Rondo's Free Throw Shooting

[Bankshot]

I thought he worked on his free throws?  He's still horrendous at the line.  Is Doc going to have to put Eddie in at the end of games for free throw shooting?  I'm really disappointed that he hasn't improved in that area.  I thought he needed to improve his free throw shooting more than he needs to shoot jumpshots better.

Count me as a very disappointed fan.

[Fafnir]

I thought he worked on his free throws?  He's still horrendous at the line.  Is Doc going to have to put Eddie in at the end of games for free throw shooting?  I'm really disappointed that he hasn't improved in that area.  I thought he needed to improve his free throw shooting more than he needs to shoot jumpshots better.

Count me as a very disappointed fan.

It was just one game, but I can't say I'm surprised. Working on it, and actually getting better at it are different things...

Some guys can never get it together from the line.

[Kwhit10]

I was dissapointed too, but it was just one preseason game, I will not get worried until this type of % continues early in the season.  I think people who have large hands have a harder time shooting free throws.

[Fafnir]

I was dissapointed too, but it was just one preseason game, I will not get worried until this type of % continues early in the season.  I think people who have large hands have a harder time shooting free throws.

While this certainly seems to be true, people with very large hands can and do shoot free throws well.

Rondo's problem is his form and inconsistent mechanics. That is what kills both his jump shot and free throws.

[screwedupmaniac]

the thing i AM happy about is the amount of FTA he got in that game...what was it, 15?

also, as far as his inconsistent-at-best preseason play, i wonder if he's still adjusting to having more muscle mass? he is heavier than last season, so i wonder if that's throwing his game off at all. whatever it is, i'm sure he'll adjust. he did look better last night than he has thus far, so that's a good thing...

[Eeyore III]

I'm with Bankshot. 

It isn't Rondo's new "muscle mass": his FT shooting stank even when he "used to be" skinny.     It isn't that the season is new: he's always been this way.

My theory: He thinks he's too cool to practice mundane skills like FT shooting.

Rondo has the skills to be a top player in the league, but he never "turns it on" for more than 10 minutes a game.  Why?  It's got to be mental, not physical.

[moiso]

I'm with Bankshot. 

It isn't Rondo's new "muscle mass": his FT shooting stank even when he "used to be" skinny.     It isn't that the season is new: he's always been this way.

My theory: He thinks he's too cool to practice mundane skills like FT shooting.

Rondo has the skills to be a top player in the league, but he never "turns it on" for more than 10 minutes a game.  Why?  It's got to be mental, not physical.

Supposedly he did work on his shooting, but he was horrible last night, and he'll never be an above average shooter.  I agree with your statement about turning it on for 10 minutes a game.  He does seem to be the best player on the court for a short spurt in many games. 

[MrTripleDouble10]

I'm with Bankshot. 

It isn't Rondo's new "muscle mass": his FT shooting stank even when he "used to be" skinny.     It isn't that the season is new: he's always been this way.

My theory: He thinks he's too cool to practice mundane skills like FT shooting.

Rondo has the skills to be a top player in the league, but he never "turns it on" for more than 10 minutes a game.  Why?  It's got to be mental, not physical.

Ha he "thinks he's too cool to practice mundane skills like FT shooting."  Hilarious.  Let's see, I read that Dwight Howard basically practiced FT all summer long.  Does this mean he's going to now shoot 80%? 70%

Is it frustrating?  Sure.  Should he be a better FT shooter?  Sure.  But to say something like that is laughable.  Besides, I actually think his form is much better, but he hasn't been consistent with it so far and it hasn't yet yielded and improvement in terms of percentage.  How about we wait for a larger sample size before we start determining that he's "too cool" to improve himself.  Hilarious.

[crownsy]

I'm with Bankshot. 

It isn't Rondo's new "muscle mass": his FT shooting stank even when he "used to be" skinny.     It isn't that the season is new: he's always been this way.

My theory: He thinks he's too cool to practice mundane skills like FT shooting.

Rondo has the skills to be a top player in the league, but he never "turns it on" for more than 10 minutes a game.  Why?  It's got to be mental, not physical.

Supposedly he did work on his shooting, but he was horrible last night, and he'll never be an above average shooter.  I agree with your statement about turning it on for 10 minutes a game.  He does seem to be the best player on the court for a short spurt in many games. 

working on shooting is not the same as FT's. The motion is completely different. I think his jump shot, from what we've seen looks much improved. Heck, just the fact that he keeps his elbow in now instead of  that monstrosity he called a jumpshot the last two years is a vast improvement (realistically speaking of course)

Most good jump shooters are good FT shooters, but it's not a given.

I'm with tommy on this one, he has a horrid FT shot, and im surprised no one has worked with him on it. He shoots his FT from his ear, not above his head and straight on as you should.

