Howard takes away Rondo's greatest strength

[Spicoli]

Which is getting into the lane and finishing. How do we counter it?

[BudweiserCeltic]

Thankfully, that's not his greatest strength. And thankfully, Howard is always in foul trouble.

[FallGuy]

Which is getting into the lane and finishing. How do we counter it?

Transition baskets.

And use Rasheed -pull Howard away from the basket.

[jackson_34]

Have guys like Perk, Davis, KG, Allen cutting hard to the basket looking for the nice little passes around the basket Rondo is capable of.

[Spicoli]

Thankfully, that's not his greatest strength. And thankfully, Howard is always in foul trouble.

I know he's a great passer and a good to great defender, but i don't think he does anything better than penetrating. He can blow by his man at will and finish with either hand. He's basically a Tony Parker who can actually pass, rebound, and defend.

[BballTim]

Which is getting into the lane and finishing. How do we counter it?

  Rondo's a lot better at finishing a few feet from the basket with those floaters and wide bank shots. He didn't really have those shots last year.

[Spicoli]

Which is getting into the lane and finishing. How do we counter it?

  Rondo's a lot better at finishing a few feet from the basket with those floaters and wide bank shots. He didn't really have those shots last year.

He sure is better at those shots. Howard is such a great leaper though. I just worry about him altering a lot of Rondo's shots in the paint. Rondo is our engine. If Howard stifles him, we'll have a tough time winning. Rondo had a tough series against them last year. I'm staying optimistic that this year will be different though.

[FallGuy]

Which is getting into the lane and finishing. How do we counter it?

  Rondo's a lot better at finishing a few feet from the basket with those floaters and wide bank shots. He didn't really have those shots last year.

He sure is better at those shots. Howard is such a great leaper though. I just worry about him altering a lot of Rondo's shots in the paint. Rondo is our engine. If Howard stifles him, we'll have a tough time winning. Rondo had a tough series against them last year. I'm staying optimistic that this year will be different though.

We're beating these guys. Howard is no more mentally tough than Cleveland. AND they have Vince Carter. They're done.

[get_banners]

if howard leaves perk (or sheed, or baby, or whoever he's covering) to try and swat rondo, rondo will have an open man for a dunk.

[Spicoli]

if howard leaves perk (or sheed, or baby, or whoever he's covering) to try and swat rondo, rondo will have an open man for a dunk.

Very true. Howard contesting all of Rondo's floaters and shots in the paint will be beneficial for Perk and the other guys waiting for the pass. My memory is pretty bad, but can anyone remind me how Orlando defended Rondo last year?

[misterx2day]

Rondo's greatest strength is the transition game, after watching LeBron stink it up, there is not another player in the league who is more dangerous on the fast break than Rondo. But I agree he's going to have a harder time finishing in the lane with Howard. But I don't think that will have as large an affect as it did last year, with Rondo's improved floater, jumper, and general court awareness.

[manl_lui]

judging how Rondo played this series, hes learned this game and he knows about the other team's playing style...i mean after being chased down and blocked by lebron so many times these past 2-3 years hes learned to mind his surroundings...best example, game 4 and game 5...

in my opinion if he sees howard's about to block him hes going to pass the ball to the next most open guy

[LarBrd33]

It's a legitimate concern.  I remember him putting fear in Rondo last year after the brilliant Chicago series.

[Spicoli]

It's a legitimate concern.  I remember him putting fear in Rondo last year after the brilliant Chicago series.

This is why i created the thread. Rondo played out of this world against Chicago, but he couldn't recapture it during the Magic series. Howard is probably the only person in the league who legitimately makes Rondo think twice about driving in the lane. Since Rondo is now our best player, it concerns me a little because i don't want anybody taking him off his game.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Are we forgetting LeBron James and how he put the fear on him with his blocks? Same with Smith.

Rondo is playing with a different level of confidence at the moment. What we'll see also is a ton of goaltendings.