A few interesting things i heard on NBATV

[BballTim]

82games.com says Rondo is shooting .465 on jump shots this season (which, by the way, is better than Paul Pierce's .455) -- so good luck to teams planning to back off of him.

On the other hand, the site also thinks that 20% of Shaq's shots were "jump shots", so I am not quite sure how reliable the definition is.

Does that count all of the wide open jump shots he has passed up to make a pass that led to a worse shot (or a turnover)?

  No, but I don't think that all the times Paul does that figure into his totals either so it's fair.

  If you total all of the times Rondo passes up a wide open jumper to get things like open threes for Ray and Paul or alley-oops for KG and Shaq and don't just keep track of the worse shots and turnovers it seems like a better strategy.

 

Rondo's shots are likely to be wide open however, Pierce's not so much.

Team's actually keep stats on who hits uncontested shots at what rate. I'd imagine Paul's numbers go up quite a bit, as would Ray's. Rondo's are probably closer to his overall averages, as team's typically want him to shoot that shot still

  True, but I don't think anyone's arguing that Rondo's a better pure shooter than Paul. Teams want their opponents to take 20 foot jump shots (outside shots that aren't threes) all night because it's the least efficient way to score. They'd also like it if your worst outside shooter would take those shots. Rondo should take those shots on occasion but the more of them he takes the worse off we'll be.

[BballTim]

That's my whole point.  He absolutely can.  But he doesn't.  He has become infatuated with the assist to the point that he is not as effective as he could be if he used all his assets and just took what the defense gave him more often. 

  Is he really infatuated with assists, though, or is he just being extremely effective passing the ball? We get some lower percentage shots when Rondo passes up something better but the same can be said about PP/RA/KG. I don't see it as a big issue.

[Megatron]

You guys can debate who our best player is all you want, but when Rondo airballs a wide open game winning jumper you shall have your answer.

"Embarass him into shooting"

Rondo is one of my favorite players, when hes penetrating, passing and being all around brilliant, he looks like the best player on our team.

When he isnt doing any of those things well, and is hesitant about shooting, he reminds us all that he just isnt ready to be our go-to guy yet.

[Fafnir]

That's my whole point.  He absolutely can.  But he doesn't.  He has become infatuated with the assist to the point that he is not as effective as he could be if he used all his assets and just took what the defense gave him more often. 

  Is he really infatuated with assists, though, or is he just being extremely effective passing the ball? We get some lower percentage shots when Rondo passes up something better but the same can be said about PP/RA/KG. I don't see it as a big issue.

I think he is to an extent, he's passed up taking shots near the rim to kick it out to the three point line or dump it to Shaq/KG/Baby.

His own website has an assist counter on it and we all know he's a prideful guy. I am not too worried overall though, he's been aggressive when his passing hasn't worked when he's been healthy. I think the injury just reinforced his habits of passing instead of attacking.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I don't know who the MVP is (it's different many nights), but PP has one of the all around best games in the league! He defends the best players (not many great pg that RR has to face night in and out), on any given team most nights, he scores very well during the entire game and in "crunch time" (from anywhere and every way [much better ft %]), he can play pg rather well (oh, you missed his assist % rise when RR was out, while still scoring?), and he is a big motivator...The Captain! I think RR is a huge piece but PP has the best all around game on this team. (I think we win fewer games w/o PP than w/o RR)

With all in this thread divided... remember, we aren't winning it all w/o all of the Big Four! I wish for the health of them all b/c one missing tire and this car won't be going anywhere!

[Spicoli]

The thing i don't understand about Rondo is why he doesn't use the glass when his man is playing way off. When i play rec ball, if someone plays off due to my speed and quickness, i try to get a good angle for an easy bank shot, which goes in like 90 percent of the time. There's nothing easier than hitting a wide open bank shot. Rondo should include this in his arsenal.

[BballTim]

The argument about who is better Rondo or Pierce is stupid.

Until Rondo can hit game winning shots, drop 30+ point games when needed and be consistently the one we go to at crunch time, then I refuse to believe he is our best player.

Great player yes, but I still have KG and Pierce as better players then Rondo right now.

When the game is on the line, Rondo is standing in a corner, and isnt part of the play usually.

Doc said it earlier about Pierce "Thats what we do in crunch time, get the ball in your best players hands."

Doc clearly thinks Pierce is our guy, and hes proven why many times.

  So I guess you've never considered Dwight Howard to be the best player on the Magic? Since Vince Carter took the big shots he was their best player?

[Jaycelt]

Fact is Rondo still has huge holes in his game.  Until he commits himself to working on these, and the off season is the time it should be done, then he will never be "the best player", either that he can be or on this team.  Also his defense remains way over rated.

[BballTim]

Fact is Rondo still has huge holes in his game.  Until he commits himself to working on these, and the off season is the time it should be done, then he will never be "the best player", either that he can be or on this team.  Also his defense remains way over rated.

  His defense is overrated by who? The coaches that go up against him? NBA scouts and GMs? They all seem to think he's one of the best defenders in the league. Someone should really set them straight. Or maybe the websites that measure opponent's production or defensive ratings, where Rondo's among the leaders or the leader in most categories in spite of the fact that he's been playing through leg/foot injuries for the bulk of the season. Where would you rate him as a defensive pg? 10th? 15th? Bottom 5?