Will Rondo take as big a leap in year 4 of his career as these guys?

[JBcat]

             PTS    AST
Year 1  5.6    5.1
Year 2  7.7    7.4
year 3  7.9    8.2
year 4  14.7  13.8

year 1  3.3    2.1
year 2  9.1    3.4
year 3  7.9    5.5
year 4  8.6    4.9
year 5  15.6  7.3

year 1  7.2    6.4
year 2  9.4    6.2
year 3  13.5  4.9
year 4  16.5  6.0

So you ask who are the above players.  None other than John Stockton, Steve Nash, and Gary Payton future of current HOFs.  In the case of Nash it took him until his 5th year before he was all star caliber and we all know the story of Billups.  Not everyone can start their career with a bang like Chris Paul or Isiah Thomas.  It can take point guards a little longer to get going with their careers. 

So the question is after the little tease in the playoffs is Rondo poised to take that big leap in year 4?   If so like the above players it will go a long way for us being unstoppable this season.   If he plays mostly like he did during the regular season and levels off well the question marks will remain as the big 3 are a year older.   

Do you think he is ready to make that kind of leap?

[greenwise]

He is ready and he will improve again this year. However, that leap may not be shown on a dramatic change in his stats. Remember that he's got the Big 3 plus Wallace and company... I predict an improvement on FT% and his outside shots. Also he may increase his assists per game, but it will be difficult for him to do it better in other stats such as points per game.

Overall, I expect a more regular and focused Rondo this year

[Kiorrik]

Overall, I expect a more regular and focused Rondo this year

Same, though I would replace "expect" with "really, really hope for".

[Spilling Green Dye]

I think you can only take a "big leap" if you were at best good the year before.  Rondo has already been better than good, especially if you added the rebounding category to your stats listed.  If he develops a killer shot from outside then I'll consider it a "big leap", but I don't see any other way for him to improve his game by such a large margin.

[screwedupmaniac]

I want him to be more assertive and confident night in and night out, but talent and skillwise, I feel that he made the leap in last year's playoffs. We'll see if that's true this year.

Oh, and for the sake of comparison to Stockton, Nash, and Payton, here are Rondo's year by year numbers:

6.4 PPG 3.8 APG 3.7 RPG 1.6 SPG
10.6 PPG 5.1 APG 4.2 RPG 1.7 SPG
11.9 PPG 8.2 APG 5.2 RPG 1.9 SPG

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/rajon_rondo/career_stats.html

[Reggie's Ghost]

He is ready and he will improve again this year. However, that leap may not be shown on a dramatic change in his stats. Remember that he's got the Big 3 plus Wallace and company... I predict an improvement on FT% and his outside shots. Also he may increase his assists per game, but it will be difficult for him to do it better in other stats such as points per game.

Overall, I expect a more regular and focused Rondo this year

I agree with this.  Rondo (like Baby) was placed in an unusual situation during last years playoffs, far more was asked of him because of injuries and lack of depth.  If Rondo is one of our high scorers, or tries to carry the team every night, I think we're in trouble.

I think if Rondo, as stated, can improve his FT%, his midrange jump shot, and his aggressiveness (particularly in d), I think he's an All Star candidate right there...

[Michael Anthony]

Great topic, and great response Greenwise. If Rondo can bring his 12 / 8 / 5 ever night he will have made a mini-leap.

The difference between 12 / 8 / 5 and 15 / 10 / 6 for him is really just minutes and free throws.

[yoursweatersux]

He is ready and he will improve again this year. However, that leap may not be shown on a dramatic change in his stats. Remember that he's got the Big 3 plus Wallace and company... I predict an improvement on FT% and his outside shots. Also he may increase his assists per game, but it will be difficult for him to do it better in other stats such as points per game.

Overall, I expect a more regular and focused Rondo this year

I agree with this.  Rondo (like Baby) was placed in an unusual situation during last years playoffs, far more was asked of him because of injuries and lack of depth.  If Rondo is one of our high scorers, or tries to carry the team every night, I think we're in trouble.

I think if Rondo, as stated, can improve his FT%, his midrange jump shot, and his aggressiveness (particularly in d), I think he's an All Star candidate right there...

I'm glad somebody finally said this. If Rondo is our top scorer on any given night, we're probably losing that game. I want Rondo's assist, rebound, steal, ft%, and 3p% numbers to go up, but not his FGA's.

[Celtics17]

By the end of this years playoffs, we will be saying that we have Rondo and the other guys too. If you dont think Rondo will be "the man" by the end of this season, wait and see. When he gets the jumper going and gets a little more confidence he will be taking over games more then any player on the roster. With Rasheed here, he just gets better. Time will tell but I think Rondo is on a path to be a HOF player and while that path may not yet be lit well enough to follow it in a few short years the guy will be top 10 in the league.

[BballTim]

             PTS    AST
Year 1  5.6    5.1
Year 2  7.7    7.4
year 3  7.9    8.2
year 4  14.7  13.8

year 1  3.3    2.1
year 2  9.1    3.4
year 3  7.9    5.5
year 4  8.6    4.9
year 5  15.6  7.3

year 1  7.2    6.4
year 2  9.4    6.2
year 3  13.5  4.9
year 4  16.5  6.0

So you ask who are the above players.  None other than John Stockton, Steve Nash, and Gary Payton future of current HOFs.  In the case of Nash it took him until his 5th year before he was all star caliber and we all know the story of Billups.  Not everyone can start their career with a bang like Chris Paul or Isiah Thomas.  It can take point guards a little longer to get going with their careers. 

So the question is after the little tease in the playoffs is Rondo poised to take that big leap in year 4?   If so like the above players it will go a long way for us being unstoppable this season.   If he plays mostly like he did during the regular season and levels off well the question marks will remain as the big 3 are a year older.   

Do you think he is ready to make that kind of leap?

  He might or might not be ready this year. You have to realize that Rondo will, in 09-10, be about the same age those three were in their 2nd years.

[billysan]

There is no reason Rondo cannot average:

15 ppg
9 apg
6 rpg
2 spg

and less than 3 TO per game this season. This would be an acceptable upgrade for me. He can easily do this and stay within the flow of our offense. All he needs to do is run and attack the basket a little more when bring the ball up court.

He clearly has the speed to take advantage of the slower teams in transition, he just needs to recognize when to use it a little better. I think he will this season.

[xmuscularghandix]

Coming out party.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5VUiIO-ue4
best video on youtube.

[mzepol]

All he needs is to develop a consistent jumpshot and he's set. But then again, that's what we've been saying since year one, so I'm not expecting too much.

[Jeff]

nice post

he made a big step forward last year - he has the talent to take another one this year

can't wait

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't see why not. What he needs is to develop more consistency in his game more than anything. His shot is the least of my worries with him, though it would help a ton if improved.

Improving the consistency on the basic little things, like passing accuracy/timing and running the floor/pushing the ball will highly improve his game and stature. And lets not forget about his defesive discipline and decision making, that at times lacks quite a bit.

Overall the skill set is there... he simply needs to deliver more consistently.