Rondo game MVP - 1st half for the C's, 2nd for the Cavs

[EJPLAYA]

It is absolutely insane how a guy can totally dominate play in the first quarter like Rondo did, do nothing really in the 2nd or third, and then basically hand the Cavs the game in the 4th quarter by taking terrible shots, leaving Mo Williams all alone to kill us, and not involve his teammates on the offensive end of the floor. I can't understand how a guy who at times seems so smart out there can be so stupid. Way to go Rondo. You were the CAVS MVP in that 4th quarter!

[2short]

I just put up a topic about doc vs brown.  I don't blame rondo at all, even lebron gets a rest!

[EJPLAYA]

I just put up a topic about doc vs brown.  I don't blame rondo at all, even lebron gets a rest!

Doc gets some blame as well, but it was RONDO who kept taking outside shot after outside shot. He didn't have to take those. Ray had been hot most of the night and he could have looked for a teammate. Instead he took shots he doesn't make with regularity even when his legs are fresh. That is HIS fault.

[ejk3489]

It is absolutely insane how a guy can totally dominate play in the first quarter like Rondo did, do nothing really in the 2nd or third, and then basically hand the Cavs the game in the 4th quarter by taking terrible shots, leaving Mo Williams all alone to kill us, and not involve his teammates on the offensive end of the floor. I can't understand how a guy who at times seems so smart out there can be so stupid. Way to go Rondo. You were the CAVS MVP in that 4th quarter!

I don't know maybe because he played 45 minutes with NO REST. He didn't get subsituted even *once*. A little rest could of gone a long way for Rondo in the second half. WAY TO GO DOC.

Also, he only took like 4 jumpshots in the second half.

[Roy Hobbs]

First, in his defense, the Cavs adjusted their defense and collapsed the middle, and it's also clear he was drained physically.

That being said, he didn't play a very good mental game in the second.  Too many quick jumpers, too many bad decisions with the ball.  Doc gets some of the blame for that, but Rondo shares a lot of it himself.

[EJPLAYA]

It is absolutely insane how a guy can totally dominate play in the first quarter like Rondo did, do nothing really in the 2nd or third, and then basically hand the Cavs the game in the 4th quarter by taking terrible shots, leaving Mo Williams all alone to kill us, and not involve his teammates on the offensive end of the floor. I can't understand how a guy who at times seems so smart out there can be so stupid. Way to go Rondo. You were the CAVS MVP in that 4th quarter!

I don't know maybe because he played 45 minutes with NO REST. He didn't get subsituted even *once*. A little rest could of gone a long way for Rondo in the second half. WAY TO GO DOC.

So the smart thing to do would be take jumpers that are out of your range?! I'm not arguing he should have sat some minutes. Especially since he didn't do anything after that 1st quarter anyway. But he was 1-6 in that fourth quarter and 4 of his 5 misses were outside jumpers. You can't blame ANYONE but him for taking dumb shots. I guarantee you Doc didn't say "Rondo, go out there and stop driving and shoot from the outside icing your teammates."

While we are on it, another pet peeve lately has been Rondo dribbling the ball down to about 5 seconds at the end of quarters causing him to fire up a stupid jumper. Since when is a Rondo fadeaway the right play at the buzzer. He doesn't get a shot off as much as he does, and when he does he has a terrible percentage. He should be driving and kicking.

[snively]

Rondo wasn't good in the 2nd half but he wasn't bad either.  The Cavs devoted their defense to smothering Ray on the perimeter and packing the paint.  Because Daniels offered no threat on the perimeter, our only offensive option was KG and he couldn't really get free.  

[Donoghus]

I wonder how much his play in the 1st half resulted in him being significantly fatigued at the end?

He was blasting on all cylinders early on and then faded real bad.  Like he exerted too much early on.

[PosImpos]

Let's not blame one player.  The whole team looked like crap in the second half.

[ejk3489]

It is absolutely insane how a guy can totally dominate play in the first quarter like Rondo did, do nothing really in the 2nd or third, and then basically hand the Cavs the game in the 4th quarter by taking terrible shots, leaving Mo Williams all alone to kill us, and not involve his teammates on the offensive end of the floor. I can't understand how a guy who at times seems so smart out there can be so stupid. Way to go Rondo. You were the CAVS MVP in that 4th quarter!

I don't know maybe because he played 45 minutes with NO REST. He didn't get subsituted even *once*. A little rest could of gone a long way for Rondo in the second half. WAY TO GO DOC.

So the smart thing to do would be take jumpers that are out of your range?! I'm not arguing he should have sat some minutes. Especially since he didn't do anything after that 1st quarter anyway. But he was 1-6 in that fourth quarter and 4 of his 5 misses were outside jumpers. You can't blame ANYONE but him for taking dumb shots. I guarantee you Doc didn't say "Rondo, go out there and stop driving and shoot from the outside icing your teammates."

