Free throw shooting and Rajon Rondo

[kozlodoev]

he just needs to be average, which I basically think he is.

The average free throw percentage across from NBA was well above .750. As pointed out by Roy, Rondo is far from even being average.

[Kiorrik]

I've said this before over here, but I *do* see improvements.

Having noted that some of his numbers aren't up yet, (and some are) I still think he's been showing progress.

Now I know that the NBA is all about numbers, but have you guys seen how he's been shooting? How he's been increasingly taking jumpers? How his form has definitely changed?

It's soon, it's early. He's been 'failing' us so far. But honestly, I do think he's getting there, and it just takes time for him to get used to shooting like that. Remember that he doesn't just need to take them, he needs to get comfortable taking them.

And I think that that's the part that's going to be hardest for him.

[jambr380]

See, I tend to agree with Kiorrik. I get that Rondo isn't a great free throw shooter and he may never be. Roy, I guess he's not 'average' and certainly not for a pg (I wasn't comparing him to other pgs), but I just see his ft stroke coming along and am not worried about that in his future. I am happy he is taking steps to improve, but I am not going to jump all over the guy because of 8 missed free throws- just like I wasn't calling him the best pg in the league after the first few games.

It's almost like since he got his extension (and since he has started to score more), people expect a LOT more out of him.

[kozlodoev]

See, I tend to agree with Kiorrik. I get that Rondo isn't a great free throw shooter and he may never be. Roy, I guess he's not 'average' and certainly not for a pg (I wasn't comparing him to other pgs), but I just see his ft stroke coming along and am not worried about that in his future. I am happy he is taking steps to improve, but I am not going to jump all over the guy because of 8 missed free throws- just like I wasn't calling him the best pg in the league after the first few games.

It's almost like since he got his extension (and since he has started to score more), people expect a LOT more out of him.

To me, it's almost like since he said he worked with Mark Price over the summer, people started seeing some mysterious "improvement".

The truth is, where free throws are concerned he's just as poor as he was last year, both in form and efficiency.

He still cocks the ball behind his right ear, and shoots with his palm on the ball. That hasn't changed ever since I've watched him as a Celtic, and predictably his efficiency hasn't changed either. He's shooting close to .500 from the line over the preseason and the first eight games of the season, and no, that's not acceptable.

Fans have the full right to expect more from Rondo after he signed the contract, after all the lobbying of him being "one of the top 5 guards in the NBA". What you reap is what you sow.

[Roy Hobbs]

It's almost like since he got his extension (and since he has started to score more), people expect a LOT more out of him.

Well, sure.  As kozlodoev says, Rondo's agent was touting him as a top-five point guard.  He got a contract commensurate with that, and deserves to be evaluated by that standard.

If Rondo doesn't improve both his jump shooting and free throw shooting, I think it's fair to say that the Celtics will have overpaid.  Thus, I'm hopeful -- as I'm sure we all are -- to see him improve in those two areas.  Unfortunately, thus far he hasn't done so (at least in terms of results, which are what matters.)

[rickyfan3.0...]

RONDO CAN'T SHOOT. Plain and simple. He will never be an adequate shooter. NEVER.

There will be hype every year about how much work he has put in and how great he looks in camp blah blah blah. All hype.

[pengaloo]

Obviously, the sample size is really small, but if this were to continue (hopefully it won't), Rondo's FT shooting would be worse than last year. So my question is why is his free throw shooting so bad thus far? Lack of practice? Lack of focus? Trouble adjusting to the new form he learned over the summer? Anxiety with expectations? I honestly don't get it, because he should be improving each year..

[BballTim]

It's almost like since he got his extension (and since he has started to score more), people expect a LOT more out of him.

Well, sure.  As kozlodoev says, Rondo's agent was touting him as a top-five point guard.  He got a contract commensurate with that, and deserves to be evaluated by that standard.

If Rondo doesn't improve both his jump shooting and free throw shooting, I think it's fair to say that the Celtics will have overpaid.  Thus, I'm hopeful -- as I'm sure we all are -- to see him improve in those two areas.  Unfortunately, thus far he hasn't done so (at least in terms of results, which are what matters.)

  He said a top 5 point guard, not a top 5 shooter. He's played pretty well, he's done a good job running the team and his defense is improved. He seems to be generally playing better than he did last year and I don't think we've seen his best yet, other than a game or two.

[Roy Hobbs]

It's almost like since he got his extension (and since he has started to score more), people expect a LOT more out of him.

Well, sure.  As kozlodoev says, Rondo's agent was touting him as a top-five point guard.  He got a contract commensurate with that, and deserves to be evaluated by that standard.

If Rondo doesn't improve both his jump shooting and free throw shooting, I think it's fair to say that the Celtics will have overpaid.  Thus, I'm hopeful -- as I'm sure we all are -- to see him improve in those two areas.  Unfortunately, thus far he hasn't done so (at least in terms of results, which are what matters.)

  He said a top 5 point guard, not a top 5 shooter. He's played pretty well, he's done a good job running the team and his defense is improved. He seems to be generally playing better than he did last year and I don't think we've seen his best yet, other than a game or two.

I just don't understand why people are so willing to treat the shooting as a non-issue.  Last last year, here were his ranks among starting points guards:

* Second worst in jump shooting
* Worst in free throw shooting

So far, those numbers haven't improved.  In fact, his overall numbers haven't improved markedly, either (10.6 points and 9.0 assists, versus 11.9 points and 8.2 assists.)

Let's hope he improves; if he doesn't, we'll have overpaid him pretty significantly.  The contract Rondo was given was based upon his expected improvement, and if he doesn't improve, it's too much money.

[BballTim]

It's almost like since he got his extension (and since he has started to score more), people expect a LOT more out of him.

