The ONE thing that bothers me about Rondo

[rohanzsta]

Before I start this post, I'd just like to say... I am the biggest Rondo fan out there. I absolutely love this kid to death, and I wouldn't trade him for any PG in the league.

However, there is one thing that gives me a little unsettling feeling every time he has the ball... And I'm not even talking about his jumpshot. Rondo is clearly chasing assists, and not points, which is something I don't have a problem with. Setting up teammates for the easy buckets has been working out beautifully for us... BUT every game I can't help but notice him pass up at least 3-4 easy shots near the rim (this usually ends up into a broken play/turnover). At what point does Rondo have to back off assisting, and start scoring, in order to improve the overall efficiency of our offense?

I wouldn't even be bringing this topic up if I didn't think he was capable of dropping 20+ a game... but we all saw the playoffs last year when he had explosive performances (scoring-wise) against top tier teams in the league, so we know it's in him! We all know he's the leader that took us to the finals last year, and although he's having a great season right now, I guess I just feel he is not at full potential.

For the record, I'm not saying he should go out of his way to try and score 20+ a game. I'm just saying that I feel the team's overall efficiency,dominance, & success would improve if Rondo looked to score just a little bit more.

[Celtics/Run]

Winning is the key..............

[rohanzsta]

Winning is the key..............

I'm not saying I have a problem with our results, but I do feel we would be having a much easier time and many less buzzer-beater type games if he didn't pass up as much. I'm not trying to start up controversy, I'm just pointing out something I've noticed... but maybe that's just me. (For example, today he had a clear layup on the break away in the first half, but he instead chose to pass it up to KG (who clearly wasn't ready for the ball, and thus blew an easy bucket]) <-- these type of plays happen at least 2-3 times a game =/

Sure we are winning...  but does that mean we can't improve?

[Bahku]

If he passes up 3 or 4 shots per game for the sake of rewarding his team and solidifying that bond, I have no problem with it at all. If guys like Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Shaquille O'Neal, put their trust in him as the "Floor General", I guess I can, too.

[blueygreen]

I felt that he passed up a number of fairly open looks tonight (particularly times when he cut into the hoop and had the ball right under the basket only to make an awkward pass out). But he is injured right now and just may not have that explosiveness to ensure that if he goes up he's either getting the basket or the foul, so looking for the pass might be better for him. Given all his injuries right now are foot/leg related I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[xmuscularghandix]

If those passed up shots are wide-open in the paint… that’s a problem. Especially if The C’s don’t end up converting on that possession.

[Drucci]

If those passed up shots are wide-open in the paint… that’s a problem. Especially if The C’s don’t end up converting on that possession.

I agree with the OP, he had at least 5 of these shots during the Knicks game and you thought "well he passed on the first opportunities like that so he HAS to take this one!" but he didn't and everytime it resulted in a turnover or a bad shot.

I think KG was jawing to Rondo about it during a timeout.

What bothers me about Rondo too is that he wants to play all the time, even when he hurt his ankle badly last night. I admire the toughness and the will of Rondo but it's simply not a good idea for the long term to play through injuries like that...

[housecall]

 Besides the ankle sprain Rondo is not 100%healthy.That could make him become less aggressive to take shots if he feels someone else can make them.

[dpaps]

The OP is absolutely right. Rondo can be the best PG in the league. He's an unbelievably good passer. But he's not perfect. He passes up too many layups. Tonight he forced two passes in a row when he caught the ball under the hoop wide open and one pass got deflected which we got back, the other turned into a turnover. He'll see these when he watches film tonight. I agree that this is by far the thing that bothers me most about Rondo's game, but thats not saying much cuz its just about the only thing that bothers me.

[paul]

It's very much a good thing for Rondo to err on the side of trying for the assist rather than the score too often.  That's the right side to err on. 

But for him to take the 'next step' towards greatness, assuming he does that and wants to do that, yes, he has to develop his 'killer' instinct as a scorer more.  It's just that he's smart enough to know that the scorer's mentality is a genie that is hard to stuff back in the bottle once it's out.  He'll get there.  I think Nate is showing him how important scoring from the point guard really is.

[2short]

I am so impressed with our team and rondo's use of the shot clock.  It seems to me there is no panic and quick shot.  Everyone is working for the best shot for the team.  A few times last night rondo was under the basket, within 5 feet and he passed out to PP for a 3.  Sure he could of taken a contested shot but with a bad ankle and hamstring AND a wide open 3 pt champion maybe that is the better choice.

[greenpride32]

He wasn't doing this last year so I think he's definitely going for the assists (record).  I posted this in the game thread but he's basically be selfish (chasing the record) by being unselfish. 

But ultimately this hurts our team and could have cost us the game last night.  We've seen 1 or 2 of these plays here and there, but there were probably 3 in the NYK game. 

Also I think it really catches his teammates off guard.  Of course you're supposed to be alert at all times.  But if you see your guy in the paint, 5 feet or closer to the rim, with nobody in his way, you expect him to take the shot and if you're close enough you may position yourself for a potential rebound.  But you are NOT looking for a pass when you have defenders on you (or in some cases two!) and the other guy is at the net, and wide open with the ball.

[pengaloo]

He wasn't doing this last year so I think he's definitely going for the assists (record).  I posted this in the game thread but he's basically be selfish (chasing the record) by being unselfish. 

Not sure it's reasonable to make such assumptions about Rondo's intentions. What looks like going for the assist record could very well be trying to get his teammates going, not wanting to be fouled and thus having to shoot freethrows, or just injuries limiting his movement. KG also is overpassing when he passes up wide-open midrange jump shots for more difficult shots to his teammates or himself. But we would hardly call that being selfish. So why should we think that our pass-first, pass-second, pass-third, pass-fourth point guard is being selfish when he overpasses?

[BballTim]

He wasn't doing this last year so I think he's definitely going for the assists (record).  I posted this in the game thread but he's basically be selfish (chasing the record) by being unselfish. 

But ultimately this hurts our team and could have cost us the game last night.  We've seen 1 or 2 of these plays here and there, but there were probably 3 in the NYK game. 

Also I think it really catches his teammates off guard.  Of course you're supposed to be alert at all times.  But if you see your guy in the paint, 5 feet or closer to the rim, with nobody in his way, you expect him to take the shot and if you're close enough you may position yourself for a potential rebound.  But you are NOT looking for a pass when you have defenders on you (or in some cases two!) and the other guy is at the net, and wide open with the ball.

  He's been doing it for years. Go back and watch highlights from the championship run. You'll see them. He should probably shoot the ball on some more of those, but people seem to be focused on the occasional turnover/bad shot more than all the wide open threes they get from this play.

[zerophase]

I agree. He needs to score more and stop chasin the assists. He also needs to limit his turnovers. He has commonly has 5-6 a game... that's way too high.