Rajon Rondo (split)

[Entity]

Arguing that Rondo CAN'T defend seems very odd as he used to be one of the half dozen or so best PG defenders we've seen this decade. Even if the ACL slowed him, it didn't slow him THAT much.

Now arguing that he hasn't been defending is something else. Mostly true, and likely correctable for the right situation. Bottom line is that recent performance or not there are about 20 other starting PGs around the league who have less chance than Rondo to be good defensively, because they never have been and never will be, never had the talent or knowledge. Rondo has. The question is if the situation will cause him to reengage. But of course that's the whole question with the signing.

So basically the ability is there and shouldn't be in question. The mentality is the question. I'd say that worth the risk. Bad part is what ppl call bad defense by rondo is still probably the best we have ever seen in Sacramento. So maybe he will only be 2nd all defensive team. We haven't had a pg that could make 27th all defensive team lol

 

[Bricklayer]

it's hard to come up with a situation that contradicts "will to win" more than doing that.

Only if you don't understand who he was trying to beat.

Want to see a colossal F U coach? Watch what happened in Dallas. "I'll burn you, this team, this whole ****ing city to the ground before you break me you tryannical prick, so F U, your mom, and the horse she rode in on. And if it ****ing costs me my career, its worth it. F! U!"

There. Get it now? The battle that was being fought. The battle of wills? The silly little child's game played by the skinny dudes in tank tops was entirely forgotten at that point. Not even on the radar. The fight was internal.

You don't break guys like Rondo. You don't tame them. You don't dominate them. You want things to work out, you ally with them. You give them respect and room, and become an "us", not an opponent, not a "them". Then once you're all us-es they go to war for you, not against you, and the same F U which could tear down your team gets employed instead against external enemies. Then they're a huge asset because nobody, not you, and not some butthead on the other team, is ever going to dominate them. Anybody who tries is going to get donkey kicked in the face.

 

[dude12]

Rondo is going to be the best PG we have had since our playoff years....and he's going to play for the best coach we have had since Adelman. Can't wait to watch.

 

[peacelate]

Aren't a majority of starting point guards in the NBA defensive liabilities?

 

[King Baller]

Let's just hope Rondo becomes an average to above average starter for us. Some of you will be disappointed I'm looking at you @King Baller

I am a Kings Fan Do you remember when Petrie picked up Beno from the waiver wire?? And we were happy because Beno had SOME PG skills!!! Dude!!! We had been rolling out Cisco at PG

No we have people complaining because we have Rajon Rondo on the Kings

 

[KingsFanGER]

Aren't a majority of starting point guards in the NBA defensive liabilities?

Yes but most starting Pg's are solid scorers and better jumpshooters.
So to be above average Rondo has to defend on a high level, create in the open court and run the halfcourt offense with perfection.
And he has to adjust to a center, who wants to grab every rebound and wants to handle the ball a lot.
Guess Rondo and Boogie will love each other or they will clash right after the first practice.

Worst case scenario with Rondo will be a one year rental of a younger, quicker Andre Miller.
So it's a sure thing for me, that our Pg rotation is stronger than last year, even if Rondo is not the defensive player he used to be (btw. Smart took over for him in Boston and this guy is probably a top-5 defender right now. So it's not that Rondo must be a terrible defender, just because Boston improved after he left. Plus stevens system requires guards who are looking to score and launch 3's at every opportunity. So Rondo was a really bad fit, while IT fits like a glove. Well IT was a terrible fit in SAC, so maybe Rondo is exactly what we are looking for)

And to judge the Rondo signing we have to keep in mind, that there were only a few options available to.improve our Pg rotation.
We could have drafted a Pg or tried to sign guys like Beverley or Joseph.
So Rondo on a one year deal looks like a very good, heady signing for me.

 

[KingMilz]

Aren't a majority of starting point guards in the NBA defensive liabilities?

No they are just made to look like it because your dealing with the fastest and most skillful human beings on the planet who are using screens as well to kill you. The talent at the PG position is insane due to the fact most the world is roughly similar heights to most PGs.

It's really impossible to defend quickness/skill (there a certain level of speed/crafty handle which you can't do anything about other than team D) and the ability to stop on a dime, I don't think PG defense is that bad it's just they get exposed a lot more due to the demands of the position and obviously some are worse than others but imo even the ones that are rated as good PG defenders then to be overrated since that's all they basically can do.

Rondo is going to be the best PG we have had since our playoff years....and he's going to play for the best coach we have had since Adelman. Can't wait to watch.

