Am I the only one getting sick of Rondo...

[ajgoodman]

Trying to be the hero? I don't know if I can take watching him jack up a long contested jump shot with the clock winding down, whether it's the quarter, half, or shot clock.  I wouldn't complain about the ball being in his hands if he would make a play or run something, but all we end up with is a ridiculously difficult shot.  It's so frustrating when if anyone should be taking a contested jumper it should be the lethal shooters beside him, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.  Even Kevin Garnett. Why does Rondo insist on always taking the last shot and being the hero?

Even last game against the Cavs, I was chatting at Celtics.com and made the point during halftime that if Rondo continued to run the offense like it had been working, we would have a good chance, but if Rondo decided he wanted to be the hero, we would be in trouble.  Well, Rondo decided to be the hero, and we got in trouble.

Opinions? Additions? Discussion?

[amenhotep04]

I completely disagree. When I look at the Celtics this season, I'd more than likely place Rondo as the MVP of the team. He can dominate a game. The problem I see happening is that Rondo is not a guy that can successfully play more than about 35 minutes or so. Not at the pace he's most effective. So he comes out gang busters, and does some incredible stuff. But he wears down, and cannot play at the pace he began the game.

If Doc rotates Rondo effectively, he'll get more production out of Rondo with less minutes played. In turn, the Celtics will also be more productive.

[ajgoodman]

I completely disagree. When I look at the Celtics this season, I'd more than likely place Rondo as the MVP of the team. He can dominate a game. The problem I see happening is that Rondo is not a guy that can successfully play more than about 35 minutes or so. Not at the pace he's most effective. So he comes out gang busters, and does some incredible stuff. But he wears down, and cannot play at the pace he began the game.

If Doc rotates Rondo effectively, he'll get more production out of Rondo with less minutes played. In turn, the Celtics will also be more productive.

Did you even read my post? I was talking about how Rondo is too interested in making the hero shot when the clock is winding down. 

And when Rondo is subjected to playing high amounts of minutes, he should play more of a facilitating role in the offense instead of trying to force the things he can do with fresh legs.

[PosImpos]

Well, I'm not a fan of him taking long jumpshots at the end of quarters and trying to go to his jumpshot when the opposing defense is defending against the drive.  His jumpshot should be a last resort, not a first, second, third, or fourth option on offense.

I just wish he could dominate for a whole game not just a quarter or two.  I think our problems closing out games stem in large part from the fact that Rondo will play phenomenally well and then he is unable to adjust when the opposing defense adjusts.

[ajgoodman]

Well, I'm not a fan of him taking long jumpshots at the end of quarters and trying to go to his jumpshot when the opposing defense is defending against the drive.  His jumpshot should be a last resort, not a first, second, third, or fourth option on offense.

I just wish he could dominate for a whole game not just a quarter or two.  I think our problems closing out games stem in large part from the fact that Rondo will play phenomenally well and then he is unable to adjust when the opposing defense adjusts.

A Tommy Point for you, sir.  Rondo seems to be reluctant to return to his side-kick role as a facilitator when he's run out of gas.  Nate Robinson should be able to limit Rondo's excessive time on the floor, if Doc allows it. I completely agree with you about the lack of adjustment by Rondo.  And without Rondo running the offense smoothly, the other guys suffer as well.

[Andy Jick]

aside from his occasional taking a break on the defensive end, i have no problem with Rondo.  honestly, he has exceeded my expectations, and outside of Cousy and DJ, he will go down as one of the greatest point guards to play for this franchise (probably the third best).

i think the OP is being a bit harsh on Rondo.  this team is BEAT UP right now, and Rondo is doing things out of necessity, not necessarily because he wants to. 

[ajgoodman]

aside from his occasional taking a break on the defensive end, i have no problem with Rondo.  honestly, he has exceeded my expectations, and outside of Cousy and DJ, he will go down as one of the greatest point guards to play for this franchise (probably the third best).

i think the OP is being a bit harsh on Rondo.  this team is BEAT UP right now, and Rondo is doing things out of necessity, not necessarily because he wants to. 

I can't see a time where it would ever be necessary for Rondo to abandon what Doc has drawn up to launch a contested twenty-footer. (Cavaliers, 4th quarter.)  Isn't having no problems with Rondo a sense of idealism? Fans can't ignore the kid's imperfections when we scrutinize every inch of any other player.  Rondo still takes unnecessary risks and drops into questionable decision making.  Am I saying he is like this all the time? No, there are times when he is brilliant.  But we can't ignore the other times where he is a liability, and there is indeed times where he is making himself a liability.

[Andy Jick]

aside from his occasional taking a break on the defensive end, i have no problem with Rondo.  honestly, he has exceeded my expectations, and outside of Cousy and DJ, he will go down as one of the greatest point guards to play for this franchise (probably the third best).

i think the OP is being a bit harsh on Rondo.  this team is BEAT UP right now, and Rondo is doing things out of necessity, not necessarily because he wants to. 

