Can A Person Be In A "Setting Up the Offense" Slump?

[Bankshot]

Doc said that Rondo is in a slump (it's on the front page too).  I understand being in a shooting slump (he's been in a shooting slump his whole career ). But what about setting up the offense?  Can you be in a slump where you forget how to set up the offense?  Shooting slumps usually don't stop players from producing in other parts of their game, like passing, rebounding and defending.  Why can't Rondo continue to set up the offense, drive and dish, and play defense?  

Can someone explain to me how he can be in that kind of slump?  Especially when Doc says he's not injured.

[Roy H.]

I agree, it's not a typical "his shots aren't falling" slump.  Rather, he's not playing well, period.  Rondo isn't penetrating, and he's holding the ball much too long, waiting for others to get open.  Even his passes aren't crisp or on target as often any more.

I don't know what causes something like that.  I speculated that it's some combination of fatigue, injury, and confidence, but who knows at this point?  It's very clear that we're watching a different player out there right now, though.

[GreenEnvy]

Yeah, he is extremely frustrating to watch right now.

It seems like he is missing open guys to take bad shots, or he is making unnecessary, difficult passes when he could take a wide open shot.

He almost looks confused. If he is hurt, sit. If he is still mad about the trade, someone - Doc, KG, Pierce, Allen - needs to talk to him.

But to me, this is NOT a slump. If he is making some sort of statement, it's not a good idea. Even if he turns it back on in the playoffs, we could have lost HCA because of him, making our road more difficult.

If you saw how he played the beginning of the season, and watch him now, you'd think he was throwing games out there.

[mmbaby]

Doc coming out and saying Rhondo isn't injured is a little insulting. It was clear to see last night that he landed wrong on his ankle and even went back to the locker room.

Maybe Doc's the one who needs a talkin' to since I am hoping that he'll rest Rhondo and not have him playing so many minutes in this lead up to the playoffs.

We need to protect Rhondo (his body) for the playoffs.

[Bankshot]

Doc coming out and saying Rhondo isn't injured is a little insulting. It was clear to see last night that he landed wrong on his ankle and even went back to the locker room.

Maybe Doc's the one who needs a talkin' to since I am hoping that he'll rest Rhondo and not have him playing so many minutes in this lead up to the playoffs.

We need to protect Rhondo (his body) for the playoffs.

Even if Rondo did injure himself last night, what about before he was injured?  He's been playing poorly for weeks now.

[Chris]

It all comes down to focus.  His assists numbers are kind of irrelevant.  Those have more to do with the other guys missing shots (and conversely, just because he has a lot of assists does not mean he necessarily played well).  

The thing about Rondo is that when his focus is not there, it seems to affect the game in more ways than just "setting up the offense".  He will be up and down, not make good decisions, and make way too many lazy plays (flip shots, bad lazy passes, dumb fouls).  We see this from him a lot in games that are not as significant.  But I think what we have been seeing the last week or two has been worse, mainly because of fatigue.  So, things he could ussually get away with when he is dogging it a bit, but fresher, suddenly are amplified.

[apc]

Doc said that Rondo is in a slump (it's on the front page too).  I understand being in a shooting slump (he's been in a shooting slump his whole career ). But what about setting up the offense?  Can you be in a slump where you forget how to set up the offense?  Shooting slumps usually don't stop players from producing in other parts of their game, like passing, rebounding and defending.  Why can't Rondo continue to set up the offense, drive and dish, and play defense?  

I was thinking the same thing exactly! TP.
As far as a possible injury, I believe that’s is very unlikely, our team does not take any chances with injuries.
If he was injured he wouldn’t have played.

[clover]

Doc coming out and saying Rhondo isn't injured is a little insulting. It was clear to see last night that he landed wrong on his ankle and even went back to the locker room.

Maybe Doc's the one who needs a talkin' to since I am hoping that he'll rest Rhondo and not have him playing so many minutes in this lead up to the playoffs.

We need to protect Rhondo (his body) for the playoffs.

Even if Rondo did injure himself last night, what about before he was injured?  He's been playing poorly for weeks now.

I agree.  If there's anything I trust Doc with, it is handling difficult players--including Rondo.  Doc only pours on the candor for good reason.

[toinewalka]

Yes, you can be in an offensive slump, an assisting slump, a defensive slump, a driving slump, everything.  It becomes mental, as does any slump.  Rondo right now just seems to be pressing a little bit, and seems hesitant to use his speed and take over.  This will happen with every player now and again.  I don't see it as a problem.  When the playoffs come, he will be out to prove he can take over and dominate any team out there.

[gar]

He is injured, but Doc does not sit injured players unless someone (either the player or the trainer) tells him to. These guys are too proud to ask to be taken out and until Delonte comes back Rondo will not get the rest he needs.

Rondo was a -13 Arroyo was 0; but doc will not sit a starter unless something or somebody makes him.

[Chris]

He is injured, but Doc does not sit injured players unless someone (either the player or the trainer) tells him to. These guys are too proud to ask to be taken out and until Delonte comes back Rondo will not get the rest he needs.

Rondo was a -13 Arroyo was 0; but doc will not sit a starter unless something or somebody makes him.

Well, thats not his job.  It is the trainers job to tell him if guys can or can't play, it is Docs job to win games with the guys he has available.

[Marcus13]

He's clearly going through something mentally.  His mind isn't on the game at all.  He is approaching the game the same way millions of Americans approach their jobs on a daily basis.

Maybe's he upset about Perk, maybe there's something going on in his personal life...I don't know - but clearly, he's dealing with something.

[Chris]

He's clearly going through something mentally.  His mind isn't on the game at all.  He is approaching the game the same way millions of Americans approach their jobs on a daily basis.

Maybe's he upset about Perk, maybe there's something going on in his personal life...I don't know - but clearly, he's dealing with something.

Or maybe he is bored and tired in the middle of a long season, and the guys who were knocking down shots at an incredible rate earlier in the season are not converting his passes as well.

Looking at his game log last year, he had a similar slump around this same time.  He had some good games mixed in (just like he has had this time), but overall, was not playing very well. 

[droopdog7]

Here is the problem with Rondo.  Because of the inability to shoot, nothing about what he does comes easy.  Not the assists or the scoring.  Rondo is able to do what he does primarily on enery.

It seems that right now, he just doesn't have that energy, hence the huge drop off.

[Chris]

Here is the problem with Rondo.  Because of the inability to shoot, nothing about what he does comes easy.  Not the assists for the scoriing.  Rondo is able to do what he does primarily on enery.

It seems that right now, he just doesn't have that energy, hence the huge drop off.

Agree completely.  And I will take it a little further to talk about injuries.  If he is bothered by injuries, it effects him a lot more than someone like say, Pierce, because he needs to be that much faster than everyone else to be effective.

I am not saying he is injured, but if he is a bit nicked up, combined with being tired, and the innevitable mid season switch flipping, and you have a perfect storm for mediocrity from him.