I Vote: Rondo

I support Rajon Rondo. While the feisty young point guard of the Boston Celtics is being shopped for Chris Paul, I stand as one of the few people that still want him in green. Sure, it may sound irrational, but I'm certain that it came across the same way when my admiration for Rondo began.

He was one of the few survivors of Boston's ugliest season. When Danny Ainge traded just about every other piece on the squad, he deemed Rondo untouchable. This after a season when the team lost 18 straight and finished 24-58. He got some chances to start, and put up some respectable stats, but nothing outrageous. One would assume that perennial All-Star, Paul Pierce would be the only immovable piece, but Ainge saw something in the young guard that few others did.

The following year the Big 3 arrived, and amidst chatter that he was the weak link on the squad, Rondo ran the offense well enough to win a championship in 2008. On multiple occasions I had to convince people, "Rondo's good" or "Rondo's okay". I understand that a point guard's job is much like a quarterback's: manage the game and don't screw it up. They need not be spectacular, just try not to be a detriment.

Over the next several seasons, championship ring in hand, Rondo emerged as an All-Star, dazzling audiences with his playmaking ability, speed, and aggressive defense. The young kid had confidence, and a slew of endorsements to prove it. In the playoffs, his game seems to elevate, as he has bordered on a triple-double average in several series. That type of impact is unheard of for a guard his size, but Rajon is clearly special.

Here we are, in the fall of 2011 and Rondo is the best young piece that an aging Celtics roster has. Now Ainge is looking to trade that away for a half year rental on the weak knee of Chris Paul? Free agents don't exactly gravitate to Boston, and they've got Rajon under contract for a few more years. This team drafted him, crafted him, and has allowed his hustle to be the face of the franchise.

Don't let that go Danny, not the guy that has shown fearlessness against all of today's greats, be it Kobe, Wade, or CP3 himself. This guy is a true Celtic, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

#NBArank and Public Enemy #1

  ESPN asked 91 "experts" to rate every single player currently in the NBA on a scale of 1-to-10. Of course, like any sports argument concerning who the best is, there is no right or wrong answer. Stats tell some of the story, but watching games and judging a player's impact generally leads to the most savvy opinions.

I thoroughly enjoyed the #NBARank countdown on espn.com over the past two months. As a basketball junkie, it temporarily took my mind off of the ongoing lockout and created a good debate over who is the game's best player. Fans argued that Kobe (#7) was ranked too low, or that Tim Duncan (#19) was placed too high. Laying numbers aside, it made me consider every solid role player and star and what they truly mean to their team's success.

Besides getting fans talking, several players participated and took to Twitter to acknowledge their respective ranks. Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard expressed joy, coming in at numbers three and two, respectively. Carmelo Anthony didn't seem as pleased (#12) as he claimed " I needed some motivation today, and I just received it".

Numbers 500 -2 seemed very well thought out. They appear to be a very accurate depiction of a player's impact on the game, and whom a GM would want if they were building a team from scratch. Then it happened.

LeBron James was placed at number 1, and at first sight, that doesn't appear so bad. Then I remembered the last two postseasons. A great writer recently made a note that LeBron's spotty play over the last two playoffs has probably cost him two championships. The 09-10 Cavaliers had excellent chemistry and were favored by many to go all the way. Despite the hate thrown towards the 10-11 Heat, the squad made the finals, and was minutes away from a 2-0 series lead!

The common denominator in both series was an inability by Mr. James to put his stamp on the game late. In closing possessions and situations, the supposed "best player in the game" must rise to the occasion and will his team to victory. Instead, King James appeared very passive in each instance. His latest disappearing act caused Wade to get in his face and practically say "help me, please!".

Number 1?

Ah, but statistics wouldn't show this. By that measure, Bron could be viewed as the best player of all time. The numerical combination of scoring, rebounding, passing, and defense is nearly unmatched. On paper.

 Evaluating him in that manner would be completely ignoring what we all saw last June, and the May before that. It was a great player that has no go-to move when it matters most, also one that appeared content to watch as opposed to participate.

He is still an awesome talent that could one day change his reputation for coming up short. Until then, let's just be honest. Wade is better.