Rondo's recent play

[EJPLAYA]

This is truly meant to be a thread about what is happening to Rondo, and not an Anti-Sam one. I have a theory though. It seems that Rondo has been really trying to take the scoring role upon himself more than he has all season long and it is hurting this team. He has been taking poor forced shots to try and hit that "BIG" basket vs. letting the big three get theirs. There were some key plays down the stretch that got him benched. Could it be that Rondo is seeing Sam get praised for coming in and playing "his game" and getting more and more minutes, and thinking that he needs to be a scoring threat to keep his time out there?! If it is, that isn't quite the mentor that Danny was looking for bringing him in here...

[ma11l]

The Bibby Rondo matchup has personified this series.  Each has been stellar at home and flat out bad on the road.  Hopefully it'll continue to be this way tomorrow afternoon.  I think that the Cassell factor could be a prevelant one.  The people who said it might be a detriment to him might be right.  That being said it's up to Rondo to realize his role as the starter and Cassell's as the mentor.  He needs to take the positives out of it and not be focused on what could happen on if he makes a mistake.  I think he's gonna have another big game in the Garden tomorrow.  RONDO'S BETTER....

[wdleehi]

He's been open.  He has had the space to create. 


He is being aggressive. 

[BASSTHUMPER]

rondo has takin a very big step bein our point....between that big leap he has missed certain things..he is still learning..he is performing better than i expected him to...most crumble..

[EJPLAYA]

He's been open.  He has had the space to create. 


He is being aggressive. 

He has taken poor shots, forced floaters over athletic jumpers that weren't close, tried laying it off the backboard at the very top because he hadn't beaten his man. What games have you been watching?! This is not the Rondo that was blowing past his guy and getting to the rim for an uncontested shot. He is missing tons of layups because they are so tough that high off the glass with that much spin because he isn't open. Hence the horrendous shooting percentage and benching last game.

[Who]

I don't have a problem with the shots he's taking but I do have a problem with how slow he's been to get the team into their offense. He's dribbling the ball way too much and bringing it up the floor too slowly. When he takes so long to get the offense started it makes it harder for the team to rely on their ball movement because they're working with 10-12 seconds instead of 18-20 seconds.

[EJPLAYA]

rondo has takin a very big step bein our point....between that big leap he has missed certain things..he is still learning..he is performing better than i expected him to...most crumble..

The last 3 consecutive games he has crumbled. It is easy to play well in games 1 and 2 when the team is dominating. He played OK in game three. Terrible since then. When it got tough he has looked like a second year player.

My point though is that I think he should back off his scoring if he doesn't "have it" and just use his quickness and drive to  get guys layups. Not try and win it himself with tough shots.

[fan33]

Well, keep in mind as a second year guard of exceptional speed & athleticism, I believe he is doing exactly as he has been coached, in taking it to the rim agressively. Throughout the season he has matured in his ability to do so sucessfully.
However, too the second option will come in time as he fully matures with experience. Too I think the book on him is now published and especially against well prepared just as youthful, taller/longer defenders as in this case with these Hawks.

He is in a very difficult position and I only hope too much hasn't been asked and expected of him to soon.

He is hitting a rough stretch, but he too will adjust; But it does appear he is forcing the issue on his drives as the defences are reacting well to it. But, you just won't know unless you try and as well i don't think he is getting the call on some of those drives which only veterans seem to get.

But ultimately, he is still learning by doing,  IMO...

And of course Sam is a motivation to all of this also!

[wdleehi]

He's been open.  He has had the space to create. 


He is being aggressive. 

He has taken poor shots, forced floaters over athletic jumpers that weren't close, tried laying it off the backboard at the very top because he hadn't beaten his man. What games have you been watching?! This is not the Rondo that was blowing past his guy and getting to the rim for an uncontested shot. He is missing tons of layups because they are so tough that high off the glass with that much spin because he isn't open. Hence the horrendous shooting percentage and benching last game.

I'm looking at the guy that has raised his scoring, assists, rebounding and steals while lowering his turnovers.


I am looking at the guy who has outplayed his counterpart.


I am looking at the guy who isn't afraid to attack. 

[BASSTHUMPER]

Well, keep in mind as a second year guard of exceptional speed & athleticism, I believe he is doing exactly as he has been coached, in taking it to the rim agressively. Throughout the season he has matured in his ability to do so sucessfully.
However, too the second option will come in time as he fully matures with experience. Too I think the book on him is now published and especially against well prepared just as youthful, taller/longer defenders as in this case with these Hawks.

He is in a very difficult position and I only hope too much hasn't been asked and expected of him to soon.

