See thats my point. You're completely ignoring Rondo's terrible season as if it never happened, and assuming he'll return to a previous level of play despite age and injuries working against him. What sense does that make. Last year was by far the most complete campaign he's had since 2012 and should be what you take most into consideration. It doesn't matter if Rondo was above league average in wide open mid range jumpshots in the past, we're having a discussion about the present where he was absolute dogshyt and an inferior player to Collison who adds more value on the floor than he does. Even with your oddly specific criteria for Rondo being top 4 in steals per game every year in an attempt to make him look special (and I won't even acknowledge the "at some point" BS) he hasn't been that since 2011 and it bears pointing out that steals are not and will never be the measure of a players defensive acumen. Effort, positioning, discipline, consistency are more important and Rondo hasn't put those together in a very long time, too long for you to be bringing it up in an actual discussion or to be referencing him among the actual best perimeter defenders in the game.
I like how you switched the qualifier to postseason play as most Rondo stans tend to do, but then ignored his garbage performance against Houston in the first round of this season as if it never happened. That the Mavericks were a better team without him (You say he's a bad fit now, but I saw no Rondo fan say that shyt when he got traded. "He's surrounded by shooters!!!111 P&R with Dirk!!!1111), and the Celtics finished the year strong without him as well. Brought up 2012 as if hasn't missed more games than he's played since then and won't be four years into the past by the time the '16 postseason begins.
Its not just because of the ACL tear that Rondo was afraid to drive, he was a historically bad free throw shooter last season and did not want to get sent to the line. Its a problem if your primary ball handler, the man initiating your offense, has a basketball phobia. Don't cape for him, its a real flaw in his game that contributes to him being a lesser player than Darren Collison who is unafraid of contact and finishes more effectively while also being a top mid range shooter (not just on wide open shots with defenders sagged off him like Rondo), reliable from behind the arc and will bring consistent defensive effort. You haven't really given me any basketball reasoning as to why Rondo is better than Collison nor have you addressed his fit with Rudy Gay & Cousins two players who will (and should) often take the ball out of his hands in order to create leaving the ball dominant Rondo ineffective, and I've given you my reasoning in explicit detail, so we'll just be going in circles unless you present more to this debate.
Your final tidbit about Kobe sums it all up, he's coming off back to back season ending injuries and is 37 years old. Age and regression are real things that you aren't taking into consideration here. Look at how he performed last season and tell me you think he looks anything remotely close to the form he flashed in '13 or his prime. You aren't paying attention if you think he's the same player. Two years is not short term memory in this game, its what have you done for me lately not in the past. I've got big respect for Kobe's game and I doubt he'll play anywhere close to his lofty standards in '15 because my expectations are realistic and not influenced by past nostalgia. You're the one with a flawed perspective here.
Hassan gonna destroy this dude
I'm still not sold on CJ, Crabbe or Meyers making that leap.....
