This article is also posted at hoops4life.com, an NBA fan site.
Here are two point guards that are young, up and coming, and look like they will be All-Stars in the future. Calderon is more of a controlled point guard. He's one of the best players in the league at not turning it over while still getting assists. Rondo on the other hand is a speedy guard who can almost always get to the hoop and score, while also being a decent rebounding guard.
Calderon is one of the most underrated guards in the league. The Raptors finally paid him his dues when they guaranteed him a starting position next season, by trading TJ Ford to the Pacers for Jermaine O'Neal. Although he will get more minutes now that he is a guaranteed starter, he might have some pressure on him, considering he doesn't have a decent backup point guard yet.
Calderon is a fantastic point guard in terms of ball control, and is almost a lock for future All-Star games. He is a decent point guard in terms of defense. He can guard some of the pgs in the league, but not the faster ones. He occasionally guarded Kobe Bryant last season when they would play the Raptors.
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Here are Calderon's stats from last season: 11.2 ppg, 8.3 apg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.54 tpg while shooting 52% from the field, 43% from three and 91% from the line.
Rajon Rondo on the other hand, is a young speedy point guard who went from a brutal team to a fantastic team. He started every game he played last year, with the comfort of both Sam Cassell (for some of the year) and Eddie House behind him.
He doesn't get many points, but that is expected when you have most of the touches going to Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. However I don't understand how with that many great players, he could only get five assists a game.
He is also a fantastic defender, being one of the leagues steal leaders, Rondo is one of the premier defensive point guards in the league.
Rondo also is a lock for future All-Star games. since he is already one of the most explosive guards in the league, and has been improving each year he's been around.
Here are Rondo's stats from the past season: 10.6 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.2 rpg, 1.7 spg, 1.9 tpg, and he shot 49% from the field, but only 26.3% from three and only 61% from the stripe which isn't good at all.
The Virdict: It's pretty hard to decide, since these players are so different but I think I would pick Calderon since he is more well-rounded and is also better shooter.
TJ Zwarych is a columnist on bleacher report and also writes for hoops4life.com and tosports.ca
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about 1 month ago
I am a big Calderon Fan but his defense is horrible. Yes he can run a team very well. He has the best Turnover/Assist ratio in the NBA. But defense... Sorry buddy you are a little off there.
about 1 month ago
Rondo only averages 5 assists because he handles the ball a lot less than most other point guards
about 1 month ago
Calderon and Rando are different breads of PGs. Jose is a guy that I think you want to dominate the decesion making on your team. While Rando is a guy you want to push the ball, play great D, and share in the decesion making with others play makers on his team. Right now I think Calderon is a better over all player but once Rando learns to hit that J it maybe a different story. I agree with rafer that you over stated Jose defensive abilities and Rando is an elite defender at the position
about 1 month ago
Jose makes up for his poor D by his terrific drive to the basket. He abused Rondo last season willing the Raptors over the Celts the final time they played i believe.
about 1 month ago
Don't see how you failed to mention Rondo's defense, where he is probably the best defensive PG in the game already. At this stage in their careers, Calderon is probably a little better. He is a better shooter and passer than Rondo, but he's also older.
Rondo has plenty of time to develop. If he can develop a reasonable jump shot, he will be dangerous because he has a good handle, speed, and long arms that frustrate opponents on the defensive side. Most importantly, winning a championship and being a pivotal player during the run does a lot for his confidence. I expect great things from Rondo, and Calderon too.
about 1 month ago
Rondo has a ring Calderon doesn't!
about 1 month ago
paul pierce (though admittedly an all-star) led the celts to 57 wins total in the two seasons prior to KG and Ray showing up and now he is the MVP... give me a break. funny how even the worst celtics are now great players. rondo had to be taken off the court in the finals because he was such a liability. how you could ONLY average 5 assists with the talent he had around him is ridiculous. i could put up better numbers with KG, Ray Ray and Pierce in my back pocket!!!
from about 1 month ago
J: I dont think people like you understand the celtic offense. You know why CP3 gets so many assists? Because he has the ball in his hand AT ALL TIMES in his offense.
Meanwhile in the Celtics offense, most of the time, Rondo passes the ball and then runs to the corner, which exposes his weakness as a shooter rather than his ability as a playmaker.
Rondo got benched in the Finals in part because he was INJURED. How come people forget than Rondo had an ankle injury for half the Finals. And in Game 6, Rondo was the player of the game, with a statline of 21 pts, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 6 steals in only 32 minutes! Not many PGs can produce that kind of line in only a half an hour of playng time.
Oh yeah, and a 2nd year player by the name of Tony Parker got benched at times in the 2003 Finals because of his young age, but in the end, his team won the title largely because of him rather than in spite of him. Now Parker is considered one of the best point guards in the league. Rondo is eerily similar to the 2003 version of Parker. Even their playoff stats are similar.
Why don't you go to this link: http://wisinsider.blogspot.com/2008/06/long-awaited-rondo-post.html
It details the Parker-Rondo comparisons in depth and perhaps will show you why Rondo could possibly be right up there with CP3 and D-Will in a few years.
from about 1 month ago
justin: i do understand the celtic offense and couldnt agree with you more. they dont have a NEED for a great point guard to have the ball in his hands AT ALL TIMES like CP, so they can use a lesser point guard to run the ball down the court, pass it and go stand in the corner (this is what i do in my league, but i have a better 3 pt % than rondo).
i forget RR had an ankle injury because i never saw a report or heard a word in broadcast about it; was he taken off on a stretcher and have a miraculous recovery in the locker room like PP? damn Mr Miagi works fast!!! (or was that vince 'egg shell' carter).
also, i wouldnt look at game 6 for any reliable stat either. besides, every dog has his day.
only time will tell, but as you pointed out below, the fact that RR did not improve on his stats at all this year should say something about his level of play. (see tony parkers stats 1st to 2nd year, all around improvement).
as for the comparisons to parker, dont you think it speaks volumes that he had to use what was considered a sub-standard performance as a equivalency? if rondo turns out to be the next tony parker, thats great, and i would be happy for him if he did cause he's obviously worked hard to get to where he is today. all i am saying is that he is not even close to calderon at this point, never mind tony parker.
from about 1 month ago
J: I thin you misunderstood my comments. No the Celtics do not need a great point guard to run their offense because they depend on KG and PP so much. But, Rondo is indeed somewhat held back by this offense because he is forced to be used off the ball. Rajon is much better with the ball in his hands so that he can make a play for himself or his teammates. If the Celtics had a CP3 style offense, Rondo would have much better stats, but the Celtics wouldn't be as good because they'd be hindering Pierce's and KG's playmaking abilities. I'm not saying Rondo is as good as CP3, but he would do much better in a point guard driven offense.
