OT: No Need To Play Defense In The NBA

[Tugg Speedman]

Rondo: Haven't Played D In A Couple Years
January 3, 2015, 12:32 AM ET

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/12112693/rajon-rondo-dallas-mavericks-admits-effort-defense-there-recent-seasons


BOSTON -- Former Boston Celtics captain Rajon Rondo acknowledged Friday that he "hasn't played defense in a couple years," and suggested that the recent trade that delivered him to the Dallas Mavericks has reinvigorated him, particularly on the defensive end.

While addressing his return to Boston after Friday's shootaround at TD Garden, Rondo said what a lot of Celtics observers have long speculated: That his effort on the defensive end had waned, especially when the team dropped from contender status in recent seasons.

"I haven't played defense in a couple years," Rondo said. "I've been able to hide a lot with Avery Bradley on the ball. He's helped out, the young guy. But [in Dallas] they expect me to play defense and, in the West, if you don't play defense you'll get embarrassed every night at the point guard position."

Celtics coach Brad Stevens smiled when apprised of Rondo's comments, but declined to offer a response.

"I don't know the context of the discussion. I don't know the seriousness of his answer," he said. "I don't really have any reaction to that. He's a really good player, and I'm certainly not here right now to be critical or analytical of his comments to the media. I think, like everybody else, I'm excited for him that he's in a great opportunity and has a great opportunity in Dallas. I hope that we play well against him tonight."

The Mavericks are 5-2 since Rondo's arrival, including Friday night's 119-101 win against his old team. Rondo starred, scoring 29 points to go with six rebounds and five assists.

Entering Friday, the Mavs' defensive rating with Rondo aboard has improved by 4½ points while dipping from 105.1 points per 100 possessions over the first 28 games of the season to 100.6 in the six games since his arrival.

Rondo's individual defensive numbers haven't changed much, according to the league's player tracking data. Entering Friday, his opponents shot 50.3 percent against him in 22 games with Boston this season (5.1 percent above those players' season averages), and that number is up slightly to 51.6 percent (and 5.8 percent above those players' season averages) over six games with Dallas.

But the eye test suggests a far more inspired Rondo on the defensive end, particularly while going against some of the top guards in the West.

"I took it as a challenge in myself and it's not just me, it's my teammates," Rondo said. "Our communication is getting a lot better and our coverages are getting better. It's the whole team concept. It's not just me. People want to look at the stats and say, 'Since Rondo came there they have been down 7 or 8 points' or whatever it is defensively. We still have a lot of room to improve and I believe we'll still get better defensively."

For the 22 games that Rondo was with the team this season, the Celtics owned a defensive rating of 103.2, ranking 16th in the league through the trade on Dec. 18. Since that point entering Friday, Boston owns a defensive rating of 99.1 over the past six games, which ranks sixth overall in the league in that span.

Boston's defense had improved in December even before the Rondo trade, but the numbers are even more glossy since his departure.

[The Lens]

They play more defense in 5 minutes of an NBA game than 40 minutes of a college game.

[Galway Eagle]

They play more defense in 5 minutes of an NBA game than 40 minutes of a college game.

Depends on which team and who's being covered. I'd argue outside of Shumpert not a single player on the Knicks even knows what defense is.  Meanwhile Kentucky for example has been absurd on D this year.

[HutchwasClutch]

Why did Brad Stevens jump to the stinkhole that is NBA basketball, when he could have had his pick of any college job opening in the country?  

[mattyv1908]

Why did Brad Stevens jump to the stinkhole that is NBA basketball, when he could have had his pick of any college job opening in the country?  

1.  It's the Celtics (It even got Pitino)
2.  No recruiting

[MarquetteDano]

1.  It's the Celtics (It even got Pitino)
2.  No recruiting

3.  $$$$$$$$$

[MU82]

No need to play defense in the NBA?

This certainly is true as long as a team or player does not expect to win.

[JWags85]

1.  It's the Celtics (It even got Pitino)
2.  No recruiting

3) The ability to jump to the college job of his choosing while not appearing "disloyal" to Butler (aka Indiana)

[Lennys Tap]

Why did Brad Stevens jump to the stinkhole that is NBA basketball, when he could have had his pick of any college job opening in the country?  

Yeah, why would anyone want to manage in the big leagues if he could have any gig in the minors? Or coach in the NHL rather than the AHL? Or in the NFL instead of college? Crazy.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Yeah, why would anyone want to manage in the big leagues if he could have any gig in the minors? Or coach in the NHL rather than the AHL? Or in the NFL instead of college? Crazy.

Honestly if I had a choice between coaching college or the NBA I would choose college every time. Depends on the person.

[brandx]

Deleted

[Lennys Tap]

Honestly if I had a choice between coaching college or the NBA I would choose college every time. Depends on the person.

True. I'd take the MU job over all others, but I don't do it for a living. Most who do would pick the pros over all but a few college or minor league jobs.

[Galway Eagle]

Yeah, why would anyone want to manage in the big leagues if he could have any gig in the minors? Or coach in the NHL rather than the AHL? Or in the NFL instead of college? Crazy.

Nick Saban hasn't tried going back to the nfl. Jim Harbough just left the nfl to do college. Coach K and Billy Donovan both have stuck to college.  The professional life isn't for everybody.

[🏀]

Nick Saban hasn't tried going back to the nfl. Jim Harbough just left the nfl to do college. Coach K and Billy Donovan both have stuck to college.  The professional life isn't for everybody.

It isn't for everybody because they either were not successful or realize their philosophy would not apply.

Every coach wants to win a Lombardi, Commissioner's Trophy, a Larry O'Brien or Stanley Cup.

[JWags85]

It isn't for everybody because they either were not successful or realize their philosophy would not apply.

Every coach wants to win a Lombardi, Commissioner's Trophy, a Larry O'Brien or Stanley Cup.

Harbaugh wasn't successful or his philosophy wouldn't apply?  And I think coaching philosophy is much more of a factor in football than basketball.  Coach K's system would almost certainly work in the NBA where the best teams rely on man to man with long athletes and plenty of shooters.

[🏀]

Harbaugh wasn't successful or his philosophy wouldn't apply?  And I think coaching philosophy is much more of a factor in football than basketball.  Coach K's system would almost certainly work in the NBA where the best teams rely on man to man with long athletes and plenty of shooters.

There's two examples outside the norm.

Harbaugh will be back in the NFL before his contract is up. Coach K is something entirely different, but his resistance to change would have Pops, Thibs and others outclassing him.