While we are on it, another pet peeve lately has been Rondo dribbling the ball down to about 5 seconds at the end of quarters causing him to fire up a stupid jumper. Since when is a Rondo fadeaway the right play at the buzzer. He doesn't get a shot off as much as he does, and when he does he has a terrible percentage. He should be driving and kicking.

I don't remember where the jumpshots were besides the one 3-point attempt...but I wouldn't say those were all out of his range. Anyways...I agree that he could of driven the ball inside more, but I really think that a lot of that was a result of fatigue.

[EJPLAYA]

Rondo wasn't good in the 2nd half but he wasn't bad either.  The Cavs devoted their defense to smothering Ray on the perimeter and packing the paint.  Because Daniels offered no threat on the perimeter, our only offensive option was KG and he couldn't really get free.  

Yes, he wasn't bad. That's why the announcers kept saying Rondo was hurting his team. Take off the green colored glasses people. He played an awful 4th, a mediocre 2nd and 3rd, and an amazing 1st. He should have gotten some rest, but he also should be smart enough to take good shots and involve people. That's exactly the way you take a one point game to a 20 pt loss. He has to be better. Usually he is. We just aren't good enough anymore for him to not play smart basketball.

[EJPLAYA]

It is absolutely insane how a guy can totally dominate play in the first quarter like Rondo did, do nothing really in the 2nd or third, and then basically hand the Cavs the game in the 4th quarter by taking terrible shots, leaving Mo Williams all alone to kill us, and not involve his teammates on the offensive end of the floor. I can't understand how a guy who at times seems so smart out there can be so stupid. Way to go Rondo. You were the CAVS MVP in that 4th quarter!

I don't know maybe because he played 45 minutes with NO REST. He didn't get subsituted even *once*. A little rest could of gone a long way for Rondo in the second half. WAY TO GO DOC.

So the smart thing to do would be take jumpers that are out of your range?! I'm not arguing he should have sat some minutes. Especially since he didn't do anything after that 1st quarter anyway. But he was 1-6 in that fourth quarter and 4 of his 5 misses were outside jumpers. You can't blame ANYONE but him for taking dumb shots. I guarantee you Doc didn't say "Rondo, go out there and stop driving and shoot from the outside icing your teammates."

While we are on it, another pet peeve lately has been Rondo dribbling the ball down to about 5 seconds at the end of quarters causing him to fire up a stupid jumper. Since when is a Rondo fadeaway the right play at the buzzer. He doesn't get a shot off as much as he does, and when he does he has a terrible percentage. He should be driving and kicking.

I don't remember where the jumpshots were besides the one 3-point attempt...but I wouldn't say those were all out of his range. Anyways...I agree that he could of driven the ball inside more, but I really think that a lot of that was a result of fatigue.

In all fairness anything outside 5 feet is out of Rondo's range...

[2short]

A good point was brought up about how cleveland could leave marquis alone on 3 pt line because he can't hit shot.  I love marquis but couldn't scal have gotten some time there?

Let's not blame one player.  The whole team looked like crap in the second half.

[snively]

Rondo wasn't good in the 2nd half but he wasn't bad either.  The Cavs devoted their defense to smothering Ray on the perimeter and packing the paint.  Because Daniels offered no threat on the perimeter, our only offensive option was KG and he couldn't really get free.  

Yes, he wasn't bad. That's why the announcers kept saying Rondo was hurting his team. Take off the green colored glasses people. He played an awful 4th, a mediocre 2nd and 3rd, and an amazing 1st. He should have gotten some rest, but he also should be smart enough to take good shots and involve people. That's exactly the way you take a one point game to a 20 pt loss. He has to be better. Usually he is. We just aren't good enough anymore for him to not play smart basketball.

He wasn't playing dumb basketball.  He took two dumb shots all game and both were in the 1st half at the end of the quarters.   Rondo just isn't as effective outside of the transition game, especially when the team can only field one shooter alongside him. Do you want him to attack the paint and kick it out to Marquis Daniels? 

The Cavs stuck on Ray, packed the paint off of Perk and Daniels and pushed Rondo into the role of shooter.  The only interior shots he was getting up were contested floaters that were missing.  He took the best shots the Cavs defense gave: open 18 footers and 3s.

[pengaloo]

It's amazing how quickly things have changed. Last season, we need Rondo to play well at least well every other game. At the beginning of this season, we need Rondo to play well every game. January, we need Rondo to play well every half. Now we need Rondo to play well every quarter. I hope he will eventually get there, but we need to be realistic as well.