"Every dog has his day" Are you kidding me? Its not like Game 6 was Rondo's only good game. In game 2, he had 16 assists, which was the most by a player in a Finals game since 1991. From a 2ND YEAR POINT GUARD. I don't care who he plays with, that's impressive. I really don't think you know too much about Rondo. Or maybe you were brainwashed by the supposed "great" analyst JVG, who seems to think that Rondo is the worst basketball player ever (seriously, Van Gundy's bashing of Rondo, along with his ignoring of every good play Rondo made, was ridiculous).
As for Tony Parker; those 2003 Finals was not a substandard performance! He had played that way the entire playoffs, being inconsistent, which is what you expect from a young player thrust into a prominent role. In fact, Parker probably played worse in those playoffss than Rondo did in these 2008 playoffs (and neither were horrible; just inconsistent). He got benched more often, and even after the Spurs won, they still tried to get Jason Kidd because Parkers play was so shaky. You don't see the Celtics trying to find a new starting PG, because they know they already have a damn good one for years to come.
"the fact that RR did not improve on his stats at all this year should say something about his level of play"
Well, he actually did improve his stats from his rookie season. Those stats I gave below from his rookie season were from the games in which he started (25 games). Fairly impressive stats for a rookie who had his playing time jerked around on one of the worst teams in Celtic history. But then this year came around, and Rondo was the 4th option behind 3 superstars. He didn't really have a chance to improve those STARTING stats because he wasn't playing alongside a bunch of other young guys; he was playing with hall of famers who demand the ball.
Oh, and the fact that you didn't know Rondo was injured in Game 3 of the Finals shows how shaky your knowledge is of the NBA Finals, Rondo, and the Celtics. There were plenty of reports.
from about 1 month ago
excuses, excuses... "he was injured", "he is forced to be used off the ball", "Those stats I gave below from his rookie season were from the games in which he started (25 games)", "he wasn't playing alongside a bunch of other young guys". you have not given any reason why he is good; you've only shown all the reasons he sucks ass. my knowledge of the finals may not be up to par with yours; probably because i have a life.
from about 1 month ago
J: Wow J, great response. "Excuses, excuses" No J, those are facts. And anybody who paid any attention to the NBA Finals would know that Rondo got injured in Game 3. "You've only shown all the reasons why he sucks ass" Not really, I've clearly shown that: A) Rondo is very similar to Tony Parker in his development. B) Doesn't need the Big 3 to be an effective player in the NBA, and C) Is going to be considered a very good, if not great, point guard one day. All you've shown the ability to do is get beat down in an argument, as your second response clearly shows.
from about 1 month ago
all you've shown is that you are a fan of the celtics and have no credibility as a writer. you have grown tiresome, i am going to stand over there now....
from about 1 month ago
J: Your inablity to make up some sort of plausible retort to the facts I have presented is tiresome.
from about 1 month ago
Justin: (take off your fan glasses before reading this) just because you chose to ignore every plausible comment i make does not mean i have not made several outstanding arguments. but since you dont believe me, check out the links below. rondo is currently an average point guard at best and deserves no comparison to jose calderon or anyone other than maybe beno udrih. can you find me a single reputable publication that has rondo ranked near the top in his position? jose calderon on the other hand is currently ranked top ten by most publications. his stock is rising and he will probably make the all-star team next season. rondo MAY flower into an excellent point guard some day, but i have seen nothing that would indicate he will be anything but a guy who will do some nice defending and run the floor before dishing off to someone who can actually shoot or make a play. TAKE OFF YOUR FAN GLASSES and read these articles and if you are still convinced rondo is the next steve nash then there is really nothing i can say to convince you.
CBS Sportsline - PG Efficiency Rating - Rondo not in top 15
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/playerrankings/regularseason/PG
PG Efficiency Rating - Rondo not in top 15
http://www.basslinespin.com/efrone.htm
The Talented Mr Roto - Rondo not even mentioned
http://www.nba.com/fantasy/draft_kit/pointguards1_15.html
Rondo ranked at 23 behind Beno Udrih, Rafer Alston etc...
http://www.rotoevil.com/nba/point-guard-rankings-for-the-stretch-run
Rondo not mentioned
http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba/nba-articles/the-nba-s-top-point-guards-5-1-ar46861.html
Rondo not mentioned
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egki7MusR7Q
Rondo not mentioned
http://khandorssportsblog.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-best-point-guards-in-the-nba/
from about 1 month ago
J:
I made a long drawn out response, but I lost my internet connection and it was deleted. So I'll come back at you with this.
The first two lists mention Rondo atleast in the top 16, which is right around where I would have him. They also only use stats, and don't account for improvement or the 2008 playoffs for that matter.
The third list is a fantasy list made at the beginning of the season. It has Gilbert Arenas at #1, and it includes Stephon Marbury and Speedy Claxton. This list is retarded; don't use shit like this because it doesn't prove your point at all. It was made at the beginning of the season in the first place, and everybody thought Rondo sucked then, so whats the point of including this?
The 4th list is another fantasy list based strictly on who was going to get the best stats the rest of the season, which was only March and April. On a list that is actually assessing NBA Point Guards, Rondo would not be behind Beno Udrih, Earl Watson, or others on that list. Mike Bibby, who is over 10 spots ahead of Rondo on the list, got abused by Rajon in the Atlanta-Boston series. This list also includes Dwayne Wade and Allen Iverson as point guards. Is that enough reasons for why this list is retarded?
The 5th list is a top 5 list. Shouldn't even be included in your arguement, as I've never said Rondo is in the top 10 point guards, much less the top 5.
I liked the Youtube video list, but its a top 10 list, so once again, why are you including it? I never said Rondo was in the top 10.
The last list is another retard list. It doesn't mention CP3 at all, so what does that say about it? It has Jason Kidd at #3 and its a TOP 5 list. So why are you including it?
Basically, all of your lists except the first two were either top 10 or top 5 lists, or they are just retarded fantasy lists. They didn't really prove a thing.
The biggest thing is that none of those lists are current. They were all made before the playoffs. Do you think Beno Udrih is ever going to get a 21 point, 8 assist, 7 rebound, 6 steal game in the NBA Finals? I didn't think so. Fort the most part, those lists were ridiculous and proved nothing. If you believe different, then you know nothing.