I can't see a time where it would ever be necessary for Rondo to abandon what Doc has drawn up to launch a contested twenty-footer. (Cavaliers, 4th quarter.)  Isn't having no problems with Rondo a sense of idealism? Fans can't ignore the kid's imperfections when we scrutinize every inch of any other player.  Rondo still takes unnecessary risks and drops into questionable decision making.  Am I saying he is like this all the time? No, there are times when he is brilliant.  But we can't ignore the other times where he is a liability, and there is indeed times where he is making himself a liability.

no athlete is "perfect."  you know, i always wanted to believe, looking back, that larry bird was immune to any weaknesses in his game.  but he wasn't...he didn't win them all and he never made the breath-taking play every time (like i always thought he did). 

you're calling rondo out as a "liability" out of one side of your mouth, but you also say at moments he is "brilliant."  THIS is the essence of the professional athlete, my friend.  you take the good with the bad...

rondo is doing what he can with this band of beat up ball players.  is he pressing a bit too hard?  maybe...  but i think we know that rondo is as unselfish as they come.  he probably believes deep down in his heart that he has to provide just a little bit more.

did we not forget that paul pierce wasn't on the floor last night?  do you think that might have something do with rondo pressing a bit harder, especially knowing that (probably) the most important offensive player was missing against a team that it would (most likely) take a near-perfect game to win?

i'm not saying rondo is perfect...but i'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because of a missing pierce, a sick daniels, an still-ailing KG, an aging ray allen, an out-of-shape wallace, a skill-less scalabrine, a clueless tony allen, a limited ability perkins...  quite a team we have right now...  if i were rondo i'd probably hoist a few more myself.

[ajgoodman]

Obviously, I'm not trying to make the notion that Rondo should be playing mistake free basketball, I'm no fool when it comes to the game.  What I am trying to say is that it's idealistic to say Rondo has "no problems." There are still consistent issues with his game, not just specific to Thursday night.  There are times where he even lulls through the offense nonchalantly with a sense of smug disinterest.  Throwing free-for-all bounce passes into the teeth of the defense and tossing up circus shots on a regular basis isn't some I want to just turn the other cheek at.
       You talk about our roster as if this is 2006. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett should be a reminder to our young point guard that there is no reason to step so far outside of his role in the offense. What gives him the right to hoist up the last shot every time the clock winds down, when long range jump shooting is obviously a weakness in his game? Especially when Ray Allen and Paul Pierce's track record give us a far better chance at getting a better look.  I would even be satisfied if Rondo made a play and got an assists, or a shot he can make. Look at Kendrick Perkins. He has made tremendous steps in his offensive game this year, but he still does what he does best.
      There is no reason to force things that aren't going to happen, especially on a day where what Rondo did in the first half WAS working.  Like PosImpos said earlier, when the defense adjusts to Rondo, Rondo needs to adjust to the defense.

[CoachCowens]

as for the play at the end of the quarters usually that is number 34's role. Cleveland actually defended it quite well in that game.  That's the danger of waiting to 5/6 seconds left, if you can't get by the defense or find an open guy you are forced to jack it up.

Rondo probably started too late to make his move but hopefully he learns from that mistake.

[birdwatcher]

three hall of famers on our team, and it's rondo's fault? are you serious?? What--do you want to start nate, or trade rondo? This blog kills me with some of the asinine posts I read on it. It's totally ridiculous...seriously..come on!!!!!

[Bosstown]

three hall of famers on our team, and it's rondo's fault? are you serious?? What--do you want to start nate, or trade rondo? This blog kills me with some of the asinine posts I read on it. It's totally ridiculous...seriously..come on!!!!!

co-sign.

Rondo has been the most consistent dood on our squad and hes only in our 4th year.

[Bahku]

I think the OP is confusing Rondo taking a rare jump-shot, (when the clock is running down), with wanting to "be the hero" ... sorry, but I just don't see that at all. Fact is, Rondo has historically been reluctant to take jump-shots, and to see him finally doing so on a more regular basis is a great sign. Until he does shoot them regularly and make them consistently, he's not going to be the complete point-guard he's capable of being, or as effective at keeping the defense honest.

Doc wants him to take jump-shots, (and even threes), when he's open, or when he's run out of options, and so do I. He's shown that he has the ability to be a great outside shooter, and the sooner he develops that threat, the better it will be for both him and the team. The way this team played last night and the loss, was not remotely because of Rondo taking an ill-advised jump-shot ... that's something every player does from time-to-time, no matter how good they are, and this loss was on the team's inability to sustain energy and defensive pressure.

We need Rondo to become an outside threat, so if he misses one here-and-there, it's fine with me, as long as it's an open shot or it's when we're running out of other options. I'd rather Rondo take a jump-shot or even a three any day than say Sheed or Scal, who are supposed to have tres as their "bread-and-butter", but instead just throw up bricks. Frankly, Rondo is the key to this team being successful and one of the best point-guards of the near future ... I'm extremely glad that he's ours, and not remotely "sick" of him.

[Truck Lewis]

to answer your question...yes you are

maybe you are sick of rondo carrying the team with 3 future hofs

[pumpfake]

i'm not getting sick of him.

he's just not able to dominate for 48 minutes. He needs a little more help. Others need to step up more.