Well, sure.  As kozlodoev says, Rondo's agent was touting him as a top-five point guard.  He got a contract commensurate with that, and deserves to be evaluated by that standard.

If Rondo doesn't improve both his jump shooting and free throw shooting, I think it's fair to say that the Celtics will have overpaid.  Thus, I'm hopeful -- as I'm sure we all are -- to see him improve in those two areas.  Unfortunately, thus far he hasn't done so (at least in terms of results, which are what matters.)

  He said a top 5 point guard, not a top 5 shooter. He's played pretty well, he's done a good job running the team and his defense is improved. He seems to be generally playing better than he did last year and I don't think we've seen his best yet, other than a game or two.

I just don't understand why people are so willing to treat the shooting as a non-issue. 

  Some people are just able to see the forest and not just the trees. I never said that his jumpshooting isn't an issue, but it's not the only thing that defines his game or the only possible part of his game that could have possibly improved. By your standards Eddie House should be a fringe top 5 pg, not Rondo.

Last last year, here were his ranks among starting points guards:

* Second worst in jump shooting
* Worst in free throw shooting

  Yes, he's a poor free throw shooter. But that's something that frequently improves over time. I doubt he'll ever be better than average but I wouldn't be surprised if he improved into the low 70s. His jumpshooting is poor and needs to improve but it's not the crisis everyone makes it out to be.

So far, those numbers haven't improved.  In fact, his overall numbers haven't improved markedly, either (10.6 points and 9.0 assists, versus 11.9 points and 8.2 assists.)

  His defense has improved, he's getting over 3 steals a game while doing a better job of keeping his man in front of him. He's shooting almost 60% from the field. His turnover to assist ratio is 4.5 to 1, while he holds opposing point guards to about 1.6 to 1. I'd say that he's improved in a number of areas, although clearly you disagree.

Let's hope he improves; if he doesn't, we'll have overpaid him pretty significantly.  The contract Rondo was given was based upon his expected improvement, and if he doesn't improve, it's too much money.

  The contract was based on his expected improvement over the next 3-4 years, not the next 3-4 weeks. It's a little early for the panic button.

[twinbree]

At this point I'll be happy to know he's able to at least split pairs at the line. It's only 2 games but he's missed 5 in a row. And since he's not getting to the line that much that's more reason to make them. I think this a glaring flaw the coaches need to get him to work on.
Actually FT shooting drills would benefit the whole team. Paul, Ray and Sheldon are the ones who I would excuse at this point.

[vinnie]

Again, the sample is very small, but 0-2 tonight from the line against the Nets making him 0 for is last 5. He had a great night from the field, but his inability to make free throws is going to end up biting this team in the butt before the season ends. He is now shooting 37.5 percent from the line. That is completely unacceptable for a point guard.

One other issue. Why has the starting point guard taken only 8 free throws in the first 8 games? Shouldn't he be getting to the line more if he takes it to the basket?

...and this is what I mean. Why is the spotlight so on Rondo this year. I started off the year thinking everyone was overrating him and now here I am sticking up for the guy. Seriously, the free throws will come and focusing every bit of energy on the guy missing doesn't help. I am sincerely happy that he signed the contract extension and I think he is worth what he got even if he never hit another free throw again. For a team with the 'big three', the focus has easily been on Rondo more than anyone else- and for what, really, a couple of missed free throws?

The guy needs to work on his free throw shooting and jump shooting. I seriously do not think that is too much to ask. He is a really good player who could become a great player if he improves those two aspects of his game.

[crownsy]

Again, the sample is very small, but 0-2 tonight from the line against the Nets making him 0 for is last 5. He had a great night from the field, but his inability to make free throws is going to end up biting this team in the butt before the season ends. He is now shooting 37.5 percent from the line. That is completely unacceptable for a point guard.

One other issue. Why has the starting point guard taken only 8 free throws in the first 8 games? Shouldn't he be getting to the line more if he takes it to the basket?

...and this is what I mean. Why is the spotlight so on Rondo this year. I started off the year thinking everyone was overrating him and now here I am sticking up for the guy. Seriously, the free throws will come and focusing every bit of energy on the guy missing doesn't help. I am sincerely happy that he signed the contract extension and I think he is worth what he got even if he never hit another free throw again. For a team with the 'big three', the focus has easily been on Rondo more than anyone else- and for what, really, a couple of missed free throws?

The guy needs to work on his free throw shooting and jump shooting. I seriously do not think that is too much to ask. He is a really good player who could become a great player if he improves those two aspects of his game.

From all accounts, he does work on these aspects of his game. Unless the other 14 members of his team are lying that is.

The simple fact is, some people are not good shooters. Rondo in particular has bad form, despite working with a shooting coach all summer.

I would like to see him improve of course, but at this point it seems like rondo may just be a bad shooter. FT's are easier to improve, but by no means are incredibly improvable by repeated practice alone. Talent counts. If rondo ever evolves to above 65-70% i'll be shocked.

IF repeated practice alone was the key to shooting, driven players would all shoot high 90% like ray. but around the league you see guys who are fantastic workers who still can't break 75%.

In short, hope for improvement, but the leap to "this guy clearly doesn't practice enough!" is ridiculous.

[vinnie]

After last night's loss to the Pacers, our point guard of today and the future has now missed 9 straight freebies and is 3-12 for the year or a crisp 25 percent. Someone better get in this kid's head soon and in a good way or this could turn into a nightmare for him and the team.

[Change]

We should've made the trade in the offseason. Jonny Flynn,  Brandon Jennings, and Tyreke Evans will have better careers than Rondo. Ainge way overpaid for Rondo. I think Ainge panicked and gave Rondo whatever to make him happy.