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

[KG_ended_Bias]

Original poster I already touched on the Rondo & end of the quarters thing in my "Take It Like A Man" Celtics speech. Should read it, I feel your frustration.

[gpap]

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?

I TOTALLY agree. For all the flack that the vets like Sheed, KG, Pierce, Ray and Daniels get on this board, I'll never understand why Rondo constantly gets a pass.

As talented as he is, alot of the time, he is VERY tentative with the ball, tries to do too much, and tries being too flashy. Message to Rondo-K.I.S.S.=Keep it Simple Stupid!

Take the shot when it's there, try finding the open man and take the layup when it's there. How many times has Rondo been caught with the ball in his hands when the shot clock has run out? How many times has Rondo passed up a shot when it was available, only to try making a stupid alternate play like a lay up or fake that blows up in his face? Many times!!

And of top of that, he opens his big mouth recently about how the team has an individual agenda. Maybe he should look in the mirror!

[Gomesfan]

I agree to disagree w/ Ajg.

We have one of the best pg in the NBA and he is hands down the most consistent player on out team so stop whining and worry about KG dragginh his legg and Sheed jacking up threes...not Rondo with 15 ast or wjat ever he had last game!

[MattG12]

Rondo has carried this team. He has been consistently good all season except for right after he signed his contract.

Complaining about the best player on the team makes no sense to me.

Cosign what Bahku and Truck said earlier, they put it perfect.

[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.

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.

I read your post several times. Again, when I've watched Rondo all season he is best for the team when he is rested. He begins doing the things you mention as the game wears on. It's pretty simple. You're talking about particulars, I'm talking about generalities. So the problem is not with what Rondo is doing, it's Rondo doing the best he can as he wears down over the game. The facilitating role is fine, but that is how he begins the games. Look at his assists by quarter throughout the season. I'm simply saying the fatigue variable looms larger than you give credence.

[BballTim]

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?

  It's a learning experience for Rondo. The more pressure shots he takes the better off we are in the playoffs. I think someone needs to tell him that he needs to just get into the lane and take his best shot or try and draw a foul instead of taking the outside shot, though. In any case, I don't know that we fare tremendously better giving the ball to Paul or Ray in those situations.

[Bankshot]

Rondo has carried this team. He has been consistently good all season except for right after he signed his contract.

Complaining about the best player on the team makes no sense to me.

Cosign what Bahku and Truck said earlier, they put it perfect.

He's only carried them for one half of games though.

[BudweiserCeltic]

For all the complaints I have about Rondo, I think this is pure crap. I think Rondo has shown that he's a pretty good scorer with the shot clock running out. He's been pretty clutch in that department. There are quite a few things you can complain about Rondo, but I don't think this is one people need to take issues with.

[MattG12]

Rondo has carried this team. He has been consistently good all season except for right after he signed his contract.

Complaining about the best player on the team makes no sense to me.

Cosign what Bahku and Truck said earlier, they put it perfect.

He's only carried them for one half of games though.

Which is one half more than anybody else on the Celtics. Rondo is not the problem. The aging and constantly injured Big 3 is the problem.

[BballTim]

Rondo has carried this team. He has been consistently good all season except for right after he signed his contract.

Complaining about the best player on the team makes no sense to me.

Cosign what Bahku and Truck said earlier, they put it perfect.

He's only carried them for one half of games though.

  The problem is nobody else has carried the team in the other half...

[pengaloo]

Taking the last shot isn't necessarily tied to be "trying to be the hero."

I've seen Rondo take the last shot in a couple of situations. I wish someone would put together the video evidence for this, but this is what I remember seeing:

1. shot clock winding down, not at the end of quarters: his teammates would dump the ball to him with 2 seconds left and Rondo has no choice but to make a last second 3-pt shot. Hero shot? No.

As for end of quarter plays...

2. 3-4 seconds on the clock at the end of 1st, 2nd or 3rd quarter, the ball inbounded/rebounded at the other end of the court: Rondo is the only one who can sprint/dribble down the court in 2 seconds and still put up a shot. Anyone else's shot would have been a half-court buzzer beater. Sometimes in transition, half of his teammates don't even bother to run up the court with him. Hero shot? No.