I still don't think you get what I'm saying. Obviously Calderon is better than Rondo NOW. But Calderon is also a few years older than Rondo and has had longer to develop. I think Rondo will be better than Calderon in a few years because of his athleticism and defense. As long as his jumpshot continues to steadily improve, Rondo should be cracking the top 5 point guard list in about three years. Remember, Rondo's stats are hindered by the Big 3, because they demand so much time with the ball. Once Rondo gets his turn to actually run an offense like Calderon, he'll show us what he can do.
from about 1 month ago
And I never said Rondo was the "next Steve Nash" either. Quit putting words in my mouth and then using them to base your arguement.
from about 1 month ago
justin: as you noted, the first 2 lists have him around 16/17, which in a 30 team league (and therefore 30 starting PG's) puts him BELOW average, not great, not even really good. he is 22nd in assists for the season according to nba.com***. so, if you have him around 16, i must AGREE WITH YOU that he is halfway between really good and really bad. as you mentioned some of the other lists are blogs, yes, they are not experts, but my point is that most people out there do not regard rondo as more than an average PG. a couple of the lists only go to 5, but there are links for the next 5, next 5 etc... did you find anyone who has rondo in the top 10? try google.
you stated "Obviously Calderon is better than Rondo NOW." i couldnt AGREE more. in a few years when calderon is 32, yes he (might not) be as good as the leagues 27 year olds. but then again, he may be even better; who knows. same with rondo, who knows?
i also AGREE with you on your statement that "Rondo's stats are hindered by the Big 3". that is another one of my points. how can you say that rondo will be great when you cant even tell what he is capable of? all we have seen is that he can defend like a MoFo, run, and dish to someone who can actually make a play or shot.
so we agree on 3 things: rondo is an average PG, calderon is currently better, we havent seen the real rajon rondo.
i guess our beef is the "who knows?" part. we can speculate all we want, but who knows. all i am saying is that i have seen nothing from rondo to indicate he will crack the top 5 within 3 years. there are still some young PG's who will be all-stars for the foreseeable future (CP3, DWill, Baron Davis), and a couple that have as much as potential than rondo (Jose, Felton, Hinrich, arenas). also, in theory, nash, billups, kidd, are at the top of their game and could still be playing at a high level in just 3 years.
my other beef is that you cannot compare jose and rondo; not yet. calderon is on the cusp of all-stardom, rondo is YEARS away if he ever gets there.
if RR is top 3 within 3 years i will fly down to beantown and treat you to the best dinner in town. if not, you have to fly me down and treat me to a stuffed lobster at legal sf. sound good?
***you could say (and have said) that rondo stats are hindered by his playmaking teammates, but i could counter that with all that talent around him, he should have many more assists.
***every now and then hit CTRL-A and then CTRL-C to make a copy of all your hard work. that way if you lose your connection or accidentally hit Back or something you can just paste your copied text.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, I don't know why I didn't copy my work. Oh well. My point with some of those lists is that they are ridiculous. Especially that one with Stephon Marbury and Speedy Claxton in the top 15, and the one that didn't even mention CP3 in the top 5. Moving on though.....
Well, I've followed Rondo rather closely ever since he broke into the league, and perhaps your right that I'm sometimes blinded by my "fan glasses." But there's one thing I am certain of, fan or not, and that is that Rondo can be a not just good, but great point guard in this league.
First and foremost, he has the ability to take over a game on both ends of the court. On the defensive end, as we saw against the lakers, and others over the course of the season, he can force numerous turnovers that result in fast break baskets
On the offensive end, he's obviously inconsistent for the most part. But when he's on, there's no stopping him because of his speed and quickness. I haven't seen to many players with baseline to baseline speed that Rondo has; maybe a guy like Tony Parker (there he is again), but there aren't a lot of guys in the league that have the speed that Rondo has with the ball in his hand. And his court vision is absolutely outstanding on the fast break. You guys didn't see it in the Finals, but Rondo actually has a very consistent floater too, dare I say Tony Parker-like (now do you see why I compare the two so much?). Rajon just shot really poorly in the Finals compared to the regular season, even though the Lakers played him the same that almost every other team did the entire year (doubling off Rondo).
Yes, we haven't seen Rondo lead a team for an extended periods of time, so we don't actually know what he's capable of. But I've seen glimpses of a guy who can lead an offense like a CP3 or Jose Calderon once the Big 3 move on.
As for his assist averages, when I say that Rondo is hindered by the Big Three, I really mean he's hindered by the Celtics offensive sets. On more than half of the offensive sets that the Celtics run, Rondo runs to the corner so either Pierce or KG can make a play. Its not a point guard driven offense at all, so the only times Rondo can really get an assist is: 1)when the shot clock is running down and he needs to make a play, or 2)on the fast break. Unfortunately for him, the Celtics are a half court team. The Celtics offense more often than not exposes Rondo's weakness as a shooter, rather than his strength as a playmaker.
Oh and more about the lists. As I said earlier (I think), all of those lists were made before the playoffs. I'm guessing Rondo will be found in the top 15 on most lists made for next season, not this past season.
I want to ask you a question so I can understand more about your view point. Did you just watch the Celtics during the Finals? Or did you watch most of their games during the regular season?
about 1 month ago
Rondo is arguably ---or likely--- the TOP DEFENSIVE PG in the NBA. Whereas Calderon? He's far far far away from it. And remember; Offense wins, Fans...Defense wins, Championships!
That fact, alone, makes the premise of your article 'suspect' at least. And right inline with that peculiar posting culture here at bleacherreport, where most every article's objective seems to be ---dream up as fanciful of an overrating for Caucasoid players, as legally possible. I know, I know, just keeping it all relative to a 'Fox-Sports ideology' I know.
And I am *sure you know what I mean* considering the 'peculiar' stench that reeked from your last article I read.
from about 1 month ago
Actually moron, Calderon happens to be hispanic. Trust me, the author wasn't trying to overrate Calderon for his (not) whiteness. Rondo is a very talented defensive guard who fit in perfectly with a Celtics team comprised of playmaking veterans who are capable of making decisions with the ball and bringing it up the floor.
The fact remains that Rondo has little to no consistency with his jumpshot and he drives to often to pass rather than score, which wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that the defense does nothing to prevent him from driving on the assumption that he will pass yet he doesn't take the opportunity to score.
Rondo is a great system PG and I would rather have him on the Celtics than Calderon but in a conventional offense (with a conventional roster) Calderon's ball-handling and shooting makes up for his lack of defense in comparison to Rondo. Defense wins championships but as the Spurs taught us, no amount of defense can make up for an awful offense (they lost games 90-64 and in other similar fashions)
BR is not overtly rascist as a forum and if you feel that something is wrong with the posting culture here, why not write an article about it? Perhaps add some constructive criticism. Or better yet, stop making controversy out of nothing at any opportunity you get, this and many other articles that you have cited as "rascist" are not intended to be rascist and very few of them are even able to be construed as rascist.
from about 1 month ago
Max: Rondo is a fast break style point guard. The Celtics are a half court team. Rondo is in a system that certainly helps him considerably because of who he plays with, but also hurts him, because he's a more uptempo palyer who is better with the ball in his hands rather than without it. He hasn't really gotten a chance to show his playmaking skills on a consistent basis as part of this offense because the ball his handled so much by KG and Pierce (as it should be). If Rondo was in a Chris Paul or Steve Nash style offense, he would thrive a little bit more, because he's a true point guard that should be making plays rather than going to the corner and standing there while KG posts someone up. I'm not saying that he doesn't fit in with the Celtics, I'm just saying that if the ball was in his hands more often, he'd show the world what he can do.
