Pierce Rondo End of Half

[dpaps]

I don't know if there is already a thread about this, but I think what happened between Pierce and Rondo at the end of the first half deserves mention, at least. I know that Pierce brushed it off right afterwards, and the team played great in the second half, so I'm glad it really wasn't a big deal, but there was definitely a little tension there, and to be honest, I think Pierce acted really immaturely and it cost us a possession.

What happened was we had time for the last shot of the half and Pierce wanted the ball from Rondo early, but Rondo didn't give it to him. Pierce got frustrated and turned away from Rondo towards the bench. Rondo then turned to pass the ball to Pierce, but Paul has his back to him. The whole play got botched and it turned into an empty possession.

Heres my take on what happened, at this point in the game Pierce was rolling. He was really feeling it and was hitting his j and meanwhile Rondo had been pretty careless with the ball. I haven't seen  the stat line, but he must have had at least 4 or 5 bad turnovers in the first half. On the previous possession, Rondo had the ball on a fast break like 4 or 2 or 4 on 3 and Pierce was wide open for three right next to Rondo, but he didn't get the ball. Rondo drove to the hoop and turned it over I think. Pierce was noticeably annoyed he didn't get the shot there, because he would have drilled the 3. Then after Rondo didn't give him the ball right away on that last possession Pierce seemed to get mad and turned his back to the ball.


I know tonight's game was awesome and we're in great shape in the series and this turned out to be no big deal. But again, I think it deserves at least mention. Every possession counts right.

[Bahku]

These guys have little "spats" all the time ... it's a regular part of life, and no different on a basketball team. Just a normal part of the give-and-take and tensions that such a high-profile game generates. It goes on all the time on every team in the NBA, and is actually a very healthy part of team communication, and absolutely nothing to worry about.

[ACF]

Water under the bridge.


One more win!

[celtics2]

Bird and McHale had differences regularly and they were voiced within earshot of the press. How can there be a family without spats. Bryant more than shows his displeasure with teammates.

[Bankshot]

Don't know if you saw, but KG and Rondo were going at it in game 4.  They had to be separated.  And earlier in the season it was Ray and Rondo.

This whole series though, Rondo has been ignoring Pierce for long stretches of games, even when Paul is hot.

[FallGuy]

Don't know if you saw, but KG and Rondo were going at it in game 4.  They had to be separated.  And earlier in the season it was Ray and Rondo.

This whole series though, Rondo has been ignoring Pierce for long stretches of games, even when Paul is hot.

Has Paul been hot for multiple long stretches this series? Not how I remember it.

[Roy Hobbs]

Don't know if you saw, but KG and Rondo were going at it in game 4.  They had to be separated.  And earlier in the season it was Ray and Rondo.

This whole series though, Rondo has been ignoring Pierce for long stretches of games, even when Paul is hot.

Has Paul been hot for multiple long stretches this series? Not how I remember it.

Well, he was certainly hot early in Game 4, and then he didn't see the ball in the second and third quarter. 

Getting Paul the ball is something that Rondo needs to be a little better about.  Really, Rondo's distribution of the ball this entire series has been concerning.

It's interesting that in his postgame comments, Doc seems to direct most of the blame there toward Rondo, even though Paul was the one who made the play unworkable (by turning his back).  Doc said that Paul was supposed to have the ball, and it was supposed to be a pick and roll with him and KG.

[Jaycelt]

Don't know if you saw, but KG and Rondo were going at it in game 4.  They had to be separated.  And earlier in the season it was Ray and Rondo.

This whole series though, Rondo has been ignoring Pierce for long stretches of games, even when Paul is hot.

Has Paul been hot for multiple long stretches this series? Not how I remember it.

Well, he was certainly hot early in Game 4, and then he didn't see the ball in the second and third quarter. 

Getting Paul the ball is something that Rondo needs to be a little better about.  Really, Rondo's distribution of the ball this entire series has been concerning.

It's interesting that in his postgame comments, Doc seems to direct most of the blame there toward Rondo, even though Paul was the one who made the play unworkable (by turning his back).  Doc said that Paul was supposed to have the ball, and it was supposed to be a pick and roll with him and KG.

