STORY: Rondo has rediscovered his idiosyncratic game with the Kings

[Bricklayer]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/11...-highlights-sacramento-kings-demarcus-cousins


About 3/4 of the way down, some stats that I ahve been watching, and some others I have been waiting for.

1) First, what I have been watching: despite all visual evidence to the contrary, we have been a better team this year when Rondo hasn't been on the floor than when he has.

2) BUT, just as remarkably given the above, when Rondo and Cuz are paired, suddenly we are over 6 pts BETTER than our opponents per 100 possessions. In short so long as those 2 are on the floor together, we are a playoff team.

And I think that tracks a bit with the nature of Rondo's game -- Rondo is a "star roleplayer." Ask him to have to carry a starless team and it doesn't work. but now give him 1 or more stars to play off of and make great, and that's when all those "othe" things he does become so valuable.

 

[El Paljasso]

John Wooden: The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.

 

[Amit149]

2) BUT, just as remarkably given the above, when Rondo and Cuz are paired, suddenly we are over 6 pts BETTER than our opponents per 100 possessions. In short so long as those 2 are on the floor together, we are a playoff team.

And I think that tracks a bit with the nature of Rondo's game -- Rondo is a "star roleplayer." Ask him to have to carry a starless team and it doesn't work. but now give him 1 or more stars to play off of and make great, and that's when all those "othe" things he does become so valuable.

The fact that (I'm using NBA.com per 100 poss.) we are +6.8 when Rondo and Cuz are paired is to me much more about Cousins than about Rondo, I say that since this is pretty much true with every Cousins + starter pairing.
When Cousins is paired with WCS we are at a much better +13.8, with Rudy he is +13.1, with Anderson he is +9 and even with Ben he is +5.5.

 

[IfAt1st]

You know what?

**** the stats.

Anyone who's watched the past 5 games and concluded that the Kings are better without Rondo on the floor are deluding themselves.
What he provides is not going to be told to you solely on a statsheet, and anyone who's watched the games can see what a difference he's brought to the PG position of the Kings.

Passing, rebounding, and tenacity and what they do to the game are not just numbers on a statsheet.

 

[Padrino]

The fact that (I'm using NBA.com per 100 poss.) we are +6.8 when Rondo and Cuz are paired is to me much more about Cousins than about Rondo, I say that since this is pretty much true with every Cousins + starter pairing.
When Cousins is paired with WCS we are at a much better +13.8, with Rudy he is +13.1, with Anderson he is +9 and even with Ben he is +5.5.

sure, if you look at the +6.8 per 100 poss stat in a vacuum, it may not seem terribly impressive. in context, however, the article points out that nearly 44% of cousins' made field goals this season have been assisted by rondo. that's an absolutely insane figure, and i think it speaks to the budding chemistry between the two players. fans like to talk circles around this stat and that stat all day long, but at the end of that long day, chemistry remains an intangible of the utmost importance for a team hoping to make a legitimate run at a playoff berth. rondo seems to be making cousins' life easier on the court, and i'd also say that he's making cousins a better player. it's important that their relationship is off to a strong start, and i wouldn't be so dismissive of the notion that rondo has a fair amount to do with demarcus' extremely high level of play recently...

 

[Entity]

When cuz is out we turned to Rudy ISO ball. It was awkward lineups during that. I actually feel like we are relying on rondo to much to create something. I see a lot of pass backs to rondo with little time left. Especially from Omri. He gives it right back in a normal offensive set

 

[kingsboi]

idio...what? who even uses that word? so they practically are fit for each other...let's hope there are no more injuries and that they can make a nice run starting with this road trip here.

 

[Padrino]

idio...what? who even uses that word? so they practically are fit for each other...let's hope there are no more injuries and that they can make a nice run starting with this road trip here.

idiosyncratic? i use that word.

 

[QoooooQ]

It's an idiosyncratic word, but exactly right in this case.

 

[chief bromden]

Are lineup stats useful this time of the year when Cousins and Collison have been out for a significant percentage of time?

I am just happy the Kings have two viable options at point again. If the Kings had Ramon backing up Collison this year, and Collison got hurt, the season would soon be over. On top of that, Rondo's decisions in transition have been above average, which the article hits on. It's nice to see!

 

[ESP47]

We have to remember....small sample size. They're only 11 games into the season with a revamped roster. I'm not buying into we're better or worse when this or that guy is on the court. Lets get 30 games into the season before we start believing statistics like this. Yeah Rondo isn't the kind of player that can put a team on his back and carry them to the playoffs but I highly doubt that we're going to finish the season thinking we're better off having him on the bench.

 

[CVKingsfan]

Vlade and Rondo Getting A Little Vindication...

From Business Insider of all places – now, if we could keep some kind of stability and continuity (10 different starting lineups over the first 13 games) with all our new faces and get on a little winning streak we just might cause those who really deserve to eat some crow do so! GO KINGS!!!

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/sacramento-kings-took-10-million-214157366.html

 

[VF21]

Vlade and Rondo Getting A Little Vindication...

From Business Insider of all places – now, if we could keep some kind of stability and continuity (10 different starting lineups over the first 13 games) with all our new faces and get on a little winning streak we just might cause those who really deserve to eat some crow do so! GO KINGS!!!

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/sacramento-kings-took-10-million-214157366.html

I loved this part:

It's also notable that thus far, Rondo's attitude problems haven't seemed to surface. Amidst the chaos of Cousins and George Karl, seemingly all has been quiet around Rondo, who has a history of being a somewhat contentious personality in the locker room.

Instead, the Kings have gotten near-peak Rondo — the Swiss Army Knife point guard who can dictate a game in few ways other point guards can.

 

[Bricklayer]

Instead, the Kings have gotten near-peak Rondo — the Swiss Army Knife point guard who can dictate a game in few ways other point guards can.

grrrr...

"ways few other point guards can."

 

[VF21]

grrrr...

"ways few other point guards can."

You're right. I totally missed that.