More proof that rondo is available?

You're saying it wasn't a general consensus among Celtics' fans that Ainge was an idiot prior to the KG deal?

 

Doing my best Chutney impression, I decided to investigate this "rumor". Went to TrueHoop and found the linked "article". Hey, what do you know? It's from a fan blog! Must be credible. Did some further investigation and found the Chad Fraud article where the speculation originated from.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...ory?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftBuzz-090612

Wow, sure sounds like the Celtics are dying to rid themselves of such a cancer.

 

Not really. People disliked some of the things he did (trading away Walker/trading for Telfailure) but they really liked all the young players, especially Jefferson and Rondo. There were two polls out on Boston sites when the KG to Boston rumors started. Both said "Would you trade Al Jefferson and other young talent for Kevin Garnett?" Both polls were lopsided in favor of keeping Jefferson. One on the Boston Globe website and one on CelticsBlog.com, the biggest Celtics site on the web. Sure, there was a loud minority of people who couldn't stand him, but most fans appreciated what he was trying to do.

 

Chad Ford may be full of it, but if he's not just pulling things out of his ass, his blurb does make it sound like the Celtics are willing to deal Rondo, which would surprise me if true.

 

Here's a link to the article that first started all the Rondo trade rumors:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12861

Notice however, that the unflattering quotes from Ainge and Rivers are from a much older article - one that came out early in the Chicago series. They were just general comments about Rondo's play and attitude - not specific to poossibly trading him.

Of course, there have also been recent trade rumors concerning Rondo to Phoenix. Perhaps Boston isn't shopping him, but where there's smoke, there's often fire. Still, taking trades and making trades are two different things. There are tons of trades that get discussed between teams, but few are actually made. A GM isn't doing his job if he isn't investigating what he can get in return for his players.

BNM

 

It does?

Really?

He says the Kings want Rondo and he speculates that it would take more than just the number 4 pick to get him.

How on Earth does that make it sound like the Celtics are willing to deal Rondo? Because people want him?

I'm so confused.

 

OMG I've never heard that used before. So sad that I missed it because it's fucking brilliant!

 

That rule doesn't apply to the internet. It's way too easy nowadays for illegitimate sites like fan blogs, or wannabe sites like RealGM to make shit up, and it happens all the time. In this case, there isn't one credible source saying Rondo is on the market.

 

Exactly, someone on RealGM sad that MLSE was making a deal with the Nets for Dooling and trading Humphries. Because the poster said he had a friend there, they believed him, nonetheless, nothing has come of it since.

This is what happens when shit gets boring.

 

Some of you aren't considering that Ainge may be getting a jump on the rebuilding process. The Magic and Cavs greatly improved themselves. Now we hear talk that Shaq could become the latest improvement to the Cavs. Ainge has to wonder if his team's capable of besting the elite East teams.

The heart and soul of their team, Garnett, has been on the decline since the 03-04 season. His PER has steadily dropped from 29.5 to last years total of 21.32. He's now 33.

Ray Allen's peak PER was back in 05-06, at 22.28. Last season he was down to 17.34! He'll be 34 heading into training camp.

Paul Pierce's peak PER was back in 05-06 also, at 23.71. Father time is catching up with him as well. Last season he posted a 17.74 PER. Pierce will be 32 at the beginning of the season.

Their main cogs will not be nearly what they were when they won their championship. Rondo's succession isn't enough to make up the difference.

Their biggest trading chip is Rondo. If they could move him in a package that rids them of Allen's contract in place of two promising talents (Ricky Rubio and Jason Thompson), I think that's a smart move.

They're likely not going to win the championship with this cast as it is, especially if Shaq becomes a Cav.

 

I'm shocked. You mean to tell me that three number one options were all put on the same team and all their PER's went down?

 

How many of you think a healthy core of Garnett, Pierce, Allen, and Rondo, given their steady decline in production, is enough to get past the Cavs next season, let alone whoever comes out of the West.

I don't. Maybe I'm underestimating the impact of a 33-year old Garnett.

 

And age has nothing to do with that either?

 

Sure, a little. But none of the 3 is anywhere close to done. They have 2 more years as a legit contender, and losing to Orlando without KG and Powe isn't going to make them close that window.

 

Pierce dropped from 19.85, the championship year, to 17.74, last year.
Rondo increased from 15.75 to 18.90.
Garnett decreased from 25.42 to 21.32
Allen actually increased from 16.60 to 17.34.

These numbers, other than Allen, indicate to me that age, not team make-up, is more responsible for the change in PER. I'm comparing similar teams, just older players, right?

 

Many teams wait too long to rebuild. I'd actually be excited as a Celtics fan if they began the rebuilding process this off-season, rather than next off-season.

Odd are against them that they can beat the Cavs in a series next year.

I suppose an injury to key cog of the Cavs though would open up the door, wouldn't it. Maybe you're right. Maybe they should give it another try as is.

 

So based on minor PER drops, they should rebuild? Ignore the fact that they were right in the thick of it for the best record until KG got hurt, had the 2 longest winning streaks, and that they took the eventual EC finalists to 7 games without their best player.

 

I think Boston would be beating the Lakers right now if they had a healthy KG and Powe. Injuries are part of the game and unfortunately for them...they hit at the wrong time.

 

What has Cleveland done to prove they can beat Boston in a series besides absolutely nothing?