TP Roy.  That's exactly what Doc said.  I realize this will bring out the Rondo can do no wrong crowd but the truth is even though Rondo has had some great individual plays in this series, he has not played well in any facit of the game and his distribution decisions have been poor.  I almost hated to see him come back in the game after he sat for Nate.

If the play was a pick and roll between Paul and Kevin, and Doc says it was, there was no reason for Rondo to brush off Pierce when he called for the ball since time was already running down. It takes time for a pick and roll to develope and Rondo was just wasting clock.  When PP didn't get the ball on a called play he figured Rondo was going one on one and he went to spot up. If he was perturbed with Rondo he had every right to be.

[jasail]

I'm usually driving the Rondo Lovefest bus, but he did not execute those last two 1st half possessions.  It started with the transition play when Rondo had Pierce on the wing.  I could not believe he did not pass it.  On the drive he drew both defenders leaving a red-hot Paul wide-open.  You make that pass 100/100 times, and I bet you if that was Ray the pass is made. 

The final play I think Paul said at half-time that there was confusion.  Paul said he thought Rondo shook him off and was getting himself in a position for a spot-up.  Bad time for miscommunication and I'm sure after that play there was heated talk between him and Rondo, but they left it in the locker room and Rondo differed to Paul more in the second half. 

I love Rondo playing the distributor but when Paul is feeling, particularly if he is getting to the rim, you gotta feed him.  If Paul is forcing it, look for a better shot, but if he has it there, unless it is an uncontested layup, there is not a better shot. They have been too quick to move away from Paul in this series and that is not a good thing.

BTW maybe it is b/c Paul never played in many big games, but that man is one lethal big game player...

[Bankshot]

I'm usually driving the Rondo Lovefest bus, but he did not execute those last two 1st half possessions.  It started with the transition play when Rondo had Pierce on the wing.  I could not believe he did not pass it.  On the drive he drew both defenders leaving a red-hot Paul wide-open.  You make that pass 100/100 times, and I bet you if that was Ray the pass is made. 

The final play I think Paul said at half-time that there was confusion.  Paul said he thought Rondo shook him off and was getting himself in a position for a spot-up.  Bad time for miscommunication and I'm sure after that play there was heated talk between him and Rondo, but they left it in the locker room and Rondo differed to Paul more in the second half. 

I love Rondo playing the distributor but when Paul is feeling, particularly if he is getting to the rim, you gotta feed him.  If Paul is forcing it, look for a better shot, but if he has it there, unless it is an uncontested layup, there is not a better shot. They have been too quick to move away from Paul in this series and that is not a good thing.

BTW maybe it is b/c Paul never played in many big games, but that man is one lethal big game player...

Paul has never played in many big games?  Are you serious?

[Chris]

When I turned on the radio this morning, they were talking about this, and people were calling in saying how selfish Pierce was, and how Larry Bird never would have done that (when in fact, I think Bird would have absolutely done the same thing).  I was at the game last night, and had no clue what they were talking about.  From what we saw in the second half, I think this is much ado about nothing.

[wdleehi]

Should be a non-story within the locker room.



The big win is cure all at this point.

[hankfinkel]

That Rondo messed up that play, in general was shaky in his floor leadership in this game, and overall has not had his A game, despite some great moments, in this series is likley not in question.  It's particularly frustrating for other players if the point guard is off because so much of what is possible depends on him.  I don't blame Pierce for having some frustrations, and I think it is a general strength of the Cs that they can have these things out and then move on, which I expect they already have.

However, he who hath not sinned among the Celtics through some pretty poor play in certain games, let him cast the first stone.  More frustration may build toward the point guard because guys depend on him, but when big men are failing to rebound such that the point guard and wings are having to bail them out, and when wing players can't hit anything these are failures in the portions of the game the team depends on also.  Should the other players be saying to Ray Allen - "Hit a shot Ray, that's what you are paid for!"  Is that helpful?  If a guy is not trying sure, blast him, it's hard not to blow up at that, and if any guy is not executing in a way a teammate can point out and help correct, absolutely talk to that player.

