Has Rondo's jump shooting improved? The early answer is in...

[Roy Hobbs]

82games.com just released their first detailed stats of the year, which includes one of my favorite stats, eFG% on jump shots.

To answer the question raised in the thread title, no, Rondo's shooting has not improved, at least in terms of efficiency:

2008-09:  43% of Rondo's shots were jumpers; .375eFG%

2009-10:  50% of Rondo's shots are jumpers; .379eFG%

In other words, his efficiency on jumpers through 8 games is virtually identical to last season.  Other interesting stats?  Rondo is finishing an amazing 75.9% of his inside shots this year, meaning he's getting a lot of open layups.  Only 18% of his jump shots has been assisted, suggesting that he's taking a lot of pull-up shots (rather than set shots).

We, of course, know the issues with Rondo's early free throw shooting (he's shooting poorly, and is barely getting to the line at all).  Similarly, he hasn't been attempting three pointers this year.

I'm not sure what to make of the numbers, other than I hope they get better.  Rondo has been great passing the ball, and for the most part very good on defense, but shooting remains a large weakness.

[rickyfan3.0...]

He is not, and will never be a good shooter. Despite the Celtics Hype Machine.

[JBcat]

I've noticed starting last year and going into this year he has really finished better around the basket.   Not sure if he is at Tony Parker level just yet but he has really improved in that area it seems like.

[BballTim]

82games.com just released their first detailed stats of the year, which includes one of my favorite stats, eFG% on jump shots.

To answer the question raised in the thread title, no, Rondo's shooting has not improved, at least in terms of efficiency:

2008-09:  43% of Rondo's shots were jumpers; .375eFG%

2009-10:  50% of Rondo's shots are jumpers; .379eFG%

In other words, his efficiency on jumpers through 8 games is virtually identical to last season.  Other interesting stats?  Rondo is finishing an amazing 75.9% of his inside shots this year, meaning he's getting a lot of open layups.  Only 18% of his jump shots has been assisted, suggesting that he's taking a lot of pull-up shots (rather than set shots).

We, of course, know the issues with Rondo's early free throw shooting (he's shooting poorly, and is barely getting to the line at all).  Similarly, he hasn't been attempting three pointers this year.

I'm not sure what to make of the numbers, other than I hope they get better.  Rondo has been great passing the ball, and for the most part very good on defense, but shooting remains a large weakness.

  So if he'd made 1 more outside shot in the first 7 games (41%) or 2 more shots (45%) would you be talking about the dramatic improvement to his game? What if he'd passed on a few of those outside shots like he did last year and raised his percentages that way?

  If you want to go straight apples to apples, check out either Rondo's early season shot charts or possibly some celticsblog threads from last year. If memory serves he started out last season missing something like 19 of his first 21 outside shots. I'd guess he's well ahead of last year's pace.

[Roy Hobbs]

82games.com just released their first detailed stats of the year, which includes one of my favorite stats, eFG% on jump shots.

To answer the question raised in the thread title, no, Rondo's shooting has not improved, at least in terms of efficiency:

2008-09:  43% of Rondo's shots were jumpers; .375eFG%

2009-10:  50% of Rondo's shots are jumpers; .379eFG%

In other words, his efficiency on jumpers through 8 games is virtually identical to last season.  Other interesting stats?  Rondo is finishing an amazing 75.9% of his inside shots this year, meaning he's getting a lot of open layups.  Only 18% of his jump shots has been assisted, suggesting that he's taking a lot of pull-up shots (rather than set shots).

We, of course, know the issues with Rondo's early free throw shooting (he's shooting poorly, and is barely getting to the line at all).  Similarly, he hasn't been attempting three pointers this year.

I'm not sure what to make of the numbers, other than I hope they get better.  Rondo has been great passing the ball, and for the most part very good on defense, but shooting remains a large weakness.

  So if he'd made 1 more outside shot in the first 7 games (41%) or 2 more shots (45%) would you be talking about the dramatic improvement to his game? What if he'd passed on a few of those outside shots like he did last year and raised his percentages that way?

