Eastern Conference Scout On Rondo: 'I'd Take Some Backups Before Him'
BOSTON (CBS) - Rajon Rondo isn't getting much love from anyone these days.
ESPN's Chris Broussard asked three longtime NBA scouts with over 60 years of NBA experience who tops their list of three most overrated and three most underrated players in the NBA. The Celtics point guard, who is averaging 11.6 points and 8.1 assists in 14 games this season since returning from a torn ACL in mid-January, is on one scout's overrated list, which should be expected.
Though he's making strides, Rondo isn't a great scorer, and people still aren't sold on him leading a team that doesn't have future Hall of Famers playing alongside him. But because of Rondo's defensive game and dynamic passing, he's often brought up in conversations about the league's top playmakers and point guards.
But one anonymous Eastern Conference scout has absolutely NO love for Rondo:
"Three years ago, I was the only scout saying Rondo is overrated, and I was crucified for it. I was saying he was awful. I think he's a selfish player. He's only going to pass it to you if he thinks he can get an assist. I've seen him come out for pregame warm-ups with his shoes untied, shooting lefty foul shots. For him to come out for a game with that attitude makes me question his work ethic. I've never liked his game.
"If you play with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen at close to their peak, they're going to raise everyone's game. Defensively, Rondo's a bit of a gambler, and I don't think his defense is all that. If I was starting a team and had my choice of any point guard, he would be 40th. I mean it. I'd take some backups before him."
It's hard to argue with the scout's take on Rondo's attitude, with the recent "birthdaygate" scandal just another hit on the captain's leadership qualities. You can also say his defense is overrated, because he certainly takes plenty of chances on that side of the ball.
But to say Rondo only passes when he thinks he can get an assist (he is a point guard, right?) is laughable, and saying there are 39 point guards ahead of him is flat-out lunacy.
There are two different camps when it comes to Rondo: you love him or you hate him. Very few people fall in between, and when they pick a side it's hard to talk them over to the other.
This Eastern Conference scout has obviously belonged to the latter for quite some time, and chances are will never change his tune of the talented, but extremely frustrating, Rajon Rondo.
Rondo was one of four point guards on the "overrated" list, along with Minnesota's Ricky Rubio, Brooklyn's Deron Williams and Cleveland's Kyrie Irving.
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