He is hitting a rough stretch, but he too will adjust; But it does appear he is forcing the issue on his drives as the defences are reacting well to it. But, you just won't know unless you try and as well i don't think he is getting the call on some of those drives which only veterans seem to get.

But ultimately, he is still learning by doing,  IMO...

And of course Sam is a motivation to all of this also!

have i read this somewhere else..?...

[EJPLAYA]

He's been open.  He has had the space to create. 


He is being aggressive. 

He has taken poor shots, forced floaters over athletic jumpers that weren't close, tried laying it off the backboard at the very top because he hadn't beaten his man. What games have you been watching?! This is not the Rondo that was blowing past his guy and getting to the rim for an uncontested shot. He is missing tons of layups because they are so tough that high off the glass with that much spin because he isn't open. Hence the horrendous shooting percentage and benching last game.

I'm looking at the guy that has raised his scoring, assists, rebounding and steals while lowering his turnovers.


I am looking at the guy who has outplayed his counterpart.


I am looking at the guy who isn't afraid to attack. 

Then you must have been closing your eyes the last three games because Bibby has been the better guard for at least the last 2.

I am not saying that Rondo hasn't been very impressive this year. I am saying that as the pressure increases he sure seems to be trying to force things. He had quite a few of those drives that he could have pulled up over the screen from about 12 feet but didn't. He has been knocking that down well all year. Once again. He is trying to do too much. It isn't about being "afraid" to attack, rather smart enough to realize that he isn't going to get that same easy layup with this athletic long Hawks squad. Then it just becomes a poor shot. Anyone that has played the point knows that the best thing you can do to a squad like this is to go to the rim, draw that shot blocked, and dump it off to the cutter. Rondo hasn't been doing that.

[ma11l]

At home he has been the Rajon we have learned to love.  At home this TEAM has been the one we've learned to love.  Atlanta has a fourth opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to win on the road.  I for one don't think they will.  We'll see in some 14 hours...

[fan33]

Well, keep in mind as a second year guard of exceptional speed & athleticism, I believe he is doing exactly as he has been coached, in taking it to the rim agressively. Throughout the season he has matured in his ability to do so sucessfully.
However, too the second option will come in time as he fully matures with experience. Too I think the book on him is now published and especially against well prepared just as youthful, taller/longer defenders as in this case with these Hawks.

He is in a very difficult position and I only hope too much hasn't been asked and expected of him to soon.

He is hitting a rough stretch, but he too will adjust; But it does appear he is forcing the issue on his drives as the defences are reacting well to it. But, you just won't know unless you try and as well i don't think he is getting the call on some of those drives which only veterans seem to get.

But ultimately, he is still learning by doing,  IMO...

And of course Sam is a motivation to all of this also!

have i read this somewhere else..?...

What Thump, am I repeating myself; Or maybe you have expressed the same thoughts?

[EJPLAYA]

At home he has been the Rajon we have learned to love.  At home this TEAM has been the one we've learned to love.  Atlanta has a fourth opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to win on the road.  I for one don't think they will.  We'll see in some 14 hours...

Rondo shot poorly in game 5 at home as well. It has been 3 straight...

[wdleehi]

He's been open.  He has had the space to create. 


He is being aggressive. 

He has taken poor shots, forced floaters over athletic jumpers that weren't close, tried laying it off the backboard at the very top because he hadn't beaten his man. What games have you been watching?! This is not the Rondo that was blowing past his guy and getting to the rim for an uncontested shot. He is missing tons of layups because they are so tough that high off the glass with that much spin because he isn't open. Hence the horrendous shooting percentage and benching last game.

I'm looking at the guy that has raised his scoring, assists, rebounding and steals while lowering his turnovers.


I am looking at the guy who has outplayed his counterpart.


I am looking at the guy who isn't afraid to attack. 

Then you must have been closing your eyes the last three games because Bibby has been the better guard for at least the last 2.

I am not saying that Rondo hasn't been very impressive this year. I am saying that as the pressure increases he sure seems to be trying to force things. He had quite a few of those drives that he could have pulled up over the screen from about 12 feet but didn't. He has been knocking that down well all year. Once again. He is trying to do too much. It isn't about being "afraid" to attack, rather smart enough to realize that he isn't going to get that same easy layup with this athletic long Hawks squad. Then it just becomes a poor shot. Anyone that has played the point knows that the best thing you can do to a squad like this is to go to the rim, draw that shot blocked, and dump it off to the cutter. Rondo hasn't been doing that.

Really?

39 minutes.  2 for 8.  1 assist.  3 Tos.



Rondo has had one bad game.  In his other two sub par shooting games, he put up 19 assists.  2 TOs.