So, everybody still in love with Rondo???

[Megatron]

[BballTim]

I can tell you for sure that I'm not in love with this version of Rondo that is shooting 34% in this month.

  Hopefully that play will be gone soon.

[CoachBo]

There isn't a player in the league who isn't nicked up at this point in the season, Nick.

 

The successful teams have players who play through nagging injuries. From where I sit, that's an excuse for Rondo's bad month, not an explanation.

He's just not totally engaged. Why that is is impossible to say, but given the too-infrequent spurts of quality play from him in recent games, I'm pretty confident that injuries aren't the problem.

What makes you think that plantar fasciitis (a season long injury) and a sprained finger wouldn't impact his game at all? I mean I'm not excusing all of that on Rondo's play for the past weeks (excluding the past 2-3 games where I thought he played well), but it's not unreasonable to think that these injuries would be related to his recent struggles.

PF isn't a disabling injury. There are all kinds of orthiotics to render it a non-factor. I ran a marathon with it without incident, and Havlicek played well throughout the entire 1976 playoffs with a severe case.

As for the pinky, what's that going to hurt? He can't shoot anyway.

[Surferdad]

I didn't read this entire thread, but I would say don't single out Rondo.  Everyone (with the exception of Pierce) is playing like crap right now.

Ray is not hitting shots
KG is getting pushed around and won't post up
Kristic looks terrible in so many ways
Baby is still getting stuffed at the rim
Troy is making mistakes that an NBA pro should not make
Green still looks lost

You may argue with some of these points but from my perspective, this team is painful to watch right now.  Not fun.

I only hope they will wake up for the playoffs.  Frankly however, it would not surprise me one bit if they get knocked off in the 2nd round. I think that's realistic.

[celtics2]

 If he's not hurt the franchise is in trouble. He seems to be in a deep mood and not enjoying himself. No love anymore but a mere crush on him.

If Doc can pull the players off the bench at the right time I think we can beat anyone in a Series. If we don't pull it off it's been a great ride back to respectability.

[CoachBo]

Well, your question will be answered soon enough. I doubt there's anything more than the usual nicks bothering him, stuff that's as routine at this part of the season as the excuse-making whenever his game goes south.

I can't say that I'm overly concerned, because:

1. His play is generally pretty uneven late in the regular season. At this point in Rondo's career, I doubt that's going to change. He takes plays off. Hopefully, the great plays outweigh that.

2. Love the positioning of the last Chicago game in the regular season. If Rondo's mind is wandering, Rose will get his attention.

Overall, this team's level of play is still higher now that it was at this point last year. Plus, we're deeper and the new people can only become more familiar with the system.

Doesn't mean I'm predicting a title. Wouldn't have predicted one if Bill Russell - oops, Perkins - was still on the roster, either.

[ejk3489]

There isn't a player in the league who isn't nicked up at this point in the season, Nick.

 

The successful teams have players who play through nagging injuries. From where I sit, that's an excuse for Rondo's bad month, not an explanation.

He's just not totally engaged. Why that is is impossible to say, but given the too-infrequent spurts of quality play from him in recent games, I'm pretty confident that injuries aren't the problem.

What makes you think that plantar fasciitis (a season long injury) and a sprained finger wouldn't impact his game at all? I mean I'm not excusing all of that on Rondo's play for the past weeks (excluding the past 2-3 games where I thought he played well), but it's not unreasonable to think that these injuries would be related to his recent struggles.

PF isn't a disabling injury. There are all kinds of orthiotics to render it a non-factor. I ran a marathon with it without incident, and Havlicek played well throughout the entire 1976 playoffs with a severe case.

As for the pinky, what's that going to hurt? He can't shoot anyway.

Ok, but it can still be a factor and I'm sure it's bothered him at least somewhat through the season. Most of his game revolves around his speed, ie: running, so it would probably effect him more than others. Eddie Lacerte even said he wouldn't fully recover until the off season. Tony Paker is also a recent example of a player who was greatly effected by it:

The French point guard’s averages fell from 22.0 ppg and 6.9 apg in 2008-’09 to 16.0 ppg and 5.7 apg in ’09-’10. When asked in January why his drives to the basket seemed less explosive than usual, Parker responded, ““I’m a little bit slower, that’s why. I don’t think it’s much different. It’s just my plantar fasciitis is killing me.” Parker mostly played through the pain, but wore a sock designed to limit the symptoms of the injury.

As for the pinky injury, I'd say for a player who is handling the ball for most of the time it would hurt a lot. I'm sure going to the hoop, initiating contact, and putting his hands in the passing lane could cause quite a bit of fear.

[CoachBo]

It's a factor - it's not a disabling factor, and the spurts of good play he's shown recently make that pretty clear.

I'd say Rondo's general inability to make a shot is a bigger factor when he turns passive with the basketball than the pinky. You can tape those things together so they're not a disabling factor, either.

Standing by my original point: He's just not engaged. Not unusual for Rondo; he's just inconsistent. If he continues to perform like this, I am confident that Derrick Rose will get him focused for us late in the regular season. Either that or embarrassed.

[KungPoweChicken]

I'm more in love with Rondo the dude more than Rondo the player.

[BballTim]

There isn't a player in the league who isn't nicked up at this point in the season, Nick.

 

The successful teams have players who play through nagging injuries. From where I sit, that's an excuse for Rondo's bad month, not an explanation.

He's just not totally engaged. Why that is is impossible to say, but given the too-infrequent spurts of quality play from him in recent games, I'm pretty confident that injuries aren't the problem.

What makes you think that plantar fasciitis (a season long injury) and a sprained finger wouldn't impact his game at all? I mean I'm not excusing all of that on Rondo's play for the past weeks (excluding the past 2-3 games where I thought he played well), but it's not unreasonable to think that these injuries would be related to his recent struggles.

PF isn't a disabling injury. There are all kinds of orthiotics to render it a non-factor. I ran a marathon with it without incident, and Havlicek played well throughout the entire 1976 playoffs with a severe case.

As for the pinky, what's that going to hurt? He can't shoot anyway.

  Haha. Every time a player gets an injury there's always someone who had a similar case and was back to full strength in a week or two, assuming they stopped playing at all. I'm reminded of Rondo's rookie year, when Perk had the same injury. He was called slow, lazy, a poor defender. People assured me that he'd reached his ceiling  as a player (6 points and 5 boards a game or so) and there was no way he'd ever be a starting center on a good team.

[CoachBo]

And the Rondo Excuse Machine kicks into high gear ...

[BballTim]

And the Rondo Excuse Machine kicks into high gear ...

  Yes, but it's well behind the "I can tell you exactly what's going through Rondo's mind because I've seen him play om tv" machine.

[barefacedmonk]

And the Rondo Excuse Machine kicks into high gear ...

  Yes, but it's well behind the "I can tell you exactly what's going through Rondo's mind because I've seen him play om tv" machine.

LOL.

[BASS_THUMPER]

people who are not celtic's fan give rondo props...but me myself i feel he is lacking..like those open jumpers he misses..makes my eye twitch

i dont know..

[OsirusCeltics]

And the Rondo Excuse Machine kicks into high gear ...

  Yes, but it's well behind the "I can tell you exactly what's going through Rondo's mind because I've seen him play om tv" machine.

Hahahaha omggg
I swear people act like know-it-alls pertaining to NBA stars like they know the inside scoop smh lol