Rondo doesn’t fit Dallas’ style of play, and the poor fit is responsible for tension

Rajon Rondo Is Not As Good As You Think

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When Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle got into a shouting match on the sidelines with Rajon Rondo during a game, it re-ignited discussion about whether the fiery guard was a good fit.

A lot has been made about Rondo’s past run-ins with head coaches, his stubborn ways and his rejection of authority, but the truth is the tension between player and coach has less to do with insubordination and more to do with friction caused by a poor fit.

Dallas’ offense was operating at a league-leading clip before acquiring Rondo, scoring almost 114 points per 100 possessions, primarily with plenty of ball movement and only one “ball stopper” to speak of: Monta Ellis.

In that sense, although Jameer Nelson shared the backcourt with Ellis, there was an element of role reversal as Nelson spaced the floor and Ellis was the primary ball handler. But even within that construct, the Mavs’ offense placed an emphasis on ball reversal and secondary pick-and-roll action, with the ball and players in constant motion. In essence, for Dallas, the system created the shots for the players.