Over the past few years, LeBron has sunk more game winning three point shots than Kobe Bryant has. Take that how you want it. But I would much rather have him that a guy who is a good ball handler but can't hit a free throw or a wide open shot to save his life. In Game 7, Rondo was almost a liability for the Celtics because the Lakers were leaving him WIDE open on the floor and dared him to beat them by sinking a shot. Aside from what was a miracle three by the time the game was already over, he couldn't do it. Do I even have to bring up his free throw shooting?
To bring up fundamental flaws in LeBron's game while ignoring the GAPING holes in Rondo's does not make sense to me. By the way, Dwyane Wade is a much better three point shooter than he was a few years back.
Don't get me wrong, by no means am I suggesting Rondo is a better player than Lebron. Lebron is a top 10 player in this league, probably top 5. But there's a reason why his teams haven't done jack, save for going to the Finals when there was no competition in the East. And it's b/c he lacks what the great players lack. I see no signs of him ever having it.
However, Rondo was not a liability in Game 7 - I don't know what game you were watching. He was a liability at times during the series, but game 7 was a well-rounded game from him, and had they won, he may have been the defacto choice for team MVP for the series. Not that that says much, since none of the star players had a good series. But Rondo was the 2nd best player on the floor that night for the C's, sadly, behind Rasheed Wallace.
That's besides the point. My Rondo-Lebron point is this. Lebron may rack up assists totals due to the double teams he creates, but he doesn't make his teammates better. As I showed earlier, going to Cleveland was a hindrance to player's performances, Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, Shaq, Jamario Moon, etc., etc.
With Rondo, he will make every player on his team much better. People don't want to accept it, but he basically dragged a lifeless, beaten-down big 3 through the NBA playoffs. Allen is inconsistent, KG is a shell of his former self, and Pierce destroys the offense in the 4th quarter when he tries to take over and go iso. But add Rondo into that mix, and he accentuates the strengths of these flawed, worn-down players. KG, Allen and Rondo are a perfect match for each other. Honestly, I think Pierce and Rondo aren't a great fit. I think Pierce's need for the ball in his hands takes Rondo's strength (creation) and turns it into a huge weakness (liability to the offense without the ball and when not allowed to create).
That said, Rondo has to improve his free throw shooting and jump-shooting. But when Rondo is on, and we saw him at his A game at times during the regular season and in the playoffs, the team is flat-out unbeatable. He will get an easy open shot for any teammate on the floor. And when you have a guy like that, you basically have 5 guys playing at their best, 5 guys who can get open at anytime b/c of a creator like Rondo.
To some extent, Rondo is old school in that way. Stern's NBA is about one player dominating on his own.
The other thing with Lebron is, if Stern wanted to, he could completely destroy Lebron's production by having the officials call the game it was meant to be called. By the way the rules are written, I'd say Lebron gets away with a violation on between 30-50% of his drives. For one, he never learned how NOT to travel. But that's OK, the NBA is more than willing to let that one slide. But beyond that, he's always digging his shoulder, pushing off with his elbow, or just plain barreling over people.
If Lebron James were slightly smaller, even let's say Kobe Bryant's size, I have no doubt that this guy would not only not be in the NBA, but never made it out of high school basketball. That's why I can't stand this guy's game. Its predicated completely on his size. Its boring.
