Is Rondo's Inconsistency Due to Stubborness?

[KCattheStripe]

If you look at his hot spots for the past 5 games, he's been shooting decently from down town and fairly well from midrange.

[Rondo_is_better]

probably not. He's just a young player with an inconsistent jumpshot that he's not confident with. He was taking it to the basket a lot lately, and the Pacers and Pistons adjusted for that and took away the paint from Rondo, especially on the break. Teams come up with different strategies for defending the Celtics every month or so, and they are briefly effective, but then we adjust and start winning again. I predict that if teams continue to play Rondo the way he's been played the last two games, he or Doc or SOMEONE on the Celtics will figure out a way to adjust Rondo's game to make it work. This is just a blip on the radar due to new defenses that exploit his weaknesses as a player; not a prolonged attitude problem.

[EJPLAYA]

I think what Bankshot is saying is that Rondo often runs the clock out to the point where he takes a worse jumper than the one that he had wide open, or gives it to Paul or Ray with 2 seconds left and forces THEM to take a terrible shot. An open 15-18 footer from Rondo is a much better shot than a forced one. It also doesn't help these other guys rhythm when they get it handed to them with that little time. It can cool off a hot shooter and make them frustrated with Rondo just like Doc is on the sideline. I have seen multiple times where PP and Ray come down shaking their head at him for this reason.

[cordobes]

I think what Bankshot is saying is that Rondo often runs the clock out to the point where he takes a worse jumper than the one that he had wide open, or gives it to Paul or Ray with 2 seconds left and forces THEM to take a terrible shot. An open 15-18 footer from Rondo is a much better shot than a forced one. It also doesn't help these other guys rhythm when they get it handed to them with that little time. It can cool off a hot shooter and make them frustrated with Rondo just like Doc is on the sideline. I have seen multiple times where PP and Ray come down shaking their head at him for this reason.

Yeps.

probably not. He's just a young player with an inconsistent jumpshot that he's not confident with. He was taking it to the basket a lot lately, and the Pacers and Pistons adjusted for that and took away the paint from Rondo, especially on the break. Teams come up with different strategies for defending the Celtics every month or so, and they are briefly effective, but then we adjust and start winning again. I predict that if teams continue to play Rondo the way he's been played the last two games, he or Doc or SOMEONE on the Celtics will figure out a way to adjust Rondo's game to make it work. This is just a blip on the radar due to new defenses that exploit his weaknesses as a player; not a prolonged attitude problem.

What do you mean? New defences? The way he's been played the last two games? I'm completely puzzled. This is going on since last season, Doc adjusted Rondo's game even in his rookie year.

[cordobes]

Answering the OP, I don't think it's stubbornness, I've never thought about that. I believe it's due to his age and skill-set, he doesn't always take the best decision.

[illantari]

I've often wondered about this, not having any actual basketball playing skills myself.  Imagine yourself as a young PG with a questionable jump shot who always looking to get his teammates a better shot.  If the ball swings to you at 15-18feet and you're open, wouldn't your first instinct be to see where you can go with it to get a better shot for your team than your own questionable jumpshot?  That inevitably wastes time and allows the defense to adjust, right?  (Again, I really have no idea how this works in real life.)  So maybe it's just a symptom of his mindset?

[Bankshot]

Am I the only one who thinks his ability to hit jumpers has visably improved the past few games? I think a great deal of that has to do with the fact that he's taking the shots when he has control of the ball as opposed to when it is swung to him. But on the whole I've been impressed with how well he has shot the ball.

Yes, he's been much better.  Which is just another reason why I don't understand his refusal to take them at the times that it would hurt the team if he didn't.

[KungPoweChicken]

It's because he's not a great player. Stop making excuses for the guy.

[Toine43]

I'm not as concerned about Rondo taking the jumpshot as some others are. Yeah, Doc wants him to take it more, but Doc is smart enough to know that Rondo can have the jumper whenever he wants it, and the Celtics do not need Rondo shooting 20 jumpers a game. There are certain instances, like an open 15-footer late in the shot clock, when they often show Doc yelling at Rondo to shoot it, but besides that I'd imagine that Doc is happy with how his young point guard runs the team's half court offense.

I don't think either of these issues really have to do with stubbornness, as much as they have to do with bad habits (he was taught not to push the tempo at Kentucky, and is used to his jumper being the last option). Often times I do find his walking it up the court inexcusable, but there other times when I suspect it may be his teammates fault. Take the game against the Pacers, when the Cs didn't score on the fast break at all. There were times when Rondo should have run, but there were others when he tried to run and his teammates didn't run with him, leaving him no choice but to clear the ball back out and set up the half court offense. The Pacers probably also deserved some credit for getting back on defense.

[dark_lord]

unless any of us is with the team, we cant speculate that his "stubbornness" has anything to do with his play.

[guava_wrench]

What player doesn't have bad games?

[Fafnir]

What player doesn't have bad games?

Roy Hobbs.

[twinbree]

No. Its more likely the lack of confidence in his jumper coupled with his pass first mentality is what makes him pass it up. Compared to the rest of the season where he'd go games without taking a jumper he's probably averaging 2 or 3 attempts per game now. I also think fatigue may be a factor in him not pushing the ball as much. Doc has been monitoring his playing time all season but he's played a lot of minutes lately.

[Rondo_is_better]

I think what Bankshot is saying is that Rondo often runs the clock out to the point where he takes a worse jumper than the one that he had wide open, or gives it to Paul or Ray with 2 seconds left and forces THEM to take a terrible shot. An open 15-18 footer from Rondo is a much better shot than a forced one. It also doesn't help these other guys rhythm when they get it handed to them with that little time. It can cool off a hot shooter and make them frustrated with Rondo just like Doc is on the sideline. I have seen multiple times where PP and Ray come down shaking their head at him for this reason.

