Rondo Free Throw Shooting 2011

[vinnie]

Before you all jump on me, I love the guy and he is the engine that stirs the drink. However, he is shooting 41 percent from the free throw line and has made one free throw in the past 5 weeks. Yes, he missed 2 1/2 weeks, but one free throw made in 2 1/2 weeks is putrid. 41 percent from the line just doesn't cut it. I thought he would get better from the stripe, but apparently it just isn't in the cards. Could a potential league MVP ever shoot this poorly from the stripe and actually win the award? Or more important, can we afford to have him on the floor at the end of important, tight games?

Even worse, he really is not getting to the line at all. Should be getting there much more.

[GreenFaith1819]

I agree - Rondo does need to improve his FTs. But as I think back to his play during the 08-09 playoffs and last year's playoffs, he somehow managed to raise his game several levels and to my knowledge I don't recall his FT shooting to be an impediment to us.

This year? I think he will have to find his groove just in playing time alone. He's been hurt for it seems most of the season. As for leaving him on the floor in crunch time? I would.

To me, even with Rondo's shortcomings he is too valuable to not have on the floor in crunch time.

I believe the FTs will come. He'll get better.

[ManUp]

I think your absolutely right. I consider myself a huge Rondo fan, but I have to say I feel a bit dissapointed with his development this season. How after last years finals/play-off performancecould he come into camp without an improved freethrow shot? A jumpshot is one thing, but the guy is shooting a worse percentage then Shaq. Technically hack-a-rondo is smarter strategy then hack-a-shaq late in games. That's just inexcusable for a point guard.

[j804]

The thing that bugs me about Rondo is him not taking it strong to the hole. I just don't understand it. I mean all the elite PGs do Deron, Parker, CP3 to an extent why doesn't he beat his guy off the dribble and actually finish at the hoop more?

Hell he could probably get us into the bonus early nearly all the time if he were to do that.

[guava_wrench]

I think your absolutely right. I consider myself a huge Rondo fan, but I have to say I feel a bit dissapointed with his development this season. How after last years finals/play-off performancecould he come into camp without an improved freethrow shot? A jumpshot is one thing, but the guy is shooting a worse percentage then Shaq. Technically hack-a-rondo is smarter strategy then hack-a-shaq late in games. That's just inexcusable for a point guard.

Hack-a-Rondo is also worse for us because he has the ball more than Shaq, so they could do it to Rondo in the final 2 minutes when you aren't allowed to intentionally foul like that away from the ball.

[hwangjini_1]

I think your absolutely right. I consider myself a huge Rondo fan, but I have to say I feel a bit dissapointed with his development this season. How after last years finals/play-off performancecould he come into camp without an improved freethrow shot? A jumpshot is one thing, but the guy is shooting a worse percentage then Shaq. Technically hack-a-rondo is smarter strategy then hack-a-shaq late in games. That's just inexcusable for a point guard.

Hack-a-Rondo is also worse for us because he has the ball more than Shaq, so they could do it to Rondo in the final 2 minutes when you aren't allowed to intentionally foul like that away from the ball.

I agree. Hack-a-rondo is sure to appear as teams see that shaq is a better free throw shooter. Rondo has regressed so far this year after improving last season. So, he is capable of doing better, but needs to work harder on his FTs.

I also noticed that in the waning seconds of last night's win against Minnesota, the team passed tha ball into Nate and he rewarded the decision by hitting both free throws.

[Drucci]

I agree that Rondo is a bad FT shooter but the thing is, he doesn't shoot enough FT's in games to practice and improve! I'm sure he makes a lot of them in practice but it's not the same that in game situation.

He doesn't get enough FT's because of the refs (not much respect from them this season) and mostly because of himself since he is always looking for the pass instead of the shot. Don't get me wrong, it's great to see him look for his teammates but his quality is becoming its enemy in a way, especially since he shoots like 2 free throws every 10 games... I'm worried it will come back to bite him in the playoffs, where every point counts (regardless of the potential Hack a Rondo strategy).

[nba is the worst]

No doubt it's huge - and all mental.

Watching his percentage go down to that unprecedented 26.3% in the Finals last season was difficult.