from about 1 month ago
I agree and disagree with Justin post. In a fast moving random offensive Rando is a very good decesion maker. He is by no means a converted PG but in the 1/2 he is better off as a somewhat passive PG that gives up the ball and moves away often b/c he cant shoot (it easier to cheat on passing lanes off the ball handler then off a guy burried deep weak side) and b/c he isn't as good a decesion going east/west although he'll be better once he learns really shoot b/c it will give him more options. Either way he has great phyical gifts, is a real good pressure defender, and has good PG instints. Based on phyical gifts Rondo has alot higher ceiling and the fact that are even slightly comparable PGs (I think Calderon is definately the better player at this point) shows how much he already has to offer.
from about 1 month ago
Max wrote: "The fact remains that Rondo has little to no consistency with his jumpshot"
On what evidence are you basing that remark? Rondo shot nearly 50% from the field this year and ranked 35th in the NBA overall in that category (he ranked 9th among guards, including shooting guards). That marked a HUGE improvement over his 41.8% shooting accuracy for his first year in the NBA.
No doubt you were simply repeating something you heard while watching the playoffs. The so-called "experts" on ESPN and ABC loved making this claim about Rondo during the finals, which only revealed to me that they hadn't actually watched Rondo play in more than a couple of games all season. It's amazing how labels stick to players (e.g. "poor outside shooter").
The fact is Rondo shot better in just his second season in the league than Kobe "Tiny Left Eye" (aka "TLE") Bryant, Allen Iverson, Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, or Tracy McGrady has ever shot for even just one single season in their respective decorated careers.
about 1 month ago
yeah calderon is far away from being a good defensive player you know, after all you were the one who should him how to play D, man rondo wouldn't be shit if he wasnt on the celtics i mean the wind can take him away!! what makes you say he's a TOP defensive PG in the league? i mean really what is it?
from about 1 month ago
He's a top defensive point guard in the league because of his combination of on-ball and off-ball defensive skills. Derek Fisher had his worst Finals ever. I wonder why?
And to say that Rondo wouldn't be shit if he wasn't on the Celtics is ridiculous considering the fact that last year, as a starter on one of the worst Celtics teams ever, his numbers were nearly identical to the numbers he had this year.
about 1 month ago
when i said that i didnt mean he would suck as a player with anyone else i meant there's no way people would be looking at him this highly if he hadn't been with the celts let me lay it down like this if he had been with the raps do you think he would have made the same impact jose had?? no way jose had to share minutes i already calculated everything if jose plays most of the minutes at point he will end up averaging 11 assists plus and that is top in the NBA then jose shot 50% from 3 and was over a 90% free throw shooter...it doesnt get much better then that and i can see him getting about 18ppg next year with 11 or 12 assists and a top 5 player in free throw percentage.
from about 1 month ago
Remember that more minutes usually = tired legs which usually = lower shooting percentage, even from the free throw line. Fatigue also can lead to passes that are less crisp, meaning more turnovers rather than more assists.
Taking a player's current statistical averages and extrapolating them across more minutes played is a dubious exercise. Using that logic, Loren Woods (who scored 2 points in the one minute he played last season) would average 88 points per game if he played all 48 minutes. Coby Karl, using similar logic, would have averaged 23.6 assists per game for the Lakers last season if he was given more minutes.
Actually, I think Bosh and O'Neal will feed each other a lot off double-teams, decreasing the assist opportunities for Jose "and the Pussycats" Calderon.
about 1 month ago
Max,
Actually, Calderon happens to be hispanic, by ethnicity, and White by race. Obviously, your pro-racist mindset prevents you from accepting that. In other words, there are White-hispanics. Leave your lilli-white suburban paradise, and...behold!
When unbiased eyes look at Calderon, he looks like a derivation of the Caucasoid origin...which is likely why you defended him. Still, whether you like it, or not, if a player can't defend then he's sorry. No two ways about it. NBA players are the best in the world, and if your defense can't cut it? (...i.e. Steve Nash/Jose Calderon/other dead-weight Caucasoids), then you are a liability for your team. Period.
Jose Calderon is of the same "slower, less-athletic" origin as Nash, and thats why a team he QB's isn't going anywhere unless it has a tremendous defensive player to compensate for that. And, unfortunately, that doesn't happen very often.
a)Rondo is a fairly decent offense-QB, and an outstanding defender. (Game 6? NBA Finals? and other games?)
b)Calderon is a "better" decent offense-QB, and a Division I-AA level defender.
This is one ounce of proof, validating which one *doesn't cut it* if you're seeking to win a championship.
Calderon and Nash types, are only beneficial to a team which runs up/down the floor, scoring 110-115 points per game, and watching the playoffs/NBA Finals ---from their Estate's recreation room every year! Face it. And quit giving 'a pass' to Caucasoid players with reprehensible liabilities on the NBA court.
And the fact remains that Calderon has little to some consistency with his jumpshot, thats why he didn't average 20 ppg...so do the George Bush fuzzy math.
With Rondo, you're going to get more of the complete and total package, which gets you the win at the end of the game ---especially if it's in the NBA Finals.
BR is overtly racist as a forum. The culture of 'as many negative opinions' toward Black athletes, as possible, versus...continual silence and giving 'a pass' to dead-weight/underachieving Caucasoid players, just...simply won't join you to tell a lie. Period. So, I'll continue to point that out, in ways, that can't be denied. Although, attempted to be denied ---ESPECIALLY--- by potentially-racist posters who execute that peculiar culture (smile for the camera, Sheriff!).
from about 1 month ago
Wow, we're treated to some more racial spew from youngCaucasoid about an article, that once again, has nothing to do with race.
Man, If this site is so offensive to you, then why do you continue to post here???
about 1 month ago
OH YEY:
talk to the site's Administrators who deny me access to "article-writing" privileges, for some peculiar reason. Maybe they see that I have the potential to make a bunch of xenophobes here, do a bunch of soul-searching and gloomy-mirror checking.
So, in the meantime?
I'll continue to point out peculiarities, in articles, which can NOT be denied.
about 1 month ago
First of all, let's set the record straight: Rondo is NOT Hispanic; he is Arabic.
Second, Rondo is nearly five years younger than Jesse Cauldron, so comparing them is somewhat silly. You're taking someone who will be 27 in a few months (Joseph Calidrone) and comparing him to someone who turned 22 a few months ago. One player should be in his prime (Jose Callidron), while the other should still be wet behind the ears (and NOT because he is Hispanic).