But quit mid-play on the final shot of the half? Turn away and pout because you did not get the ball when you were suppose to?   That happens in many plays, and many times the point gurad realizes and tries to come back to the guard which is what Rondo tried to do and correct his error.  Unfortunately, Pierce was staring into the loge seating behind the scorers table when Rondo looked back.

Pierce played a great game and overall has matured in the past few years, so it is not a mortal sin that he had a lapse for a few seconds, but for that moment, he behaved immaturely and poorly and helped make a messed up play even worse.  Rondo is responsible for his shaky play and frustrating his teammates; Pierce is culpable in that moment of not behaving like a mature leader.

[jasail]

I'm usually driving the Rondo Lovefest bus, but he did not execute those last two 1st half possessions.  It started with the transition play when Rondo had Pierce on the wing.  I could not believe he did not pass it.  On the drive he drew both defenders leaving a red-hot Paul wide-open.  You make that pass 100/100 times, and I bet you if that was Ray the pass is made.  

The final play I think Paul said at half-time that there was confusion.  Paul said he thought Rondo shook him off and was getting himself in a position for a spot-up.  Bad time for miscommunication and I'm sure after that play there was heated talk between him and Rondo, but they left it in the locker room and Rondo differed to Paul more in the second half.  

I love Rondo playing the distributor but when Paul is feeling, particularly if he is getting to the rim, you gotta feed him.  If Paul is forcing it, look for a better shot, but if he has it there, unless it is an uncontested layup, there is not a better shot. They have been too quick to move away from Paul in this series and that is not a good thing.

BTW maybe it is b/c Paul never played in many big games, but that man is one lethal big game player...

Paul has never played in many big games?  Are you serious?

Paul has been in this league since 1998.  They finished 5th in the Atlantic his first three seasons, went to the playoffs the next 4 years and got as far as the ECF once, losing in the first round twice and getting swept out twice.  Then he missed the playoffs again until 2008.  So besides the 2002 ECF comeback game and until 2008 he did not play in many big games. He certainly does not have the resume of some of his peers.

Yes, he has been a force in the playoffs since 2008, but this has been in the sunset of his career.  He never built the reputation of a big game player because most of the teams he played on were marginally talented and never advanced to a point where he would get that recognition. Point was that now that they are he is building that legacy.  

[Bankshot]

I'm usually driving the Rondo Lovefest bus, but he did not execute those last two 1st half possessions.  It started with the transition play when Rondo had Pierce on the wing.  I could not believe he did not pass it.  On the drive he drew both defenders leaving a red-hot Paul wide-open.  You make that pass 100/100 times, and I bet you if that was Ray the pass is made.  

The final play I think Paul said at half-time that there was confusion.  Paul said he thought Rondo shook him off and was getting himself in a position for a spot-up.  Bad time for miscommunication and I'm sure after that play there was heated talk between him and Rondo, but they left it in the locker room and Rondo differed to Paul more in the second half.  

I love Rondo playing the distributor but when Paul is feeling, particularly if he is getting to the rim, you gotta feed him.  If Paul is forcing it, look for a better shot, but if he has it there, unless it is an uncontested layup, there is not a better shot. They have been too quick to move away from Paul in this series and that is not a good thing.

BTW maybe it is b/c Paul never played in many big games, but that man is one lethal big game player...

Paul has never played in many big games?  Are you serious?

Paul has been in this league since 1998.  They finished 5th in the Atlantic his first three seasons, went to the playoffs the next 4 years and got as far as the ECF once, losing in the first round twice and getting swept out twice.  Then he missed the playoffs again until 2008.  So besides the 2002 ECF comeback game and until 2008 he did not play in many big games. He certainly does not have the resume of some of his peers.

Yes, he has been a force in the playoffs since 2008, but this has been in the sunset of his career.  He never built the reputation of a big game player because most of the teams he played on were marginally talented and never advanced to a point where he would get that recognition. Point was that now that they are he is building that legacy.  

In EVERY playoff series Paul has ever been in since 2002 he has had some legendary games.  So I don't know what you're talking about.  Every playoff games is a big game, imo.