Should Rondo be taking the last shot?

[jasail]

Would I run a play to free up Rondo for the last shot? No!  But if the other options are covered I would rather he takes an open shot than forces the ball into traffic for a contested shot. 

That said, his play in the Mavs game was still ill-advised.  That is not the open shot I want him taking, not with the time left on the clock and the amount of room they gave him.  He needed to head to the rim and force the defense to commit. 

The failure was not him taking the shot, but taking that shot at that time.  It was bad situational basketball. 

[EJPLAYA]

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take

With that logic we should start letting Shaq shoot 3's at the end of the game.

[CelticG1]

Honestly, he definitely should not be taking a make-or-break shot.

Pierce is obviously a very clutch shooter, making countless game-winners. But he is hands down the best clutch ball-handler in the NBA.

I saw a stat on 82games.com that he had the most assists on game-winners to go along with very few turnovers. Couple that with his numerous buzzer-beaters, and there is no reason for Rondo to even be in the position to take that shot.

I know the defense closed Pierce out, but Rondo needs to find a way to get him the ball. He has great court vision in those moments. Isolating him gives him the opportunity to get to his spot or draw a double and find the open man. Just off the top of my head I can recall him getting open game-winning shots for players like Ricky Davis, Delonte West, Eddie House, Ray Allen, and I even think Big Baby against Orlando.

I still don't trust Rondo's jumper in that spot, and even if he drove and got fouled, does anyone really think he knocks down BOTH free throws?

Rondo is great at controlling a whole game, but when it comes to just one play, I want the ball in Pierce's hands.

Don't forget last year against the Knicks, the pick and pop to KG for the game.

[moiso]

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take

I shoot 48% on the shots I don't take.  Every time.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I didn't see this posted yet, but Rondo has already hit a game winner (or at least a last second shot to force overtime). 

Doesn't anyone else recall the play where Pierce threw an ally-oop to Rondo who scored a layup with .5 seconds left??  It was a beautifully designed play b/c no-on expected it.  If he has the ball at the end of regulation then I hope he just heads directly into the paint

[housecall]

I didn't see this posted yet, but Rondo has already hit a game winner (or at least a last second shot to force overtime).  

Doesn't anyone else recall the play where Pierce threw an ally-oop to Rondo who scored a layup with .5 seconds left??  It was a beautifully designed play b/c no-on expected it.  If he has the ball at the end of regulation then I hope he just heads directly into the paint

Yes now that you mentioned it wasn't that a game in Miami last season?If they ran a play similar to that particular play i could see it.After rethinking it over i wouldn't totally ruled out Rondo taking the last shot.It depends on the situation and play designed.tp

[looseball]

As has been alluded to many times on this board, RR shoots best when he doesn't think about it and just lets it go (e.g clock shot winding down,etc). Both in last night's shot and the one the other night, I think he had too much time to think, and when he does, he usually hits iron. Let it go, Rondo!!

This is exactly it.  When a guy who's not a great shooter hesitates before a big shot, forget it, it ain't going in.  He knows he's open, so he just has to catch it and shoot it in the flow of the play.  (He can always change his mind at the last second if a guy breaks free underneath.)
Someone like Ray Allen can hesitate with no problem, but for someone like Rondo, hesitation spells doom.

I voted for him to take the shot, too.

[ajgoodman]

I wrote an article on exactly how I felt about this on a different website...

[GreenEnvy]

I didn't see this posted yet, but Rondo has already hit a game winner (or at least a last second shot to force overtime). 

Doesn't anyone else recall the play where Pierce threw an ally-oop to Rondo who scored a layup with .5 seconds left??  It was a beautifully designed play b/c no-on expected it.  If he has the ball at the end of regulation then I hope he just heads directly into the paint

That play against Miami was amazing, but not really because of Rondo. Pierce and Doc get the majority of the credit for that play. D12 could have done the same exact thing, doesn't mean I want him taking jumpers in crunch time. That play should not even be considered when discussing him taking a last shot.

Pierce, Ray, KG (against the Knicks) and even Big Baby (against the Magic) have all taken and made game winning jumpers. I'd trust all of them before Rondo right now.


And as for Rondo heading for the paint, it depends on the situation. If they are tied or down one, fine, because he can either find an open man or get fouled. If we are down 2, he needs to let Pierce take over.

[Eja117]

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take

With that logic we should start letting Shaq shoot 3's at the end of the game.

A wide open Shaq or a double covered fade away from the corner for Ray? Kind of a tough choice actually