Rajon Rondo the best PG in the NBA! Here’s why:
Rajon Rondo the 6ft 1” Point Guard from Louisville, Kentucky broke the NBA record for the most assists in a season’s first five games, passing legendary Point Guard and assist master John Stockton.
In the first game of the season against the new and improved Miami Heat, Rondo put up 17 assists (which tied with Oscar Robertson with 3rd most in an opening game), then in the 3rd game of the season against the New York Knicks he put up 24 assists – which is his career high. His total of 50 assists through the first three games of the season tied John Stockton’s NBA record for most assists in the first three games of the season. In the next game against the Detroit Pistons he notched up another 17 assists and with another 15 assists the following day against the Bucks, Rondo again set a record, this time for most assists through the first five games.
Rondo has been an absolute nightmare to defend this season, but he also defends at an elite level himself, and is among the leagues elite when it comes to steals. He finished 1st in the 2009-10 season with 2.33 per game and 2nd this season with 2.25 per game. Rondo has picked up where he left off in the 2010 NBA playoffs, and has continued his double – double prowess having now improved his jump shot slightly.
Every game, it seems as if the key match up is between Rondo and the opposite team’s point guard. Rondo has already outplayed Derrick Rose, Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings this season, and torched Miami on opening night with 24 assists and 2 steals, and then again 6 games later with 16 assists and 2 steals.
Matchups
3rd Nov, 2010
Brandon Jennings: 13points, 4assists, 3rebounds and 1steal
Rajon Rondo: 17points, 15assists, 8rebounds, 3steals and 1block
3rd Dec, 2010
Derrick Rose: 20points, 8assists and 3rebounds
Rajon Rondo: 12points, 19assists, 6rebounds and 3steals
5th Jan, 2011
Tony Parker: 18points, 5assists, 5rebounds and 2steals
Rajon Rondo: 12points, 10rebounds, 23assists, 6steals and 1block
21st Jan, 2011
Deron Williams: 5points and 6assists
Rajon Rondo: 4points, 12assists, 5rebounds and 3steals
22nd Feb, 2011
Stephen Curry: 18points, 2assists, 4rebounds and 1steal
Rajon Rondo: 19points, 15assists, 6rebounds and 2steals
He clearly dominates all of those guys on assists, steals, rebounds and he even got a block in two games. The only side which lets him down slightly is his shooting. However, he beats two of the five in scoring and only loses out to Derrick Rose by 8points, Deron Williams by a point and Tony Parker by 6points. And the last time I looked a Point Guard needs to lead his team in assists, he needs to bring the players around him into play, and when you look at the best Point Guards ever, you see high assist totals.
For example, Magic Johnson- 11.2apg, Oscar Robertson- 9.5apg, John Stockton- 10.5apg. Derrick Rose is being called the best Point Guard but he does the same job Michael Jordan did, he brings the ball up court, scores (a lot!), provides some assists and does some rebounding. If the Bulls bought in a player like Luke Ridnour, Eric Bledsoe or Jameer Nelson to play at the point and moved Derrick Rose to the 2” guard position, it may take a little while for transition, but I think he would soar in that role.
Back to Rajon. He can work on his shooting over the summer, I mean he has probably the best shooter the NBA has ever seen in Ray Allen to help him. For improving rebounding he has Kevin Garnett and for overall leadership and his own shooting ability he has Paul Peirce. Rajon is a great player, and is the most complete point guard in the NBA. If he continues to improve his jump shooting, he will become a top 5 player very very soon.
Content courtesy of Alex Green