Yeps.

probably not. He's just a young player with an inconsistent jumpshot that he's not confident with. He was taking it to the basket a lot lately, and the Pacers and Pistons adjusted for that and took away the paint from Rondo, especially on the break. Teams come up with different strategies for defending the Celtics every month or so, and they are briefly effective, but then we adjust and start winning again. I predict that if teams continue to play Rondo the way he's been played the last two games, he or Doc or SOMEONE on the Celtics will figure out a way to adjust Rondo's game to make it work. This is just a blip on the radar due to new defenses that exploit his weaknesses as a player; not a prolonged attitude problem.

What do you mean? New defences? The way he's been played the last two games? I'm completely puzzled. This is going on since last season, Doc adjusted Rondo's game even in his rookie year.

Lately, Rondo has really exploited other teams (like the Suns) by getting into the lane on the fast break and in the half court. In order to take that away, the Pacers and Pistons played a type of defense that keyed in on Rondo's penetration ability and shut it down. They clogged the paint at all time when he had the ball, and left him doing in and out dribbles about 17 feet from the basket.

The rest of the NBA always has a new defense for the Celtics; in the past it has focused on KG, or Paul, or Ray, and tried to take away their offense. Now, for the first time, teams are playing defenses that are Rondo-centric. Just for the last two games, the opposition has keyed in on Rondo and kept him from doing his thing. THAT is why he has struggled. The C's (and Rondo) will adjust to that new defensive philosophy being used against them, and figure out a way to exploit it soon enough, so I'm confident that if we keep seeing a Rondo-centric defense thrown at us, we will eventually take advantage of it.

[nickagneta]

I think what Bankshot is saying is that Rondo often runs the clock out to the point where he takes a worse jumper than the one that he had wide open, or gives it to Paul or Ray with 2 seconds left and forces THEM to take a terrible shot. An open 15-18 footer from Rondo is a much better shot than a forced one. It also doesn't help these other guys rhythm when they get it handed to them with that little time. It can cool off a hot shooter and make them frustrated with Rondo just like Doc is on the sideline. I have seen multiple times where PP and Ray come down shaking their head at him for this reason.

Yeps.

probably not. He's just a young player with an inconsistent jumpshot that he's not confident with. He was taking it to the basket a lot lately, and the Pacers and Pistons adjusted for that and took away the paint from Rondo, especially on the break. Teams come up with different strategies for defending the Celtics every month or so, and they are briefly effective, but then we adjust and start winning again. I predict that if teams continue to play Rondo the way he's been played the last two games, he or Doc or SOMEONE on the Celtics will figure out a way to adjust Rondo's game to make it work. This is just a blip on the radar due to new defenses that exploit his weaknesses as a player; not a prolonged attitude problem.

What do you mean? New defences? The way he's been played the last two games? I'm completely puzzled. This is going on since last season, Doc adjusted Rondo's game even in his rookie year.

Lately, Rondo has really exploited other teams (like the Suns) by getting into the lane on the fast break and in the half court. In order to take that away, the Pacers and Pistons played a type of defense that keyed in on Rondo's penetration ability and shut it down. They clogged the paint at all time when he had the ball, and left him doing in and out dribbles about 17 feet from the basket.

The rest of the NBA always has a new defense for the Celtics; in the past it has focused on KG, or Paul, or Ray, and tried to take away their offense. Now, for the first time, teams are playing defenses that are Rondo-centric. Just for the last two games, the opposition has keyed in on Rondo and kept him from doing his thing. THAT is why he has struggled. The C's (and Rondo) will adjust to that new defensive philosophy being used against them, and figure out a way to exploit it soon enough, so I'm confident that if we keep seeing a Rondo-centric defense thrown at us, we will eventually take advantage of it.

What cordobes is saying is that this is not a new defense and he is right. The Lakers switch Kobe over to Rondo, have him sag back and take away the lane, clog the middle and try to get Rondo to shoot the 18 footer. New York does the same thing with Jefferies that the Lakers do with Kobe. Detroit and Indiana, with no KG and height advantages throughout the lineup, just decided to have the PG sag back instead of switching someone else to do it.

Teams in the East and teams that care about winning in the West all employee some sort of Rondo-centric defense that attempts to force Rondo into the outside shot. Teams in the East do it because they see the C's 3-4 times a year. Good teams out West do it because they think they might have to try this defense in the Finals. Just because we don't see it every game because in a lot of cases we are playing teams that just aren't that focused on gameplanning it that way, or have stubborn coaches that play only one style defense, or because teams just don't have the talent to pull it off doesn't mean that teams haven't been using this defense since late last season.

As for Doc's solution to it, that's easy. He always stresses pushing the ball up against those teams and trying to force the issue before the other team has a chance to set up their defense. It is the easiest way to beat that form of defense. The other ios to simply have a good shooting night from Pierce and Allen. Once that happens the Rondo-centric defense goes out the window for the opposition. Lastly, have Rondo take and make the shot. Problem is, even though he is shooting it better and his form looks light years better than when he started the year last season, it is still the weakest part of the Celtics entire fiost team offense.

I'm not that worried about it for this year but next year will be his fourth in the league and he could be a two time champion and All Star by this time next year. That shot better be dropping by then as the Celtics entire future going forward for the next decade hinges upon him being able to take and make that shot. This year, they can win wiothout him making it regularly. But not in the future.