Given that not much separates them, which would you rather sign to a 5-year deal? Someone who will be 32 in five years or someone who will be hitting his prime then?
about 1 month ago
thats a pretty stupid thing to say PG's age much slower then any other position lol look at nash what is he 35? and he shows no signs of slowing down lets say rondo continues to averages 5 assists a game for the next 10 years but calderon averages 10 for the next 5 wouldn't that amount to the same productivity? plus i still say he's gonna average over 90% from free throw line for years like he's doing currently and continue to shoot over 50% from 3 he has nothing to worry about plus ROKO UKIC the guy the raptors signed today may end up being BETTER!!!!! this guy is sick i was look at him years ago he has those flashy magic johnson type passes im excited to see what he will bring.
from about 1 month ago
I am deeply grieved to learn that Roko Ukic is ill. What is the precise nature of his ailment? Will he be able to recover in time for pre-season training? This is dire news, indeed!
about 1 month ago
T.J.,
Once again, there you go, acting like George Bush. Thinking we're stupid enough to believe, or feel, that someone is racist, if ----AND ONLY IF---- they tell you they are.
who ya foolin' T.J.?
The veracious articles will always reek FAR BEYOND the lies you attempt to tell, in explaining them, afterward. I'm going to exploit your peculiarities here, T.J., just face this. As long as this posting culture here *is what it is* then, I will continue airing it out. You won't me to cease?? Then cease with the "suspect" and ridiculous articles which disrespect and diminish Black players output, while remaining *peculiarly silent & forgiving* of dead-weight Caucasoids and those with reprehensible sports liabilities. Period.
from about 1 month ago
Yeahh...Ok well your kinda off here because I am definitely not racist and I think they would both be great to have on my team and it has nothing to do with race.
about 1 month ago
T.J.
doesn't matter what you said you "think they would both" be. Because you already chose Jose, over Rondo, meaning...for some strange and 'peculiar' reason, you prefer 'THE LESSER' COMPLETE POINT GUARD, over the one who brings far far far more to a team. Especially, in terms of seeking a championship.
The NBA GAME slows down, in the playoffs because *defensive-prowess becomes more important and increases in intensity* as, every single possession becomes important then! Thats when players like Jose and Nash, become liabilities. Face it.
from about 1 month ago
Everyone has their own opinion.
about 1 month ago
T.J.
this is true. But FACTS trump opinions, everytime.
from about 1 month ago
Fact: Calderon gets more points a game then Rondo
Fact: Calderon gets more assists a game then Rondo
Fact: Calderon is a better shooter then Rondo
Fact: Calderon has a much better assist to turnover racio then Rondo
Fact: Rondo is a better defender then Calderon
Rondo is a better defensive player then calderon but Calderon is a better offensive player.
from about 1 month ago
you have got to be the most ignorant obnoxious person ever
you're the one who is racist for implying that someone chose calderon over rondo simply because of race
seriously, you sicken me
a good shooter who is just a mediocre defender can be compensated for
just as a poor shooter who is a good defender can
it has nothing to do with race, only which option seems more beneficial
the raptors do not have the scoring capabilities that boston presents with their 3 allstars and thus a point guard who can shoot can be used to relieve pressure from bosh
boston on the other hand has no need for scoring, and rondo's presence solidifies their defensive prowess, so he is preferential in that situation
by the way, the arguement that 'facts trump opinions everytime' does not hold true when you make up your own facts based on your racial prejudices. what you said basically translates to
"i'm right no matter what. nananananana i'm not listening"
about 1 month ago
Fact: Calderon, on the celtics, would have as many ppg as Rondo
Fact: Calderon, on the celtics, would have as many assists as Rondo
Fact: Calderon, on the celtics, would be a better shooter ---with little opportunity to show that--- just look at what Ray-Ray had to go thru on the celtics, and he's Hall-of-Fame material.
Fact: Calderon has a much better assist to turnover ratio than Rondo
OFFENSE, wins fans...DEFENSE, wins championships
Fact: Rondo can stop any size guard, defensively
Fact: Jose can't stop any guard, at all, defensively
Fact: Rondo plays the passing lanes extremely well
Fact: Jose is too slow afoot, to play passing lanes, period
Fact: Rondo understands how to move w/o the ball, in a half-court set
Fact: Jose doesn't ever have to, so he knows nothing
Fact: Rondo gets more steals than Jose
Fact: Rondo causes more turnovers, for the other team, than Jose
Fact: Rondo is a much more complete player, that will get you more wins, than Jose. Period.
from about 1 month ago
See, the above "facts" aren't really facts, they are assumptions. You don't know that their stats would be identical if Calderon played on the Celtics. As for the bottom facts, you could have just said he plays good defense; I guess your point wouldn't sound as convincing otherwise.
from about 1 month ago
again you present your beliefs as facts
Fact: Calderon, on the celtics, would have as many ppg as Rondo
it is impossible for you to know how he would perform, as he has a much more consistant shoot than rondo he may be given more looks and would be able to take advantage of these oppurtunities better than rondo
Fact: Calderon, on the celtics, would have as many assists as Rondo
you have no way of knowing this, calderon is a more dominanting type of guard and would have the ball in his possession more and be able to make more assists
OFFENSE, wins fans...DEFENSE, wins championships
i agree, defence is important, but bottom line, whoever puts the ball in the whole more wins, regardless of how they defended, so this too is not a fact, but an opinion.
Fact: Rondo understands how to move w/o the ball, in a half-court set
Fact: Jose doesn't ever have to, so he knows nothing
yes im sure jose has never in his life played off the ball and would die of a heartattack if he had too. this is ridiculous how could you possibly assume that he knows nothing. he knows how to shoot the ball full court every possession but that doesnt mean he would
Fact: Rondo is a much more complete player, that will get you more wins, than Jose. Period.
you've already stated that jose is superior offensively, and the rondo is superior defensively. how exactly does that make rondo more well rounded. and again, how can you assume that rondo will get you more wins. it should go more like, any half decent point guard playing with three half of fame players will get you more wins.
about 1 month ago
Rondo WILL BE better.
from about 1 month ago
Agreed.
about 1 month ago
TJ,
...welcome home!
from about 1 month ago
I think Rondo will be better but Calderon is better right now.
about 1 month ago
TJ,
you can't hide from these hits:
Calderon is better ONLY IF there's no such thing as d-e-f-e-n-s-e, in the NBA. But, thats just, not the case.
And, since defense matters FAR MUCH MORE than offense, during the playoffs ---and Jose has the minimal level, or zero to none--- then...you're only embarassing your own knowledge of basketball, by claiming Jose is better.
about 1 month ago
It's interesting that you're sticking Calderon in Rondo's shoes and projecting how bad he'd be in the Celtics' offense, Freakazoid, while completely ignoring the likelihood that Rondo would not merit your man-crush praise had he been running the show in place of Calderon for the lowly Raptors last season.
The simple fact is that comparing NBA players at the same position is not apples to apples existing in some vacuum; your production ebbs and flows as the quality of your surrounding cast does. Saying that Rondo is better than Calderon is a moot point, because you simply don't know how Rondo would perform in Calderon's place, nor Calderon in Rondo's place.
