When will Rondo quit messing around?

[pengaloo]

I hardly think Rondo is taking games off to the extent described in this thread.

When asked by the media why the pace is so slow in a certain quarter, half, or game - Doc always makes sure to keep the blame off his pg. It's always something along the lines of "we couldn't get stops" or "Rondo's the only one up the court" or "the team didn't give the ball to Rondo to bring up the court" or "the first unit had unbelievable energy and the second unit just took it all away" or "Rondo was trying so hard to get his teammates going that he didn't get himself going."

In a weei interview immediately after the Perk trade, Danny said that he considers Rondo a max contact player, because of his high level of play AND his leadership. I don't think Danny would call someone who regularly takes games off a max contract leader.

[Greenbean]

Im not sure if the super aggressive "good" rondo that we see in the playoffs and inconsistently during the season could hold up for 82 games plus the playoffs.

Also his supposed "off" games are still pretty good.

Basically you are right Im just not sure we want him going bonkers every game!

[Green Hell]

I hope he keeps messing around... Might even get him a triple double

[Carhole]

Those teams also have Dwight Howard and Bynum/Gasol aka the twin towers in the paint. I'm sure that had some effect on him. (even though I wouldn't call him awful in either series, but ineffective in some ways)

Bynum was not even on the floor in the second half of game 7. And the fact Howard is there is obviously a deterrent but at the same token, Howard fouls a ton! Attack him, get him in foul trouble and you are helping your team significantly.

Not to get off the thread topic. I guess my larger point is, the kid has great talent but is still very much figuring it out. Everyone has games with less effort but for some reason if Rondo doesnt play well it is "because he didnt want to" and I think it is because he still just has bad games

[rtifishul]

+1

But I'd rather have him do what he does and take a couple days off mentality in the regular season than in the playoffs. And as we know he brings his A game in the playoffs and that is when it matters so I can't complain

I like rondo a lot. Best vision and anticipation in the league as a passer. Elite anticipation as a help defender. Elite quickness and handle.

But I have to wonder where this belief that he can turn it on and bring his A game whenever he wants comes from. I have read it on here often.

He was awful against Orlando and extra awful against LA in the finals last year. He ate up the two teams that had no point guard to put against him.

The second half of game seven in LA they doubled up on PP and KG and left rondo and ray to beat them. Ray was off and rondo was petrified to attack go to the hole and get fouled. There was a reason Kobe had 15 boards.

And for the series LA wanted him to "be aggressive" as a scorer (I think he was tied with PP) and gave him unlimited cushion to see the floor but he had, for him, terrible assist to turnover ration (7.5 to 2.7)

Great potential, elite in some areas but still needs to figure out how to play an "A" level game against all defenses schemes.

I don't even need to see the box scores from the Orlando and Los Angeles series to know that Rondo was absolutely not "extra awful"  in those games. It's true he doesn't always play hard, but let's not get crazy now.

[ejk3489]

Those teams also have Dwight Howard and Bynum/Gasol aka the twin towers in the paint. I'm sure that had some effect on him. (even though I wouldn't call him awful in either series, but ineffective in some ways)

Bynum was not even on the floor in the second half of game 7. And the fact Howard is there is obviously a deterrent but at the same token, Howard fouls a ton! Attack him, get him in foul trouble and you are helping your team significantly.

Not to get off the thread topic. I guess my larger point is, the kid has great talent but is still very much figuring it out. Everyone has games with less effort but for some reason if Rondo doesnt play well it is "because he didnt want to" and I think it is because he still just has bad games

Well he sort of did get fouled a lot in the ORL series. He didn't go to the line in game 1, but in games 2-6 he attempted 33 FT's. Not bad for someone who supposedly wasn't aggressive.

[Tgro]

Rondo worries me a whole heck of a lot. When he's on and doing what he does best, he's incredibly talented and makes fantastic plays for the team. But he absolutely infuriates me with his constant horrible shot selection and timing of it. We so often seem like we are about to pull away from an opponent, up by 3 or 4 and then Rondo throws up the most careless hardly any chance of it going in or getting rebounded shot and the next thing you know, instead of being up 5 or 6, we are only up 1 or are even tied. Sometimes I think he keeps other teams IN the game and the other guys have to bail Rondo out too much too often. I don't mind it if he's taking a wide open shot and he's putting a great effort into making the shot. That's fine. They all miss. But when he throws those running floaters that bounce wildly off the backboards and have hardly any chance of going in with plenty of defenders around the board and not a Celtic close to getting a rebound, he infuriates me to no end! Also if we were up 8 - 10 points and he did this, I wouldn't mind as much. But he keeps doing it late in very close games and I swear the other team has to love it every time Rondo starts to take a shot. I'm not ready to watch Rondo do this in the playoffs. He was surprising teams last playoffs. Then he got noticed and I've hardly seen the consistent great play as he had then since then. Yes, he does amazing things and I love him when he does great. But I swear it feels like he keeps too many teams in the game when we are on the verge of putting them away.