Almost every FT he misses is off to the right, which makes sense since he's shooting from an angle. He makes himself do more work than you need to due to that. He has to shoot across his face.

[MrTripleDouble10]

I'm with Bankshot. 

It isn't Rondo's new "muscle mass": his FT shooting stank even when he "used to be" skinny.     It isn't that the season is new: he's always been this way.

My theory: He thinks he's too cool to practice mundane skills like FT shooting.

Rondo has the skills to be a top player in the league, but he never "turns it on" for more than 10 minutes a game.  Why?  It's got to be mental, not physical.

Supposedly he did work on his shooting, but he was horrible last night, and he'll never be an above average shooter.  I agree with your statement about turning it on for 10 minutes a game.  He does seem to be the best player on the court for a short spurt in many games. 

So when Pierce or Ray Allen go say an entire half without even attempting shots does that mean they're only turning it on when they want?  Point is, this team is loaded with options.  Not everyone can be doing everything for 100% of the time they're playing.  It's impossible.

I think it's fairly obvious that Rondo takes on a different role when one of (nevermind all 3) of the big 3 aren't playing.  When everyone is out there, he has to run the offense and get all of those guys involved.  Drive to the basket when the defense allows it.  But he's option #4 (if that) when the starting 5 is healthy.

In a game like last night, he was more aggressive in terms of scoring, creating points because the big three were not there.  So maybe this is why it appeared that he only "turned it on for 10 minutes."  

[Fafnir]

I'm with Bankshot. 

It isn't Rondo's new "muscle mass": his FT shooting stank even when he "used to be" skinny.     It isn't that the season is new: he's always been this way.

My theory: He thinks he's too cool to practice mundane skills like FT shooting.

Rondo has the skills to be a top player in the league, but he never "turns it on" for more than 10 minutes a game.  Why?  It's got to be mental, not physical.

Supposedly he did work on his shooting, but he was horrible last night, and he'll never be an above average shooter.  I agree with your statement about turning it on for 10 minutes a game.  He does seem to be the best player on the court for a short spurt in many games. 

So when Pierce or Ray Allen go say an entire half without even attempting shots does that mean they're only turning it on when they want?  Point is, this team is loaded with options.  Not everyone can be doing everything for 100% of the time they're playing.  It's impossible.

I think it's fairly obvious that Rondo takes on a different role when one of (nevermind all 3) of the big 3 aren't playing.  When everyone is out there, he has to run the offense and get all of those guys involved.  Drive to the basket when the defense allows it.  But he's option #4 (if that) when the starting 5 is healthy.

In a game like last night, he was more aggressive in terms of scoring, creating points because the big three were not there.  So maybe this is why it appeared that he only "turned it on for 10 minutes."  

But that's what he needs to get better at to take the next step in his game. He has to be that good all the time. Even when he isn't as involved every possession on offense. Great players are more consistent than Rondo has been so far in his career.

[RAcker]

Hey, count me in with the disappointed about him not showing some improvement early in this pre-season, but give it a little time.  If he really has practiced this area of his game and isn't showing statistical improvement by say December, then he may just never be a good FT shooter.  Sad but true.

[Bankshot]

Hey, count me in with the disappointed about him not showing some improvement early in this pre-season, but give it a little time.  If he really has practiced this area of his game and isn't showing statistical improvement by say December, then he may just never be a good FT shooter.  Sad but true.

Agreed to give him time.  But in order for him to be considered an elite point guard, imo, he's going to have to shoot free throws better.

[Fafnir]

Hey, count me in with the disappointed about him not showing some improvement early in this pre-season, but give it a little time.  If he really has practiced this area of his game and isn't showing statistical improvement by say December, then he may just never be a good FT shooter.  Sad but true.

Agreed to give him time.  But in order for him to be considered an elite point guard, imo, he's going to have to shoot free throws better.

I think free throw shooting is the smaller of his two shooting woes.

Until he can force teams to not play completely off him outside of the lane he's just outside the true elite PGs. As it is he's still top 6 though.

[RAcker]

Hey, count me in with the disappointed about him not showing some improvement early in this pre-season, but give it a little time.  If he really has practiced this area of his game and isn't showing statistical improvement by say December, then he may just never be a good FT shooter.  Sad but true.

Agreed to give him time.  But in order for him to be considered an elite point guard, imo, he's going to have to shoot free throws better.

I think free throw shooting is the smaller of his two shooting woes.

Until he can force teams to not play completely off him outside of the lane he's just outside the true elite PGs. As it is he's still top 6 though.

Exactly, and am glad that he is at least showing more of a willingness to take that shot in these early pre-season games.  Make or miss, he needs to take those in game situations now before things start counting so that he can work on it.