To break away from your left-field accusations of racism running rampant here, let us take the Rondo-versus-Calderon debate and see how it might apply in another, more “neutral” example.
You look at someone like Chauncey Billups, who is rightfully championed for his offensive skills yet whose defense leaves much to be desired (Calderon anyone?), and then you look at Rondo, who you say is the complete point guard package. Would you still choose Rondo over Billups?
Would I? It depends on the situation. Billups has won a championship with the Pistons, and Rondo has won with the Celtics. Does that mean both would win championships with the other team? Perhaps Billups would with the Green, but not so much with Rondo and the Pistons is my guess -- and only a guess.
You have to judge a player's production by the team of which he is a part. To do a side-by-side comparison a la Rondo and Calderon in this article is meant to be speculative and should not be misconstrued as an exact science, nor should it incite accusations of racism or otherwise. This is about basketball; let's keep it that way. Thanks.
from about 1 month ago
"You look at someone like Chauncey Billups, who is rightfully championed for his offensive skills yet whose defense leaves much to be desired (Calderon anyone?), "
You talk in a very scholarly fashion, yet your logic leaves much to be desired; Chauncey Billups is a very good defensive point guard and has been known as one for a long time because of his combination of speed and quickness. To compare Calderon's defense with Billup's defense is borderline retarded. Billups is another level above these two guys, so its kind of ridiculous to even bring him into the conversation.
from about 1 month ago
hey justin, you are the guy comparing rondo to tony parker into discussions above, so who is the retarded one?
from about 1 month ago
J: I'm not the only one comparing Rondo to Tony Parker. A lot of people do, as they're very similar. Lightning quick, can get into the lane with ease, small, and both have/had poor jumpshots. You clearly don't seem to get what I'm saying; Rondo is NOT better than Tony Parker. I'm saying that Rondo's development is very similar to Tony Parker's development at their respective sophomore years. And I am saying that Rondo could be as good or better than Parker in a few years time if he keeps on working on that jumpshot. Read what I am saying next time you actually respond.
about 1 month ago
Justin, thanks for taking the time to read my response and for the unexpected compliment. I hope you were kidding about that "scholarly" bit, though; this is called English last I heard.
Anyway, you clearly missed my point. My thing was to bring the focus of the debate away from irrelevant racial issues and back to basketball. I had been encountering Freakazoid's comments on other forums/blogs, etc. for a while now and I was simply tired of the "racial spew" that he had been propagating, as a previous poster called it.
In no way am I saying that Mr. Big Shot is below or even comparable in skill to Calderon or Rondo. He's definitely on the wrong side of 30 but still getting it done (and obviously was an integral component of the 03-04 championship Pistons).
That said, he is called Mr. "Big Shot" for a reason; he's been known primarily for his clutch scoring and not particularly for his lockdown defense -- though you could make a case that he’s an underrated defender. I suppose I could have come up with a better point of comparison for Calderon's disposition as defined by this thread, such as Gilbert Arenas (again, not in terms of skill, but in the sense that he is more of a scorer than a defender).
I probably would not have even thought to bring Billups or Arenas into the discussion had Freakazoid not made this thing an issue about race. Still, if you ask me who the top-tier point guards are that are known more for their offense than their defense, then Billups and Arenas do come to mind (as does Calderon, according to previous posters ...)
Digressing a bit, the only true top-tier lockdown defenders at the one position as far as I’m concerned are maybe CP3 (though his steal totals more accurately reflect his ability to play the passing lanes so well), Boom Dizzle and Kidd. Then you have your Andre Millers and your Rondos and perhaps even your Hinrichs. My fave defender at the one, though, would probably have to be Lindsey Hunter. He’s 63 years old and still conducting on-court clinics on the defensive end.
Now, see? This is a discussion about basketball and no longer about race, color of skin, sexual orientation, family background, etc. And that's what I feel should be discussed on a "sports network" such as this. There's so much interesting stuff to talk about in the NBA, let alone in sports in general, that I feel it's a waste to veer off into irrelevant territory.
I sincerely hope you reconsider concluding my logic to be "borderline retarded," as I hope I have proved, and I look forward to many more intelligent conversations about sports.
-Bailey
from about 1 month ago
Well, the "scholarly" compliment has to do with the fact that you do indeed write in proper English, contrary to almost everybody else who responds on these things. Anyway, Billups was 2nd NBA All Defensive Team in 2005, so I was just pointing out the fact that Billup's defense is and always has been very, very good. So to compare him defensively to Jose "The Matador" Calderon is just wrong. Perhaps the "borderline retarded" comment was a little off-base, but I was just trying to prove a point.
about 1 month ago
Justin,
thanks for putting a blind-man in his proper place, as in, exploiting...yet another poster who urges to give 'a pass' to dead-weight Caucasoidal liabilities, like Calderon's defense, in order to hallucinate his presence being equal to the likes of a Rondo. Why these clowns insist on minimizing Defense and stopping players, in order to keep their Steve Nash/Jose Calderon fantasies alive, is eerie.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Bailey, look, face it "Doug Moe" if you have no defense; you are a, I REPEAT, you are a liability on the NBA court. And you ARE NOT going to win any championships. Period. Calderon and Nash are just the type of players to make that nightmare ---continually--- come true. And Chauncey Billups, is not, since he plays pretty good defense. Face this.
And consider changing your login to Reed Richards-----for how far you reach----with your whimsical analogies...in case 'Doug Moe' doesn't work for.
about 1 month ago
Jose's d is going to automatically get better with Jermaine in the middle... People might not want to drive as much.
about 1 month ago
Aaron,
Don't kid yourself;
Amare increased his blocked-shots, guards still capitalized on Steve Nash's Division II-A defense. Then Shaq came along. Guards still took capitalized on Steve Nash's Division II-A defensive skills.
Even if they drive less, vs. Raptors, thats a compliment to Jermaine's 10+ year reputation...and not any *phantom hope* for Jose's defense improving.
about 1 month ago
TRANSAPARENCY! Guys yung's point is simple. Rondo is black making him a better PG because he has to deal with double standards and the media coming down on him.
It's the same post over and over boys.
about 1 month ago
Hahaha. Good stuff.
I think they're totally different players, both good in their own right, but ultimately, back-up material (sorry Calderon lovers).
Defensively, Rondo is at his best. That's the one thing he does that's "above average" in terms of NBA caliber. Because he can defend the point guard spot, he will always have a job in the league. But as far as being good, or being starter material, he lacks in so many other areas that I just don't see him ever being anything special. I don't think he can run a team (Calderon is exceptional at this), nor can he shoot well at all (Calderon can shoot very well). He's a niche player.
