Rajon Rondo has moved on from the Los Angeles Lakers and will next be suiting up for the Cleveland Cavaliers after a three-team trade sent the two-time NBA champion to the Midwest.
This has led to some eye-rolling because some people feel that Rondo is washed up and a shadow of his former self.
That wouldn’t be surprising considering he has played 16 seasons in the league and has made his way through eight different teams.
However, Rondo to the Cavs could actually be a terrific deal for the young, surprisingly competitive team.
In fact, Rondo could be the missing piece they need to go deep into the postseason.
Basketball IQ
One of the things a successful basketball squad needs to find victory is basketball IQ.
It’s all well and good to have the ability to land three-pointers or defend the rim but that isn’t enough to push through the playoffs and the Finals.
You need someone who understands the game and also comprehends that it’s about more than simply making buckets.
Rondo is unquestionably one of the smartest guys in the league, and throughout the years he has shown just how intelligent he is.
He doesn’t show it as often but Rondo used to be one of the most amazing basketball players in the world, with an assist game that was absolutely off the charts.
On the Cavs, Rondo will be able to educate and mentor a young roster that doesn’t have much experience in the league.
The best part about this sort of role for Rondo is that he can do it from the bench, which is where he will spend a lot of time.
Postseason Experience
As mentioned, having someone who knows what the postseason is like is very beneficial to a basketball team.
Rondo knows that the postseason is radically different from the regular season.
How many times have you seen an NBA team work like gangbusters during the regular season and then completely fall apart in the playoffs?
This is because they were not ready for the added pressure and competition that is only found once the regular season concludes.
Rondo is very familiar with that.
For the first time in several years, the Cavs seem like they’re headed into the postseason so they will need all the advice and guidance they can get.
Who better than a two-time champ and four-time All-Star to help lead them?
👀 105 assists in the playoffs
👏 2nd player to win with LAL & BOS
🏆 2x NBA ChampionWatch @RajonRondo's best plays from the @Lakers championship run in Orlando! #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/jZUQKcxkOf
— NBA (@NBA) October 16, 2020
During his time with the Boston Celtics and the Lakers, he has gone to the postseason and has shined.
That leads us to the final point about Rondo and why he will be valuable for Cleveland.
Playoff Rondo
It doesn’t happen all the time but there is something inside Rondo that just turns on when he entered the playoffs.
Playoff Rondo is a real thing, a version of the player who takes it up a notch when the pressure is on.
During his playoff career, Rondo’s totals go up: he averages 12.5 points, 8.5 assists, and 5.6 rebounds a game in the postseason as compared to his 9.8 points, 8.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in the regular season.
VIDEO: Playoff Rondo is not a myth. It's a legit thing. No one in NBA history has raised their PER more in the playoffs than Rajon Rondo. pic.twitter.com/0qrrDT8H7r
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) September 10, 2020
If the Cavs really are intent on making it far in the postseason, they will be happy to see Playoff Rondo again.
Now they just need to give him a happy home until then to evoke that side of him when the time comes.
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