[banty19]

Agreed that Rondo is pacing himself and I think it's good that he is.

If he plays with full effort, he increases chance of injury. Do you really want him attacking the basket and getting laid out?

Let him get his assists title, stay healthy, and bring full intensity when the games matter.

[BballTim]

  Rondo was 5th in fg% among point guards in 07-08 and he's been 1st or 2nd each year since. I can't imagine that shot selection is a huge issue.

[GoGreen9]

Rondo worries me a whole heck of a lot. When he's on and doing what he does best, he's incredibly talented and makes fantastic plays for the team. But he absolutely infuriates me with his constant horrible shot selection and timing of it. We so often seem like we are about to pull away from an opponent, up by 3 or 4 and then Rondo throws up the most careless hardly any chance of it going in or getting rebounded shot and the next thing you know, instead of being up 5 or 6, we are only up 1 or are even tied. Sometimes I think he keeps other teams IN the game and the other guys have to bail Rondo out too much too often. I don't mind it if he's taking a wide open shot and he's putting a great effort into making the shot. That's fine. They all miss. But when he throws those running floaters that bounce wildly off the backboards and have hardly any chance of going in with plenty of defenders around the board and not a Celtic close to getting a rebound, he infuriates me to no end! Also if we were up 8 - 10 points and he did this, I wouldn't mind as much. But he keeps doing it late in very close games and I swear the other team has to love it every time Rondo starts to take a shot. I'm not ready to watch Rondo do this in the playoffs. He was surprising teams last playoffs. Then he got noticed and I've hardly seen the consistent great play as he had then since then. Yes, he does amazing things and I love him when he does great. But I swear it feels like he keeps too many teams in the game when we are on the verge of putting them away.

Like BBall Tim said, I don't see how he has a bad shot selection when he's shooting 51% from the field. He is a very smart player, I think you're far from right.

[Tgro]

When its a layup, no problem.

[GoGreen9]

When its a layup, no problem.
[/quote

Whenever it's close, or late, he usually never takes stupid shots. Here is some good stats for you:

Rondo:

At the rim (Layups): 4.2 Attempts per game.
From 3-9 feet: 1 Attempt per game.
From 10-15 feet: 0.5 Attempts per game.
From 16-23 feet: 5.1 Attempts per game. (41%)
From three: 0.6 Attempts per game.

So to say he takes stupid shots, is wrong. He averages under 1 in three of those categories that you suggested he would kill us in down the stretch. Obviously, you are wrong, because under 1 attempt a game, can't really destroy a team. When he shoots from 16-23, you can use that as an argument, but he still doesn't destroy us from there, either. 41% isn't great, but it isn't as bad you would like to think.

[screwedupmaniac]

We have one of the top 5 point guards in the league...and you want to complain??? The rest of the league sees Rondo's value...it baffles me that there is so much negativity surrounding Rajon Rondo. There aren't very many players in the NBA who can rack up double doubles in assists and point while "messing around".

[pearljammer10]

Its a well known and obvious fact that Rondo refuses to try vs weak opponents.

He walks the ball up, passes, dissapears, doesent attack or stay aggressive, and basically says "Big 3, carry me I dont feel like trying" during many stetches of the season.

We all know we can dominate and blow out teams when Rondo is staying aggressive and playing his A game but he refuses to do it consistently.

Is this just Rondos personality? Why does he take so many games off? I know this must frustrate Doc.

This is the time in my opinion when Rondo needs to shoulder more of the Load to take the stress off of our Big 3 so they can be fresher for the playoffs.

Hopefully we see the good Rondo we know and love tonight. If we dont I wont be surprised if we get in another dogfight and end up having Pierce and Allen struggling to carry the team on their backs yet again.

Sorry for the negative post, just thought I would throw this out there and see what you guys think.

Does Rondos fluctuating effort level frustrate anyone else?

Don't use masked profanity.

What?

[RJ87]

I would agree with you if this were 08' or 09'...but this season and last season he's been very consistent. Obviously he has bad games, but what player doesn't? And I understand him not going 100% every game to save some energy for the playoffs, especially given his injury situation.

  A lot of people formed their opinions of Rondo during the 07-08 season and haven't really changed their thoughts.

Sad, but very true.

I think Rondo is becoming a pretty consistent player, every guy has off nights and Rondo's not immune to that. I think he's "spoiled us with his play" - everyone expects 15+ assists and a near triple double every game. An All-Star 2 years in a row - leading the league in assists this season, and he still can't get respect from some of his own fans...