still think they would have drafted Farmar over Rondo, or even Kyle Lowry over Rondo he all 3 were available or if the Lakers had kept their 21st pick.

When I remember the reports on who the Lakers were interested in that year I heard a lot of Shannon Brown, Shayne Williams, Kyle Lowry, Jordan Farmar and James White. I think the Lakers would have taken 2 of these guys with their 2 picks.

[?QuestionMark?]

Nanizm, on 06 March 2012 - 08:37 AM, said:

I dont remember the Lakers being high on Rondo even had he dropped to their 26th pick. I still think they would have drafted Farmar over Rondo, or even Kyle Lowry over Rondo he all 3 were available or if the Lakers had kept their 21st pick.

When I remember the reports on who the Lakers were interested in that year I heard a lot of Shannon Brown, Shayne Williams, Kyle Lowry, Jordan Farmar and James White. I think the Lakers would have taken 2 of these guys with their 2 picks.

I wouldn't say that LA wasn't high on Rondo as much as they didn't think Rondo would fall to them.  Going into the draft, Rondo was considered the 2nd best PG after Marcus Williams (yeah that was a fail) and a top 15 pick, top 20 at worst.  

All those players you named were guys LA was interested in, not because they thought higher of them than Rondo, but because they expected one, some, or all to be available at 26.

[anon62]

http://games.espn.go...tradeId=88khzet
The problem with trading Pau Gasol for Rajon Rondo is that there will be a visible lack of rebounding and a diminishing of presence in the paint for the Lakers defensively. If Lakers can somehow get Beasley after trading away Pau, and reassign him back to his natural PF spot, the Lakers would have the PG AND the Stretch 4 the Lakers need for their current offensive system. Also, Beasley should be athletic enough to defend on the break.