Rajon Rondo played well in this game. But it was against the worst team in the NBA with no stars!
Sure this report could pan this performance with slick comments like:
- Relax, it’s the Golden State Warriors that is missing Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Baron Davis, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Rick Barry, Stephen Jackson, Al Attles. You know players that aren’t in the G-League or waiting for the ink to dry on their 10 day contracts.
- Even a blind squirrel finds a nut.
- Even a clock is right twice a day.
But we won’t. After a reasonably bad first half, Rondo set the table for the Lakers to dismantle the Warriors. His precision passes led to a couple of dunks from McGee including this one.
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1233261335346991104
Jared Dudley was on the “Inside the Green Room” podcast with Danny Green talking about Rajon Rondo. Let’s go over some of the umm…comments.
"“I would say the thing about Rondo is that he’s so smart, so intelligent,” Dudley said. “What he has to realize… is hey, the game has changed, we need you to score more to open it up for others… Your threat of shooting, I don’t care if you go 1-4 from three, if you’re open you have to shoot it… And then yes, he’s our second-best playmaker.” “If he shoots the ball more, it opens up more of a natural playmaking. We don’t want to be overdribbling, holding the ball and he’s had that freedom his whole career, it’s just different… How I look at it is let it be through the flow of the offense.”"
See Lake Show Life said the same thing. Just not a diplomatically as Dudley did. The guy has to shoot the ball to provide spacing. Is he the second best playmaker? Right Jared. “Wink Wink”.
Here’s where things started to get weird.
"“And the thing about Rondo is his defense is so good when he’s locked in that it opens up us getting out in transition, and once we’re out in transition, we’re almost unguardable.” “So we need Rondo to win the championship, we need him to play at a high level… We already know what LeBron and AD are gonna do. It’s our role players and certain things, and I always say ‘don’t do more, do exactly what you’re supposed to do.’”"
Way to take one for the team Jared. Lake Show Life always said that you are the ultimate locker room guy. If the team brings in J.R. Smith or Dion Waiters, based on that ridiculous statement on Rondo’s defense alone should keep your roster spot. It took a lot to make that statement with a straight face. Defense?
Rondo took advantage of his opportunity tallying 12 points, 6 assists and 2 steals. This could be a no win situation for Rajon Rondo. He fully outplayed Alex Caruso who switched places in the scoreless column (0-5 from the field, 0-2 from the line). Instead of boos, Caruso got positive reinforcement.
Boy are the debates going to be fun over who gets the playoff minutes. Thanks to Rondo only sharing the floor with Kyle Kuzma for 6 minutes, Kuz played well.