  If you want to go straight apples to apples, check out either Rondo's early season shot charts or possibly some celticsblog threads from last year. If memory serves he started out last season missing something like 19 of his first 21 outside shots. I'd guess he's well ahead of last year's pace.

We can make whatever excuses we want, but thus far, there's been no improvement.  We all hope he gets better as the year goes on, but comparing last year's final product to the early start this year, there has been no improvement.

As for Rondo starting out 2 for 21 on jump shots, I have no idea if that's true.  I can say that he shot 23 for his first 39 on overall shots, so I think 2 for 21 on jumpers is unlikely.

[BballTim]

82games.com just released their first detailed stats of the year, which includes one of my favorite stats, eFG% on jump shots.

To answer the question raised in the thread title, no, Rondo's shooting has not improved, at least in terms of efficiency:

2008-09:  43% of Rondo's shots were jumpers; .375eFG%

2009-10:  50% of Rondo's shots are jumpers; .379eFG%

In other words, his efficiency on jumpers through 8 games is virtually identical to last season.  Other interesting stats?  Rondo is finishing an amazing 75.9% of his inside shots this year, meaning he's getting a lot of open layups.  Only 18% of his jump shots has been assisted, suggesting that he's taking a lot of pull-up shots (rather than set shots).

We, of course, know the issues with Rondo's early free throw shooting (he's shooting poorly, and is barely getting to the line at all).  Similarly, he hasn't been attempting three pointers this year.

I'm not sure what to make of the numbers, other than I hope they get better.  Rondo has been great passing the ball, and for the most part very good on defense, but shooting remains a large weakness.

  So if he'd made 1 more outside shot in the first 7 games (41%) or 2 more shots (45%) would you be talking about the dramatic improvement to his game? What if he'd passed on a few of those outside shots like he did last year and raised his percentages that way?

  If you want to go straight apples to apples, check out either Rondo's early season shot charts or possibly some celticsblog threads from last year. If memory serves he started out last season missing something like 19 of his first 21 outside shots. I'd guess he's well ahead of last year's pace.

We can make whatever excuses we want, but thus far, there's been no improvement.  We all hope he gets better as the year goes on, but comparing last year's final product to the early start this year, there has been no improvement.

As for Rondo starting out 2 for 21 on jump shots, I have no idea if that's true.  I can say that he shot 23 for his first 39 on overall shots, so I think 2 for 21 on jumpers is unlikely.

  So when I point out that Rondo's jump shooting is much better now than it was at the beginning of last year that's making excuses? Come on. Stats are stats. Yours are no more meaningful than mine. You just judge the validity of statistics based on how bad they make Rondo look.

[twinbree]

Any conclusion from this 8 game sample will most likely be misleading. Especially since he barely took any shots the first few games. It's possible though unlikely IMO that he can follow a Big Baby like trajectory shooting jumpshots this season.

[nickagneta]

Really pathetically small sample size and very early in the season to be making this determination. I seem to remember a very round PF who was taking outside jumpers last year and who through the first two months of the season was just awful shooting jumpers. People jumped to the conclusion that his changes to his shooting didn't pay off. By season's end they were eating crow pretty bad.

Rondo's jumper, based on the actual amount of jumpers he has taken, really should be judged based on form rather than results, much like Baby's last year.

[Vermont Green]

Any conclusion from this 8 game sample will most likely be misleading. Especially since he barely took any shots the first few games. It's possible though unlikely IMO that he can follow a Big Baby like trajectory shooting jumpshots this season.

This is true, especially if the conclusion you are drawing is that Rondo's shooting has improved.

In fact I think it is worse and I based that on the fact that teams are sagging off him even more than they did last year and he still isn't really any threat to score from the outside.

I don't know if he is going to show Baby type improvement or not.  There is no way to know either way.  DA must believe he will improve and I think he will too, I am just not sure how much.

[Vermont Green]

BTW, why wasn't Rondo in the game at the end last night?  I only caught bits of the game.  Was Doc asked about this?

[Eeyore III]

82games.com just released their first detailed stats of the year, which includes one of my favorite stats, eFG% on jump shots.

