Diante Garrett comparison?

**clonedude** · 05-09-2009, 03:13 PM

So I've been watching a little bit of the NBA playoffs, and something stood out to me the other night.

Watching the Celtics play.... I couldn't help but think that Rajon Rondo could possibly be the kind of player that DG could try to become?

Rondo has good ball handling skills, he can usually beat his man off the dribble, he's long and lean, long arms, but can't shoot to save his life. But although he can't shoot the ball whatsoever, he's good enough to play in the NBA because he's tall and long for his position and he can penetrate and either finish or dish.

I think we can all agree that DG is not a good outside shooter at all. But he has great handling skills and usually can get to the paint whenever he wants to. What DG needs to work on is either finishing at the rim or dishing it out to the open man.

I also think that with DG's length(both height and wingspan), that he should be able to develop into an outstanding shutdown defensive player as well.

I know that DG is far from being Rajon Rondo, but I just see a lot of similarities in their bodies and their games.

Any thoughts??

**shawn_200m** · 05-09-2009, 03:28 PM

Celtics/Cyclone fan here....and although I can understand where you're coming from, you really cannot compare a top 5 NBA point guard to DG. Rondo is longer, much, much faster, has freakishly big hands (watch when he fakes behind his back when he penetrates into the lane) he is a defensive stopper (although he didn't show up last night) and takes care of the ball - remember his 19 assist, 0 turnover game in Chicago last week. Their body styles may be similar but the similarities end there. Bottom line, DG is an average NCAA athlete and an ok college ball player while Rondo is an elite athlete and an all-star caliber NBA point guard, I just don't see how you can compare the two.

**swarthmoreCY** · 05-09-2009, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by shawn_200m

Rondo is longer, much, much faster, has freakishly big hands. Their body styles may be similar but the similarities end there. Bottom line, DG is an average NCAA athlete and an ok college ball player while Rondo is an elite athlete and an all-star caliber NBA point guard, I just don't see how you can compare the two.

Agree, but Rondo is not longer, is he? I think both have a wing-span near 6-10

**04clone** · 05-09-2009, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

Agree, but Rondo is not longer, is he? I think both have a wing-span near 6-10

I thought Rondo was only 6' or 6'1? Regardless, the only similarity I see at this point is that neither can shoot. Rondo is really crafty around the basket, a la Stinson. He's also an excellent on-ball defender, far better than DG. Conversely, Diante isn't a whiny little punk, so I can actually cheer for him...

**LeSchmick** · 05-09-2009, 04:30 PM

Don't forget that Rondo proved he is a dirty player during the Bulls/Celtics series. Haven't seen that out of Garrett yet.

**clonedude** · 05-09-2009, 05:26 PM

"Watching the Celtics play.... I couldn't help but think that Rajon Rondo could possibly be the kind of player that DG could try to become?"

What part of the above statement did you not understand?

I specifically stated that DG should try to become a Rajon Rondo type player with the body and skills he currently has. What I'm saying is that DG doesn't have to ever become a great shooter to be succesful. He has similar attributes to Rondo... so why not try to become like him?

I did not say he was Rajon Rondo... get a hold of yourself.

**Tornado man** · 05-09-2009, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by LeSchmick

Don't forget that Rondo proved he is a dirty player during the Bulls/Celtics series. Haven't seen that out of Garrett yet.

Agree. Rondo gives out cheap shots. Diante does not.

**Clone9** · 05-09-2009, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

Agree. Rondo gives out cheap shots. Diante does not.

I'd actually like to see our team deliver a few cheap shots. Obviously I'm not talking about anything really dirty, but we really need to toughen up....like when we had Stinson and Homan and Vroman. Those guys were tough.

I agree with the idea of the OP. Clearly DG is nowhere near as good as Rondo, and likely never will be. That said, he definitely could be that type of player. He's got the body type, and is quick enough to be effective in the Big 12 (still not nearly as quick as Rondo)....he just really needs more of the smarts around the basket.....which I think he can and will develop.

**CycloneDaddy** · 05-09-2009, 06:47 PM

I heard that Rondo has big hands ... does D.G. have big hands?

**Clones85'** · 05-09-2009, 06:56 PM

So the only thing that they have in common is that they are both skinny?

Seriously though, Rondo is on a whole other level in every aspect of his game. He is stronger even if he is skinny, is a WAAY better athlete, much quicker, bigger hands, better shooter even if his shot isnt good

**shildreth** · 05-09-2009, 07:11 PM

I like you man, but you're crazy.

I understand you are saying he should make his game become that. The answer is yes he should. However there is A LOT he needs to do in order to get there in my opinion.

**clonedude** · 05-09-2009, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

So the only thing that they have in common is that they are both skinny?

Seriously though, Rondo is on a whole other level in every aspect of his game. He is stronger even if he is skinny, is a WAAY better athlete, much quicker, bigger hands, better shooter even if his shot isnt good

I seriously wish people could read. Yes, both are thin, but as I clearly mentioned... they are both tall for their positions, they both have very long wingspans, both can handle the ball well, both can get to the paint pretty much whenever they want, and both can't shoot the outside shot worth a crap.

All I'm saying is that if DG wants to see a player that has made it to the NBA that he could possibly emulate and try to become like... it would be Rondo IMO. I never said he was Rajon Rondo. I'm saying he's a very poor man's Rajon Rondo.

If someone could point out someone else in the NBA that most resembles DG's game.... go ahead and tell me... I'm open to that.

But if I'm GMac.... I'm telling DG to pattern his game off of Rondo's and telling him that if he wants to ever play at the next level that Rondo is the kind of player he could become with lots of hard work and effort.

DG cannot become Chris Paul... but with a ton of hard work he could try to become a Rajon Rondo type guard.

**clonedude** · 05-09-2009, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by shildreth

I like you man, but your crazy.

I understand you are saying he should make his game become that. The answer is yes he should. However there is A LOT he needs to do in order to get there in my opinion.

I like you too, but no I'm not crazy. Go back and see how good Rondo was in his rookie year with Boston. Nobody thought he deserved to be in the NBA... he was bad. But he's developed into quite a good player for Boston.

DG may never be able to make the NBA... probably not in fact... but if there was a place for someone like DG in the NBA... Rondo is showing exactly how someone like DG could make it.

**Longhorns3131** · 05-09-2009, 07:40 PM

If Diante Garrett were in the NFL, I would compare him to Ryan Leaf.

**shildreth** · 05-09-2009, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by clonedude

I like you too, but no I'm not crazy. Go back and see how good Rondo was in his rookie year with Boston. Nobody thought he deserved to be in the NBA... he was bad. But he's developed into quite a good player for Boston.

DG may never be able to make the NBA... probably not in fact... but if there was a place for someone like DG in the NBA... Rondo is showing exactly how someone like DG could make it.

I see what you are saying, but I believe Rondo was a SG in college. Which is why he struggled as a PG his rook year.

As for DG's pro potential. As of today probably not, but he is the only who can control whether or not his stock improves. Good news is he has 2 more years to prove everyone wrong.