As for Calderon, the word that applies is "sound." I think he's smart and does many things well, however, he has a low ceiling. I feel like the Calderon we saw last year is as good as it's going to get. He's going to work as an efficient option, however, whenever a team has the chance to upgrade him with a more dynamic player, they'll deal him. In other words, he might be TOO simple.
I don't know...we'll see what happens. They're both good young players, neither of whom I think will ever become elite-level players.
If I had to pick one for a team that didn't have talent, I'd take Calderon as he would make a good leader and base. If I had to pick one for a team that was contending and needed a final piece to the puzzle, I'd take Rondo.
from about 1 month ago
Rajon Rondo can't run a team? He just played starting point guard for an NBA champion. Sure, his role was slightly easier than others because Pierce and KG handled the ball so much, but Rondo handled it enough, especially for a second year player. His role was very important in the Celtic's run to the championship. I have no idea why people aren't comparing this kid to Tony Parker more. Rondo's two years in the NBA have been almost the same as Tony Parker's first two years, and both have similar skillsets.
Oh and, "he lacks in so many other areas" Umm, what? Shooting is the only area he lacks in buddy, and he's already shown improvement from year 1 to year 2.
I think you need to do more research on both these players before commenting because both are starter material. Rondo was the starting point guard on an NBA championship team, and he was also one of the youngest starting point guards to ever play on an championship squad. Calderon averaged 10 assists a game in only 30 minutes on a mediocre team. Both are definitely starting material.
from about 1 month ago
Oh and Rondo is a WAY above average rebounder for a point guard also. His assist numbers don't show it (because of the Celtic's offense), but he has above average court vision as well. We saw an example of this in Game 2 of the NBA finals, when he broke out for 16 assists, the most in an NBA Finals game since 1991.
Following up on Calderon, he's a poor-man's-Steve Nash that is not particularly old (27 years old by next season), so there's still room for improvement in his case. Especially since its only his 4th year in the NBA.
from about 1 month ago
A-Train wrote: Rondo "...can [not] shoot well at all."
Pardon the repeated post, people, but I must correct this fool who did not read it above.
******
On what evidence are you basing that remark? Rondo shot nearly 50% from the field this year and ranked 35th in the NBA overall in that category (he ranked 9th among guards, including shooting guards). That marked a HUGE improvement over his 41.8% shooting accuracy for his first year in the NBA.
No doubt you were simply repeating something you heard while watching the playoffs. The so-called "experts" on ESPN and ABC loved making this claim about Rondo during the finals, which only revealed to me that they hadn't actually watched Rondo play in more than a couple of games all season. It's amazing how labels stick to players (e.g. "poor outside shooter").
The fact is Rondo shot better in just his second season in the league than Kobe "Tiny Left Eye" (aka "TLE") Bryant, Allen Iverson, Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, or Tracy McGrady has ever shot for even just one single season in their respective decorated careers.
about 1 month ago
I agree with a lot of what youngCaucasoid said--except for the racial stuff, which I could give two shits about.
By the way, Hispanic is not an ethnicity. It is a race. Puerto Rican is an ethnicity.
I know... I am a white Hispanic (like Calderon). It's only in the US where we feel this need to categorize people and divide ourselves according to irrelevant physical attributes. The Census stuff is retarded... Hispanics, who come in all colors, are forced to pick between Hispanic, White or Black. Carl Herrera, a black-as-tar Venezuelan, might even tell you, "I'm not black, I'm Hispanic." LOL. There's a lot of confusion about that.
Calderon, Gasol, Lou Piniella, Andy Garcia, etc., are all white Hispanics.
But really, who cares? I wanted to clarify that, but really, who cares? LOL.
about 1 month ago
Justin... you have to get serious, man. If you think Rondo "can run a team" because he played a role on a championship-winning team, you're reaching a little too far. I mean, even Kendrick Perkins looked GREAT last year. Are you going to tell me he's going to be an All-Star? It's much easier for a player to "look good" when he's the fourth or fifth most important player on the floor for his team, and the other guys are upper-echelon players. Throw Rondo and Perkins on the Grizzlies and let's see how good they look. Hell, EVERYBODY on that Celtics team looked good last year. James Posey got a big deal out of it. Even "Big Baby" looked good.
I'm not saying Rondo is bad--I never said that. I just don't think he'll be anything more than a contributing role player--someone like Derek Fisher comes to mind. A good player but nothing special.
Same with Calderon. I would agree he's a poor man's version of Steve Nash. Hell, I'll even say he's just as good as Nash, who I think is overrated. Who was Nash before he got to Phoenix and coach told him, "I'm going to surround you with good players, and I want you to push the ball all the time." If Jason Kidd were in his prime playing D'Antoni Ball with the likes of Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire, he'd average 20 assists per game and the Suns would have a couple of titles. Please. Nash before the Suns was a career 12-and-5 guy. He landed in the right spot, one in which his numbers would flourish (which point guard's game wouldn't in that system?). That's it. Had Nash gone to the Hawks or Wizards, we wouldn't be talking about him right now.
That's the deal with Calderon. He's in a place where he has the green light to do as he pleases. He looked great last year. But let's see what happens once he starts averaging 38 minutes per game. Let's see what he does when teams set out to stop him. Then we can really judge him. Right now, it's all hype. It's too early... for both of these guys.
You know, there was a time when people were saying, "watch out for Troy Hudson!" The list goes on infinitely. We have to wait and see what these people do, how they grow, what adjustments they make, which situations they play in, etc.
I don't think Calderon will retire having played a starter's career. I don't. I think he might start for a few years, then get traded, etc., and start to lose some steam. It happens to most players. The great ones (Kidd, Payton, Paul (so far)) show it right from the get-go and they never let up. Will Calderon be a top five point guard in the league? I doubt it. But I think he CAN have a career like, say, Andre Miller--a good, steady, respected floor general.
But I could be wrong... I don't think so, but I could be. We'll have to wait and see. Things change quickly once you start making a name for yourself and the money starts rolling in. Expectations change and such.
We'll see.
from about 1 month ago
Dude, Rondo was FAR more important than Perkins on this Celtics team. Point guard is of much more import than center on any team unless your center is Dwight Howard. Don't be ridiculous. Did you watch Game 2 of the Finals where Rondo had his 16 assists? Did you watch Game 6 where he posted a 21 point, 8 assist, 7 rebound, 6 steal statline in only 30 minutes? Rondo clearly has something special in him. He's only in his 2ND YEAR IN THE LEAGUE! And he already played a major role on a championship team. Don't try to diminish his role on this squad.
As for you saying that any player would look good on this Celtics squad; that may be true, but its not as if Rondo can't survive without the Big 3. As a starter in 06-07 (25 games), Rondo averaged identical stats to the stats he put up this year. His skills are somewhat held back by the Celtic's offense because he's the type of point guard that needs the ball in his hands to make plays. But with Paul Pierce and KG in the fold, he's not going to be able to handle the balls as much as a CP3 or Steve Nash. More often than not, Rondo brings the ball up the court and then passes the ball to one of the Big 3. Then he runs to the corner to isolate them. So the Celtics offense reveals his weakness as a shooter more than his strength as a playmaker. But on the fastbreak, you can see Rondo's ability to create, as he has superhuman speed combined with fantastic floor vision and an ability to take the ball to the rim.
