Is Rondos lack of effort due to the trading of Perk?

[chambers]

I mean we've scraped through a few tough 4th quarters and beaten some mediocre teams to go on a 5 game W streak but rondo hasn't been this bad for years.
He isn't playing D.
He isn't finishing at the hole.
He's throwing passes to the refs and doing stuff that i thought i'd never see him do again.

I'm not mad- the guy deserves a bad spell once every 2 years but i'm wondering if it's got something to do with his best buddy being shipped off on 2 hours notice?
I'm really hoping he gets this off his chest within 2 or 3 games so we have a chance to catch the spurs and get home court at the gaaahden.

[elcotte]

I mean we've scraped through a few tough 4th quarters and beaten some mediocre teams to go on a 5 game W streak but rondo hasn't been this bad for years.
He isn't playing D.
He isn't finishing at the hole.
He's throwing passes to the refs and doing stuff that i thought i'd never see him do again.

I'm not mad- the guy deserves a bad spell once every 2 years but i'm wondering if it's got something to do with his best buddy being shipped off on 2 hours notice?
I'm really hoping he gets this off his chest within 2 or 3 games so we have a chance to catch the spurs and get home court at the gaaahden.

I agree. It's his head. It's not right just now. I hope it gets into the game soon.

[dark_lord]

I mean we've scraped through a few tough 4th quarters and beaten some mediocre teams to go on a 5 game W streak but rondo hasn't been this bad for years.
He isn't playing D.
He isn't finishing at the hole.
He's throwing passes to the refs and doing stuff that i thought i'd never see him do again.

I'm not mad- the guy deserves a bad spell once every 2 years but i'm wondering if it's got something to do with his best buddy being shipped off on 2 hours notice?
I'm really hoping he gets this off his chest within 2 or 3 games so we have a chance to catch the spurs and get home court at the gaaahden.

im no genius.....but i would attribute it to a few things...
-fatigue. he has played a lot of minutes all season
-mentally he isnt as focussed with mediocre teams.
-maybe there is no reason and he is just in a "rut"

i dont think the perk factor impacts him on the court (i think it could have an impact off the court tho)

[Celtics/Run]

Really? Is this serious? Rondo nearly plays 40 minutes a game.

Big Baby gets more respect than Rondo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp_kOh1MwEA&feature=channel_video_title

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGw-PXUPPLg&feature=channel_video_title

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li9aaaZW92g&feature=channel_video_title

This is Rondo.....

[greenpride32]

Rondo has always gambled defensively which is why he gets all those steals.  He also averages close to 4 turnovers a game so he's thrown plently of bad passes before.  8 TO's is a bit on the high side but he's had 5-6 in a game plenty of times.  I don't think the Perk trade is in his head when he's on the floor.  But on the road trips and practices; probably some.

[pearljammer10]

Lack of effort? 5 straight wins...I'll take that "lack of effort" any day.

[GreenFaith1819]

I'll give Rondo the benefit of the doubt. He's a young player, and I'm sure there's still some emotional attachment there with Perk - as it is/was with the Big Three.

He could be tired, like some have mentioned in the thread...he's played a lot.

He could have some mild injury...we all know that Rondo is probably the most stubborn Celtic, and would probably not tell Doc if he was injured.

Either way he'll be right by April 15th. He was obviously outplayed last night, but we still won.

[Chris]

This is how Rondo has played his entire career.  He plays sloppy, often lazy basketball in just about every game that is not against an elite PG or elite team.  He just does not have the focus that he has against the Paul's and Rose's or Heat and Lakers. 

And, given the number of minutes he has been playing lately with West out, it is magnified, since he is also pacing himself in games, and not taking unnecessary risks where he could get hurt or in foul trouble. 

This is just something that needs to be accepted about Rondo's game.  It has nothing to do with Perk.

[RajonRondOWNED]

Honestly? I do think it affected him. If he watch tape from the first game after the trade, Rondo has made some weird plays and just looked completely disinterested. And he seems very reluctant to pass to any of the new players.

[GreenFaith1819]

I can certainly understand the concern among us.

The Rondo of the last two weeks or so is definitely NOT the Rondo that put Boston on his back against CLE and ORL in the playoffs last year - especially CLE.

Rondo was probably the main reason we beat CLE last May.

I've only seen a few glimpses of THAT Rondo this season.

Thankfully, a healthy KG, Paul, Ray, and the improbable contributions from The Big Shamrock have somewhat covered up for Rondo.

[xmuscularghandix]

I saw the "lack of effort" last night as well. Getting hung up on a pick, not fighting to contest the shot, then not even trying to rebound...

but i think it's because of al the minutes lately, when he's in the team does fine, then he comes out and they give up the lead he worked for.

I think Pierce saw that he was exhausted last night and was really trying to help him out by taking the game over.


And i think Ainge saw an exhausted Rondo and decided to bring in Arroyo for insurance.

[35Lewis]

I know that Rondo typically plays better against elite teams and players so I was a little surprised that he didn't go after Jennings a little more last night.  I know he is really competitive when it comes to big matchups.

That being said, I think he does seem a little too unfocused recently but it is something he will work through and he has a little more than a month to do  it.  His turnovers might be a little high because he also has new teammates. 

[FatjohnReturns]

This is how Rondo has played his entire career.  He plays sloppy, often lazy basketball in just about every game that is not against an elite PG or elite team.  He just does not have the focus that he has against the Paul's and Rose's or Heat and Lakers. 

And, given the number of minutes he has been playing lately with West out, it is magnified, since he is also pacing himself in games, and not taking unnecessary risks where he could get hurt or in foul trouble. 

This is just something that needs to be accepted about Rondo's game.  It has nothing to do with Perk.

Agree. theres the answer tp.

[csfansince60s]

but i think it's because of all the minutes lately, when he's in the team does fine, then he comes out and they give up the lead he worked for.



And i think Ainge saw an exhausted Rondo and decided to bring in Arroyo for insurance.

+1 Completely agree. Dwest's fragility and Bradley's horrendous incompetency at point guard have definitely been huge factors in Rondo being worn down and somewhat demoralized when his work (leads) gets undone by Bradley.

Arroyo's acquisition is huge. He can run the team. His handle, court vision and poise are far superior to Bradley's, who has NONE of those critical point guard attributes right now. He also can shoot (the 3 included) and is a good (80%) FT shooter.

Bradley should NEVER play the point again this year except in the most dire of circumstances or end of the game 30+ point blowouts.

[ejk3489]

This is how Rondo has played his entire career.  He plays sloppy, often lazy basketball in just about every game that is not against an elite PG or elite team.  He just does not have the focus that he has against the Paul's and Rose's or Heat and Lakers. 

And, given the number of minutes he has been playing lately with West out, it is magnified, since he is also pacing himself in games, and not taking unnecessary risks where he could get hurt or in foul trouble. 

This is just something that needs to be accepted about Rondo's game.  It has nothing to do with Perk.

The "he plays sloppy, lazy basketball against teams that aren't elite"  hasn't beent true since 2009. I mean, look at the game logs this season.