If the Spurs come out of the West and the C's make the Finals as I expect, Popovitch will definitely employ Hack-a-Rondo AND Shaq...

[BballTim]

I think your absolutely right. I consider myself a huge Rondo fan, but I have to say I feel a bit dissapointed with his development this season.

  Wow.

[BballTim]

I think your absolutely right. I consider myself a huge Rondo fan, but I have to say I feel a bit dissapointed with his development this season. How after last years finals/play-off performancecould he come into camp without an improved freethrow shot? A jumpshot is one thing, but the guy is shooting a worse percentage then Shaq. Technically hack-a-rondo is smarter strategy then hack-a-shaq late in games. That's just inexcusable for a point guard.

Hack-a-Rondo is also worse for us because he has the ball more than Shaq, so they could do it to Rondo in the final 2 minutes when you aren't allowed to intentionally foul like that away from the ball.

  He's been starting for 3+ seasons and he's played in 60+ playoff games for us. How many games have we lost during that time due to hack-a-Rondo?

[Snakehead]

I love Rondo but the FT shooting is inexcusable.  If he was better there he could also be much more aggressive going to the rim.  He is great at basically throwing himself on the ground off contact with bigger players too so he would have a field day getting to the line if he wanted to.

He has become the NBA's best passer and floor general this year IMO.  He has almost negated the jumpshooting issue by being such a great passer and a better penetrator and finisher around the rim.  The free throws are that last hurdle.




And like a few others I will say at least this hasn't been an issue at the end of games.  If we know we need the FT's we can get the ball to Pierce, Ray, etc and they can get the ball up if need be.  It still is an issue but an avoidable one I think.

[Bankshot]

I think your absolutely right. I consider myself a huge Rondo fan, but I have to say I feel a bit dissapointed with his development this season.

  Wow.

I think he means developing as far as his free throw shooting goes.  That's what I took it to mean.  I agree with that.

Rondo needs to go to the hoop and get to the line.  He's going to need a lot of practice because it WILL become an issue come playoff time.

[BballTim]

I think your absolutely right. I consider myself a huge Rondo fan, but I have to say I feel a bit dissapointed with his development this season.

  Wow.

I think he means developing as far as his free throw shooting goes.  That's what I took it to mean.  I agree with that.

Rondo needs to go to the hoop and get to the line.  He's going to need a lot of practice because it WILL become an issue come playoff time.

  Last year he started out something like 1-13 from the line. He typically improves as the season progresses. But he's clearly improved other areas of his game and improved as a player overall. Even if I were to join in and focus mainly on his shortcomings I'd think about his jumpshooting before claiming that his improvement is a disappointment.

[Bankshot]

I think your absolutely right. I consider myself a huge Rondo fan, but I have to say I feel a bit dissapointed with his development this season.

  Wow.

I think he means developing as far as his free throw shooting goes.  That's what I took it to mean.  I agree with that.

Rondo needs to go to the hoop and get to the line.  He's going to need a lot of practice because it WILL become an issue come playoff time.

  Last year he started out something like 1-13 from the line. He typically improves as the season progresses. But he's clearly improved other areas of his game and improved as a player overall. Even if I were to join in and focus mainly on his shortcomings I'd think about his jumpshooting before claiming that his improvement is a disappointment.

But didn't he shoot like 20% free throws in the Finals? He clearly regressed, not get better.

[BballTim]

I think your absolutely right. I consider myself a huge Rondo fan, but I have to say I feel a bit dissapointed with his development this season.

  Wow.

I think he means developing as far as his free throw shooting goes.  That's what I took it to mean.  I agree with that.

Rondo needs to go to the hoop and get to the line.  He's going to need a lot of practice because it WILL become an issue come playoff time.

  Last year he started out something like 1-13 from the line. He typically improves as the season progresses. But he's clearly improved other areas of his game and improved as a player overall. Even if I were to join in and focus mainly on his shortcomings I'd think about his jumpshooting before claiming that his improvement is a disappointment.

But didn't he shoot like 20% free throws in the Finals? He clearly regressed, not get better.

  Yes, clearly a stretch of 5-7 games is the only measure of whether his ft shooting got better or worse during the season. We should throw out all the games between December and June while we're, ironically, in a thread about how his free throw shooting is during the regular season this year.