Rondo's sky is the limit. You say he "lacks in so many other areas"; where? The only area he lacks in is shooting. Thats it. He can pass very well, he can rebound extremely well, and he can defend extremely well. He also has shown that "it" factor, those intangibles that set players apart, with his hustle, his drive, and he also hit a few big shots in the playoffs. People have been doubting this kid his entire career so far. Even after an NBA championship, that hasn't stopped.
As for Calderon, I don't know nearly as much about him as I do Rondo, but I do know that he's a fairly good scorer, and an amazing passer. I agree that Nash is somewhat overrated, but not to the extent that your saying. He's still a great passer, one of the greatest all time, and his ability to score is overlooked as well.
With Calderon, I see a guy who has the uncanny to find the open man no matter what. He makes passes that other guys can't or won't dare to make. His ability to score shouldn't be discounted either, as he's stronger and bigger than Nash, and he has the ability to knock down the three ball with consistency.
about 1 month ago
A-Train,
I hope that Matt nor TJ nor Andrew read you agreed with anything I said...they're going to hate you for the rest of your posting career, on B/R.com
Plus, just because I presented 'that real' which you hate to have to think about Race re: the NBA, doesn't make me wrong. It only makes you intolerant of it or someone who doesn't give 2-$hits about it and, btw;
"Ethnicity and race are related concepts in that both are usually defined in terms of shared genealogy"
White-Hispanic, Black-Hispanic, Asian-Hispanic are terms that denote Race, to me...and that, alone, is reason for me to steer clear of "word trickery" that you invite. Fact of the matter is, here in the U.S. most *noteworthy* Hispanics or Latinos are of the Caucasoid derivation. Meaning, you'll enjoy a Lifetime of opportunities and "dead-weight" passes, that Black athletes will never know...i.e. Calderon, Gasol, Pinella, SCOTUS-Justice Alito, US-DOJ Chief-Gonzalez, etc...
And, please, you should consider the reality of how well Rondo can run a team. Especially, if you weigh him vs. Calderon's output during his second year in the NBA, as well. Or, at 22 years old, or any other factor which leads to Rondo's team-handling abilities being slighted, according to your opinion. For example, even where you give credit to Steve Nash's offensive package, you still refused to mention how he can not ---or will not--- learn how to run a half-court offense. But notice how you did NOT make light of that, even in agreeing he is overrated.
And reading you equate Calderon to Andre Miller, is hurtful. Miller can create his own shot, his scoring avg. shows that, whereas Calderon? ...I don't know about that one. Miller blocks shots, Miller grabs rebounds, Calderon does neither one of those. So, please, keep that in mind.
However, I do think you hit right on here:
"That's the deal with Calderon. He's in a place where he has the green light to do as he pleases. He looked great last year. But let's see what happens once he starts averaging 38 minutes per game. Let's see what he does when teams set out to stop him. Then we can really judge him. Right now, it's all hype. It's too early... for both of these guys."
Considering, the past two seasons, he was just viewed as *TJ Ford's backup* and thats how teams approached playing the Raptors.
from about 1 month ago
You think to much of yourself if you think someone would hate him for agreeing with you. Your basketball points aren't far off at all in my opinion, you dont seem to be smart in other areas of life but hey thats none of my busness. I don't agree with all of your points on Calderon and Rondo but definitely some of them.
about 1 month ago
TJ,
"...Your basketball points aren't far off at all in my opinion..."
Look, here your bias and prejudice ---against me--- reeks putridly even when you try and give me credit.
"...you dont seem to be smart in other areas of life..."
Let me guess, you couldn't possibly be talking about areas such as *those elements* I use to exploit the pro-Racist mindset you use to execute articles and posts here on this site...right?
...po' fella
from about 1 month ago
No your 100% wrong, I'm not racist at all, and I definitely couldn't be racist against you because I don't know what race you are.
about 1 month ago
Rondo is a great complimentary point guard, but I can't see him being in any all-star games. I'm not saying he's a bad player, he's a great addition to any team; he's just not the kind of guy that appears in all-star games.
from about 1 month ago
To me, a great complimentary point guard is one that shoots the ball well from outside, plays solid defense, and doesn't turn the ball over a ton. I'm talking Derek Fisher-type player. What makes you think Rondo doesn't have all-star potential? He's not in the complimentary point guard mold. He's a playmaker. He's only 22. He is as fast as anybody else on the court at all times, with or without the ball in his hands. He can finish at the rim. His defense is not just solid, its outstanding. His passing (see 16 assists in Game 2 of Finals) is fantastic as well. He's developed a very good tear drop shot in the lane that, as we've seen with Tony Parker, can be very effective. Even his poor outside shooting has gotten dramatically better from year 1 to year 2. Rondo is not going to be a role player for the rest of his career. Once the Big 3 move on, Danny is going to start building the team around Rondo. I guaruntee it
about 1 month ago
I agree with you 100% Justin, one thing that most people don't notice about Rondo, that is a very small part of the game but still very effective is his pump faking ability. I have never seen a point guard, maybe even never seen a player in the NBA who can pump fake as good as him. Whehter hes passing or shooting he is great at them.
about 1 month ago
TJ,
this reads like, you too realize, that there's just no comparison between Calderon and Rondo eh pal? Especially, in terms of what it looks like *is to come* over the next 5-7 seasons.
about 1 month ago
Mike,
You should've some "some of" what I posted isn't facts, to you, considering most of what I posted are facts.
Fact: Calderon has a much better assist to turnover ratio than Rondo
OFFENSE, wins fans...DEFENSE, wins championships
Fact: Rondo can stop any size guard, defensively
Fact: Jose can't stop any guard, at all, defensively
Fact: Rondo plays the passing lanes extremely well
Fact: Jose is too slow afoot, to play passing lanes, period
Fact: Rondo understands how to move w/o the ball, in a half-court set
Fact: Jose doesn't ever have to, so he knows nothing
Fact: Rondo gets more steals than Jose
Fact: Rondo causes more turnovers, for the other team, than Jose
Fact: Rondo is a much more complete player, that will get you more wins, than Jose. Period.
THESE ARE FACTS.
Now, if you need a working definition for *assumptions* then...it gets no better than this:
"...
*great complimentary point guard
*can't see him being in any all-star games
*he's just not the kind of guy that appears in all-star games.
..."
about 1 month ago
First of all who cares about either one of these guys for that simple fact that they both suck!! Rondo had stars around and Calderon needs to go back overseas where he belongs.
from about 1 month ago
Who cares about your stupid opinion, tee?