Doc states the obvious: Rondo's jumper needs work

[Roy Hobbs]

Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo shot 50.8 percent from the field last season, but made just 33 percent of his shots from 16-23 feet.

Boston coach Doc Rivers wants to see Rondo improve in that department.

"We want him to shoot the right shots," Rivers said. "The 3-point shot, I could care less. I could care less if he takes another 3 the rest of his career as far as I'm concerned. But we have to get him to make the elbow jump shot."

Rivers' top priority is for Rondo to improve as a free throw shooter. The point guard is a 63 percent shooter from the line for his career.

"I think when he becomes a better free throw shooter it'll make him a better driver," Rivers said. "I think, unfortunately it happened in the Finals, when he started missing free throws he stopped driving. That's what all guys do."

Link.

[Fafnir]

No surprises here, now hopefully most of us are surprised by some signifigant season long progress on these issues from Rondo.

[Roy Hobbs]

No surprises here, now hopefully most of us are surprised by some signifigant season long progress on these issues from Rondo.

The most interesting thing, I thought, was the quote at the very end.  Doc attributed Rondo's lack of aggressiveness to his poor free throw shooting.  Many had speculated that it was injury related, but Doc thinks it was more psychological. 

[Fafnir]

No surprises here, now hopefully most of us are surprised by some signifigant season long progress on these issues from Rondo.

The most interesting thing, I thought, was the quote at the very end.  Doc attributed Rondo's lack of aggressiveness to his poor free throw shooting.  Many had speculated that it was injury related, but Doc thinks it was more psychological. 

By my eyes it was definitely pyschological. He drove early in the Finals, was horrid from the line, and then stopped driving. Even when he did drive he'd go for the crazy bank shot rather than trying to draw contact.

[GreenFaith1819]

Good Post, Roy.

I'm sure Rondo knows this already, but good to see Doc make another statement about it.

Until Rondo improves that 16-23 footer, he will always be perched right below Deron and CP3 in my eyes.

[Snakehead]

No surprises here, now hopefully most of us are surprised by some signifigant season long progress on these issues from Rondo.

The most interesting thing, I thought, was the quote at the very end.  Doc attributed Rondo's lack of aggressiveness to his poor free throw shooting.  Many had speculated that it was injury related, but Doc thinks it was more psychological. 

That is what I have said about Rondo all along.  The jumpshooting would be nice but first and foremost FT shooting needs to be improved because that lets you become so much more aggressive going to the rim.  Rondo only really takes it in when he has a clear lane, notice you never see him trying to draw contact when he mostly has the clear lane (for And 1 plays) or going into bigs to draw fouls on them like you see guys like Wade do.

For a slasher that is a huge part of your game.  Rondo is that, and he can make it by without the jumpshot but he needs that FT shooting.

[Celtics4ever]

If he practiced FTs his jumper would improve.   Jerry West used to shoot I think 500 a day.

[LilRip]

jason kidd's FT percentage:

96-97: 69.8%
97-98: 79.9%

it's possible



- LilRip

[Bankshot]

jason kidd's FT percentage:

96-97: 69.8%
97-98: 79.9%

it's possible



- LilRip

Jason Kidd doesn't have hands like a 7' person though.

[Fafnir]

jason kidd's FT percentage:

96-97: 69.8%
97-98: 79.9%

it's possible



- LilRip

Jason Kidd doesn't have hands like a 7' person though.

In that case why can Yao Ming who is a 7' tall person shoot them so well?

Some people are just bad free throw shooters, no amount of practice seems to help. Hopefully Rondo isn't one of those players.

[Junkyard Dawg]

jason kidd's FT percentage:

96-97: 69.8%
97-98: 79.9%

it's possible



- LilRip

Was that one year an anomaly?  It feels like we've been talking about Rondo's jump shot for a couple of years now, and it's taken that long just to see him actually use it on even a remotely regular basis.. one wonders if it will ever become respectable enough.  I think it probably will, but he has to actually take it more often to get that practice. 

And preferably when the shot clock is winding down to zero

[Snakehead]

jason kidd's FT percentage:

96-97: 69.8%
97-98: 79.9%

it's possible



- LilRip

Was that one year an anomaly?  It feels like we've been talking about Rondo's jump shot for a couple of years now, and it's taken that long just to see him actually use it on even a remotely regular basis.. one wonders if it will ever become respectable enough.  I think it probably will, but he has to actually take it more often to get that practice. 

And preferably when the shot clock is winding down to zero

That wasn't an anomoly, it was the year Kidd improved his FT shooting drastically, and has been a good FT shooter ever since. He has shot in the 80% range since being in Dallas.  He also became a better three point shooter as well, so if we're trying to be optimists for Rondo's improvement in shooting Kidd is a good example of a guy that got better.

Plenty of others that didn't, but hopefully Rondo can be like Kidd.

[Celtics4ever]

The seven foot hands is an excuse.  I have big hands yep maybe that big I can palm a ball off the ground and out of the air with no stickem or difficulty.  Some seven footer shoot very well like Dirk.  So its an excuse, not a valid reason.   

[housecall]

Not all 7'people(players)have big hands just as not all 5'people(players)have small hands.Yao has never been known for having big hands or palming the ball.Actually,i can't remember once i ever saw Yao palm the ball.Foul shooting is focus and loads of repetition involved.

[droopdog7]

I have said this over and over and over again.  But I would be shocked if Rondo ever developed a consistent jump shot.  I just think his time has passed to become good at it.