« Reply #31 on: June 20, 2011, 01:59:16 PM »
I actually think it hurts the team.
Its one of the main reasons the offense is stagnant. Everyone waits for Rondo to feed them. This team in my opinion is too dependent on Rondo. Rajon Rondo being dominant ball handler takes away from Big3 game. They have been relegated into jump-shooters. I blame it on the Coaches for letting it happen. Ray used to create his own shot in addition to being a great shooter. Garnett no longer works in the post. He is now a strictly Pick and Pop player. Pierce is the only of the big3 who gets the ball from time to time. There are signs however Celtics taking that away from Pierce as Rondo dominates the ball more and more. Celtics need to diversify their attack. They are too predictable right now.
I totally agree and it's not even all that fun to watch. I like to watch a diversify attack, a little bit of Pierce taking it coast to coast, a little of bit Ray pulling up for three, which used to be a staple of his game, Ray playing pick and roll, Pierce trying to get to the basket and to the line. There are way too many jumpshots. I also hate when they pass BACK to Rondo after rebounds instead at least letting Ray or Pierce, if they get the ball first, to probe and see what they can get early. Ray and Paul have each averaged more than 4 assists per season. They're not one-dimensional scorers but a lot of the time, they're made to be. The most beautiful offense materializes in my opinion when Ray, Paul and Garnett are all involved together in a play. The synergy, passing and shooting is outstanding.
Is it really that hard to understand that losing quickness/explosiveness can make players more one dimensional? Ray Allen is no longer a consistently effective weapon with the ball his hands. His declining speed has made it far easier for opponents to trap him on the pick and roll, taking away the roll pass and the shot. He's just not a 4 assist guy anymore.
Pierce is still very capable with ball in his hands, and he gets plenty of chances with it. I don't think the C's have been under-utilizing him. Rondo frequently gives it to Paul to create on the secondary break.
It truly is perplexing. How can a team whose two wings both put together true shooting percentages of over 60 percent, good for 4th (Pierce) and 6th (Ray) in the league, only have a 18th ranked offense? Then when you consider how often it was repeated why Pierce or Allen don't shoot more, I suppose it's really not all that perplexing.
I was wrong about some of the rankings. They were last in offensive boards but 22th in free throw attempts and 28th in three point attempts, still not very good. They were also last in field goal attempts. Unbelievable.
The offense is fine, great even, when Rondo and the Big 3 are on the court together (they were above-average to excellent offensively with every 5th player except for JO). They were nowhere near as effective apart. This testifies as to how interdependent they are offensively (Rondo needs high-quality finishers, the Big 3 need high-quality shot creation) and how awful the rest of the team was offensively.
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Topic: Would Rondo be better without the Big 3? (Read 8744 times)