Heinsohn: Sit Rondo if bad habits continue

[guava_wrench]

Read a recent article on ESPN discussing how Doc has grilled Chris Paul for being one of the worst ball dominant PGs in the league and constantly throughout the year has discussed and taught Paul that he has to advance the ball with the pass, trust his team mates to make the right passes and let the offense flow with him off the ball more.

I often think the same thing about Rondo. Kidd was one of the greatest passers of his generation but I was always impressed how he always pushed the ball ahead to teammates on the break and trusted them to run the break. I wish Rondo had more of that mindset. Considering the team has won at a higher rate without him the last 2 season, he can't justify not trusting the teammates to make decisions.

[D.o.s.]

At the risk of being heretical, Jason Kidd was probably a better player than Rondo was over the equidistant scope of their careers.

[LarBrd33]

At the risk of being heretical, Jason Kidd was probably a better player than Rondo was over the equidistant scope of their careers.

without question.  I've always seen Rondo as a poor man's Kidd.  Still pretty good.   Maybe more like a poor man's Fat Lever.

[LilRip]

At the risk of being heretical, Jason Kidd was probably a better player than Rondo was over the equidistant scope of their careers.

I agree with this. J-Kidd could've even won an MVP, if it weren't for Duncan.

[BballTim]

This is more of a team problem then Rondo.

No way man. The guy has the ball in his hands 80 percent of the time. 

Tommy is right. Take off your rondo jersey , take a shower and read again

  Put your Rondo jersey on and re-read:

  "This team has to go and find opportunities without plays. They've got to be aggressive without plays because they don't execute that well yet"

  It's not that hard to understand why he's calling it a team problem.

I like the way you make this issue into a non issue. Tommy is not a happy camper. I would listen to a guy that has won more championships than Rondo, Ainge, Stevens and the current whole celtics team combined.

  So basically you're saying that when you read a quote that mentions we're having trouble running plays because most of the guys can't execute that the problem lies only with the player trying to run an organized offense and not the guys that can't run plays, and anyone that disagrees with you is "wearing a Rondo jersey". Hilarious.

Set plays worked before bc we had three HOF on the team. Even a team with three very good players might not be able to play half court, set plays, slow mo basketball majority of the time. So why bother trying to teach or make it work with a team with no all stars + youngsters??  Your not maximizing the team capabilities this way. This team has looked their best playing at a faster pace, scoring transition baskets

  Every team in the history of the league looks better scoring transition baskets. That's like saying "the Celts should try and shoot layups and dunk the ball, they look better on offense when they do that". What happens when the defense is back and set and we don't have the numbers for a break? Do we still run our transition offense because we look our best playing that way, or do you have something up your sleeve that will work great in the half court? If so, what is it?

Rondo doesn't even try to push the pace. When was the last time you saw him score a transition layup or pass up the ball quickly so one can be scored? He has some kind of habit, pattern he is used to and you can't bother that. He grabs the defensive rebound or asks for the ball after a rebound, walks up the court, raises his hand to call a play, looks around left and right, starts yelling at guys to run around this way or that way. Already 10 seconds or more has past at this point. He keeps looking around, he gets  a pick, but doesn't pass to the man rolling to the basket (alot of the times), nor shoots , nor drives. Keeps looking. There is now less than 10 seconds left in the clock, he keeps looking, rushes to the basket, gets attention and makes short passes to someone down low or a back pass to the guy trailing him. 

He has done this like a million times since the start of last season.   In a game you got several chances to score at least a few transition buckets. For example when alot of other members of the opposing team crashes the board for an offensive rebound or tip in etc. You need to next try to get a transition bucket. But instead, Rondo does the same thing as i have listead above, slowing down the pace.  It's very frustrating to watch.

When Pressey is on for example. He never walks with the ball. Every opportunity he gets he is trying to push the pace. Even when passing the ball , he makes up his mind quickly , rewards guys who sets him picks by passing the ball to them, or finds the open shooter for jump shots.  He tries to get or pass for transition layups whenever he can.   I've seen several times when pressey is on the court (or the team last year without Rondo) the ball zipping, left to the right, making the defense run around like crazy, until the open man gets it and gets the open shot in. It's beautiful basketball.  I have not seen this kind of play once with Rondo on the court.

  So, I went and checked the numbers on 82games, which were updated through march 21st. Our scoring per possession was basically the same whether Rondo was on the court or not. He'd played 21% of our minutes and we'd scored a little over 21% of our points with him on the court. This basically means that our pace isn't any slower when Rondo plays, in fact it might be a little faster. That doesn't really match your claims about what's going on in the games at all.

[D.o.s.]

That doesn't really match your claims about what's going on in the games at all.

I, for one, am shocked at this development.

[BballTim]

That doesn't really match your claims about what's going on in the games at all.

I, for one, am shocked at this development.

  I know, right?