If he's going to be better than healthy DC last year than we are a lock for P/O

 

[Amit149]

Only if you don't understand who he was trying to beat.

Want to see a colossal F U coach? Watch what happened in Dallas. "I'll burn you, this team, this whole ****ing city to the ground before you break me you tryannical prick, so F U, your mom, and the horse she rode in on. And if it ****ing costs me my career, its worth it. F! U!"

There. Get it now? The battle that was being fought. The battle of wills? The silly little child's game played by the skinny dudes in tank tops was entirely forgotten at that point. Not even on the radar. The fight was internal.

You don't break guys like Rondo. You don't tame them. You don't dominate them. You want things to work out, you ally with them. You give them respect and room, and become an "us", not an opponent, not a "them". Then once you're all us-es they go to war for you, not against you, and the same F U which could tear down your team gets employed instead against external enemies. Then they're a huge asset because nobody, not you, and not some butthead on the other team, is ever going to dominate them. Anybody who tries is going to get donkey kicked in the face.

I don't think we are saying different things, just from different angles- like you said:
"he battle of wills? The silly little child's game played by the skinny dudes in tank tops was entirely forgotten at that point"- you can't talk about the will to win (basketbal games) when someone doesn't give a crap about it, during a playoff game, in a contract year... that's what I said- and that's what you said.

By your own estimation Rondo's will is first and foremost that things will go his way- he clashed with any coach he ever had, and you can say whatever you like about Karl, but he is famous for being the source of many fights before.

After all that you have to remember that he wasn't a high quality player for a while now, and despite the overall sentiment here- him getting back to his old form is a possibility, but not a given. now think what happens when you add a guy that everything has to go his way and if not he'll rebel against his own team, and he doesn't play to a level needed to give him what he wants (like playing time)- to an already combustible team... it can be bad.

What it all boils down to is the same quote I brought before:
The question always was, 'Is he a good enough player to behave the way he does?' "
-- Celtics GM Danny Ainge

I hope you are right and he still is that player...

 

[KingsFanGER]

I don't think we are saying different things, just from different angles- like you said:
"he battle of wills? The silly little child's game played by the skinny dudes in tank tops was entirely forgotten at that point"- you can't talk about the will to win (basketbal games) when someone doesn't give a poopoo about it, during a playoff game, in a contract year... that's what I said- and that's what you said.

By your own estimation Rondo's will is first and foremost that things will go his way- he clashed with any coach he ever had, and you can say whatever you like about Karl, but he is famous for being the source of many fights before.

After all that you have to remember that he wasn't a high quality player for a while now, and despite the overall sentiment here- him getting back to his old form is a possibility, but not a given. now think what happens when you add a guy that everything has to go his way and if not he'll rebel against his own team, and he doesn't play to a level needed to give him what he wants (like playing time)- to an already combustible team... it can be bad.

What it all boils down to is the same quote I brought before:
The question always was, 'Is he a good enough player to behave the way he does?' "
-- Celtics GM Danny Ainge

I hope you are right and he still is that player...

Is there any difference between the media narrative of the cancerous behaviour of Rondo and Dmc?
To me it looks like the same unproofed hyperbole based on very few actual incidents.

 

[sono]

I am a Kings Fan Do you remember when Petrie picked up Beno from the waiver wire?? And we were happy because Beno had SOME PG skills!!! Dude!!! We had been rolling out Cisco at PG

No we have people complaining because we have Rajon Rondo on the Kings

"Beno Draino!", I loved his consistent trademark, the pull up jumper stop-and-pop.
Cisco at PG? I forgot that .

I'm neutral to Rondo's acquisition, but your optimism is rubbing off on me. Anyhow, if it doesn't work, we have DC, the luxury we haven't had for decades.

 

[King Baller]

One other little thing that has not been mentioned. Rondo was traded to Dallas, he did not choose to go there. Not everyone is going to be able to adapt to a situation not of their own choosing. I have seen it play out in company buyouts and mergers a few times. The percentage of people that adapt and excel is lower than you think. Not everyone deals with change in the same manner.

Rondo chose the Kings. Now I know all the reasons why he is here. But the root of it is the Kings added a player who is a multiple time All Star with a ring. Yes he was injured, but he is only 29 and should be fully recovered.

Rondo also will have a full preseason and training camp with the Kings. He did not in Dallas and I think many observers are ignoring this fact.

Could this signing blow up? Sure but this is a risk worth taking for the Kings and for Rondo.

 

[King Baller]