To answer the question raised in the thread title, no, Rondo's shooting has not improved, at least in terms of efficiency:

2008-09:  43% of Rondo's shots were jumpers; .375eFG%

2009-10:  50% of Rondo's shots are jumpers; .379eFG%

In other words, his efficiency on jumpers through 8 games is virtually identical to last season.  Other interesting stats?  Rondo is finishing an amazing 75.9% of his inside shots this year, meaning he's getting a lot of open layups.  Only 18% of his jump shots has been assisted, suggesting that he's taking a lot of pull-up shots (rather than set shots).

We, of course, know the issues with Rondo's early free throw shooting (he's shooting poorly, and is barely getting to the line at all).  Similarly, he hasn't been attempting three pointers this year.

I'm not sure what to make of the numbers, other than I hope they get better.  Rondo has been great passing the ball, and for the most part very good on defense, but shooting remains a large weakness.

  So if he'd made 1 more outside shot in the first 7 games (41%) or 2 more shots (45%) would you be talking about the dramatic improvement to his game? What if he'd passed on a few of those outside shots like he did last year and raised his percentages that way?

  If you want to go straight apples to apples, check out either Rondo's early season shot charts or possibly some celticsblog threads from last year. If memory serves he started out last season missing something like 19 of his first 21 outside shots. I'd guess he's well ahead of last year's pace.

We can make whatever excuses we want, but thus far, there's been no improvement.  We all hope he gets better as the year goes on, but comparing last year's final product to the early start this year, there has been no improvement.

As for Rondo starting out 2 for 21 on jump shots, I have no idea if that's true.  I can say that he shot 23 for his first 39 on overall shots, so I think 2 for 21 on jumpers is unlikely.

  So when I point out that Rondo's jump shooting is much better now than it was at the beginning of last year that's making excuses? Come on. Stats are stats. Yours are no more meaningful than mine. You just judge the validity of statistics based on how bad they make Rondo look.

Unfortunately, you offer only anecdote, not statistics.

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

This debate has been poorly framed from the beginning.  It's not a question of percentages--it's a question of Rondo's willingness to take jumpers in the flow of the game, as opposed to passing up jumpers, or dribbling himself into less advantageous positions because of an unwillingness to take the jumper (and thus messing up the flow of the offense in the process). 

So, to me at least, I don't look at whether they go in.  I look at when he takes them, whether they're in rhythm, and how many times a game he passes up jumpers, and what he does with the ball when he passes them up.  Is he passing them up because he's scared to shoot?  Or because he thought there was a realistic opportunity at getting an easier shot for himself or others? 

With that in mind, I see Rondo more willing to take them this season, especially shooting behind picks.  I've also seen him more decisive in making the decision whether to shoot.  On the other hand, I've seen him still tend to take lazy jumpers where he's not square or he lets his momentum through him off balance.  I think Doc made a great point after the Minnesota game--Rondo was missing in the first half and Doc told him that they were passive misses; as in, he was just taking what the defense gave him, but not taking them aggressively.  In the 2nd half, he corrected that and led the team to a W.

So, I think it's incorrect to judge Rajon on percentage right now.  His progression should be judged on moving from scared jump shooter (who passes up open shots to the detriment of the offense) to confident jump shooter (who takes his jumpers in rhythm when he gets them in the flow of the offense).  Once he makes that jump, I think an improved percentage will be a natural outcome...

[Roy Hobbs]

82games.com just released their first detailed stats of the year, which includes one of my favorite stats, eFG% on jump shots.

To answer the question raised in the thread title, no, Rondo's shooting has not improved, at least in terms of efficiency:

2008-09:  43% of Rondo's shots were jumpers; .375eFG%

2009-10:  50% of Rondo's shots are jumpers; .379eFG%

In other words, his efficiency on jumpers through 8 games is virtually identical to last season.  Other interesting stats?  Rondo is finishing an amazing 75.9% of his inside shots this year, meaning he's getting a lot of open layups.  Only 18% of his jump shots has been assisted, suggesting that he's taking a lot of pull-up shots (rather than set shots).

We, of course, know the issues with Rondo's early free throw shooting (he's shooting poorly, and is barely getting to the line at all).  Similarly, he hasn't been attempting three pointers this year.