3. lots of time left, last play of 1st, 2nd or 3rd quarter: This is probably what the OP is mainly referring to. Rondo walks the ball up court, waits until 7-8 seconds are left on the clock before making his move. Against good defenses that don't allow him to get to the basket, Rondo usually takes 1-2 steps inside and looks to pass. But he finds that everyone is standing around at the 3-pt line - no one is cutting to the basket. He'll take the last second shot, but because he was originally thinking to pass, he'll miss the shot because he only makes shots when he doesn't hesitate. Hero shot? Maybe.

But what are the other options? Baby would get stuffed. Sheed for 3 is about as tiresome as Baby getting stuffed. Pierce is either injured (during which he cannot make a bucket) or out. Ray can't seem to get free from his defender when he is the #1 option. KG is usually sitting on the bench during the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters, and when he's in the game, he's been hesitating - passing up wide open shots and easy buckets inside the paint. The shot clock would expire by the time Perk finishes his nasty routine of bringing the ball down and taking one dribble before dunking, laying the ball in, or being fouled. Our offense just stinks when not in transition, but a good transition game isn't sustainable given that our defense is spotty and that our biggest offensive threats (Pierce, Ray, KG) are in no condition to regularly run up and down the court with Rondo.

[Tommysgod]

This is a great thread that I've been meaning to start! Rondo, without question needs to stop **** taking the last shot at the end of the quarter because quite frankly he NEVER drives the ball or dishes it, he always takes a awful contested three and a decent amount of the time he doesn't even get the shot off!!! What ****es me off the most is Doc will walk right by him and not say a word. Dig into him a little bit, tell him that was a terrible decision like  you do throughout the course of the game. Make this kid learn! I don't doubt Rondo's ability by any means, but this is something that has eaten at me all season. The worst part is, it's not only when the quarters are running down, it's whenever Rondo has the ball in his hands and the shot or game clock is under 7 seconds he will just refuse to pass the ball or run a play. I don't get why with 7 seconds on the shot clock with the ball at the top of the key, why as our PG can he not be intelligent and have the wherewithal to run a play? It's almost as if he panics or feels like "ok there's like 7 seconds left, this will be my reason why this is my shot", when in reality everyone knows we can run a much better set then what he's been doing.

What makes this years celtics so frustrating is that Pierce is unwilling to dig into Rondo anymore and step up and just take over like he used to. He's turned into too much of a team player, which for the most part is a good thing, but has been very detrimental when it comes to our offense and needing baskets a key moments in the game (i.e. end of quarter, end of shot clock and 4th quarter). I really just hope this is Pierce revving up and pacing himself for the playoffs, where he can be an unstoppable offense force and demands the ball like he did two years ago and lead us to another championship. Because I will tell you this right now, we aren't winning a championship this year if Rondo continues to be the focal point of our offense. As great as he already is, he's not there yet when it comes to getting us buckets when there needed and that's when Pierce becomes so crucial. I give Rondo another year or two before he becomes our main threat no matter where we are in the game, kind of like CP3 and Deron Williams are now. I know I'm beginning to rant here about Pierce in a Rondo lead thread, but the captain really does need to be gettin more then 12 shots a game, and we really need to start running more plays for him as he's are BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER PERIOD!

[2short]

 
if i have to take one player off celtics to start another team its rondo and its not even close

[footey]

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?

I think you make a valid point. He seems to wait too long before executing at the end of the quarter, and runs out of time to set someone else up.  Celts need to mix things up more in those situations. Of course, it is no better when Paul tries to do the same thing. Has to be a better way.

I am more frustrated with Rondo's careless passing at the end of games. Seems like he is trying to thread the needle in very tough situations, in the middle of the lane. 

Still, Rondo is the one bright spot on this team in the second half of the season.  He has far more energy than any other Celtic player, with the exception maybe of Tony; and Tony is just a turnover machine.

[Bankshot]

Rondo has carried this team. He has been consistently good all season except for right after he signed his contract.

Complaining about the best player on the team makes no sense to me.

Cosign what Bahku and Truck said earlier, they put it perfect.

He's only carried them for one half of games though.

Which is one half more than anybody else on the Celtics. Rondo is not the problem. The aging and constantly injured Big 3 is the problem.

Oh, I agree with you, I was just kidding.  Yes, it's the Big 3.