Rondo takes plays off on defense and can be a liability against great driving PGs.
This is just a fancy way to say "guards that are able to drive on anyone are able to drive on Rondo too".
No, it's a way of saying "Rondo isn't an elite man defender." It's not like he can handle anyone not named Paul or Williams.
He gets steals so lazy media types fall in love with him, but good PGs eat him alive.
Actually, no. It's more like the other way round. Rondo can single-handedly change the outlook of the game with defensive pressure on opposing PGs. He was holding opposing PGs to 16.5 PER 2 seasons ago, 17 PER last season, and an astounding 10 PER this season. Russell Westbrook, in comparison, is giving up a PER of 25 this season.
For details on the Player Efficiency Rating (PER), see (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_Efficiency_Rating). I recommend the section where 16.5 is described as "third banana", and 11 as "scrambling for minutes".
You're forgetting the part where PER is a useless stat.
Westbrook is also far more athletic.
This is simply not true.
They're about the same on the ground. Westbrook's on another level in the air. Westbrook's lateral quickness (and his use of it on defense) is better though. Rondo plays for the highlight reel, but as far as awareness on both ends of the court goes? It's not very impressive.
Aside from that, he's a way better scorer - it's not even close. Rondo has superior court vision but his decision making can be subpar far too often.
Yes, he's a better scorer. And he can shoot free throws better. And Rondo is a better player.
Westbrook is a good and all, and Oklahoma is a likable team, but that talk of "dominating everyone in the playoffs" is premature.
That's the point. It's November and the playoffs start in April. But Westbrook is a better player and it's not as close as you think. i live in Boston and watch a ton of Celts games - believe me, he's certainly a regular on the highlight reel, but his overall game is very flawed. Westbrook is elite, a notch below Paul/Williams/Nash.