I'm not sure what to make of the numbers, other than I hope they get better.  Rondo has been great passing the ball, and for the most part very good on defense, but shooting remains a large weakness.

  So if he'd made 1 more outside shot in the first 7 games (41%) or 2 more shots (45%) would you be talking about the dramatic improvement to his game? What if he'd passed on a few of those outside shots like he did last year and raised his percentages that way?

  If you want to go straight apples to apples, check out either Rondo's early season shot charts or possibly some celticsblog threads from last year. If memory serves he started out last season missing something like 19 of his first 21 outside shots. I'd guess he's well ahead of last year's pace.

We can make whatever excuses we want, but thus far, there's been no improvement.  We all hope he gets better as the year goes on, but comparing last year's final product to the early start this year, there has been no improvement.

As for Rondo starting out 2 for 21 on jump shots, I have no idea if that's true.  I can say that he shot 23 for his first 39 on overall shots, so I think 2 for 21 on jumpers is unlikely.

  So when I point out that Rondo's jump shooting is much better now than it was at the beginning of last year that's making excuses? Come on. Stats are stats. Yours are no more meaningful than mine. You just judge the validity of statistics based on how bad they make Rondo look.

Show me the stats, rather than your memory.  Then, show me the stats from other seasons, to prove that Rondo is historically a slow starter who improves as the season goes along.

[BballTim]

82games.com just released their first detailed stats of the year, which includes one of my favorite stats, eFG% on jump shots.

To answer the question raised in the thread title, no, Rondo's shooting has not improved, at least in terms of efficiency:

2008-09:  43% of Rondo's shots were jumpers; .375eFG%

2009-10:  50% of Rondo's shots are jumpers; .379eFG%

In other words, his efficiency on jumpers through 8 games is virtually identical to last season.  Other interesting stats?  Rondo is finishing an amazing 75.9% of his inside shots this year, meaning he's getting a lot of open layups.  Only 18% of his jump shots has been assisted, suggesting that he's taking a lot of pull-up shots (rather than set shots).

We, of course, know the issues with Rondo's early free throw shooting (he's shooting poorly, and is barely getting to the line at all).  Similarly, he hasn't been attempting three pointers this year.

I'm not sure what to make of the numbers, other than I hope they get better.  Rondo has been great passing the ball, and for the most part very good on defense, but shooting remains a large weakness.

  So if he'd made 1 more outside shot in the first 7 games (41%) or 2 more shots (45%) would you be talking about the dramatic improvement to his game? What if he'd passed on a few of those outside shots like he did last year and raised his percentages that way?

  If you want to go straight apples to apples, check out either Rondo's early season shot charts or possibly some celticsblog threads from last year. If memory serves he started out last season missing something like 19 of his first 21 outside shots. I'd guess he's well ahead of last year's pace.

We can make whatever excuses we want, but thus far, there's been no improvement.  We all hope he gets better as the year goes on, but comparing last year's final product to the early start this year, there has been no improvement.

As for Rondo starting out 2 for 21 on jump shots, I have no idea if that's true.  I can say that he shot 23 for his first 39 on overall shots, so I think 2 for 21 on jumpers is unlikely.

  So when I point out that Rondo's jump shooting is much better now than it was at the beginning of last year that's making excuses? Come on. Stats are stats. Yours are no more meaningful than mine. You just judge the validity of statistics based on how bad they make Rondo look.

Unfortunately, you offer only anecdote, not statistics.

  Sorry, I don't have time to go through his shot charts today. Maybe tomorrow. But I can recall being in a few of these discussions last year. He might not have been exactly 2 for 21 but when he'd take 20 or so jumpshots he was hitting no more than 10% of them. He's clearly been better than that this year.

[the_Bird]

I understand the whole "Rondo has to take what the defense is giving him" argument.  I understand how he's got to keep the offensive flow going.

But, the defense is still giving him that shot for a reason.  If he doesn't take that shot, his defender's going to keep sagging off from him.  But if he keeps taking them and missing them, the defender's going to sag off from him anyway.

He needs to prove to the defense that he can hit that shot; so far, he's just proving that he can't.