will rondo ever be a clutch player in the final 2 mins of a game?

[adrew35]

what you think?

[PosImpos]

I'm inclined to say no, he will never be that sort of player.  

The C's will always need a player like Pierce or Allen to make the clutch plays for them with Rondo as the PG.

[LooseCannon]

If you're asking whether or not he will ever be that go-to guy who you run isolations for at the end of the quarter, then no, but he will have games where you can point to him and say that he was the key to holding on or taking the lead at the end.  It's just more likely to be Rondo coming up with a key offensive rebound and a game-saving steal rather than nailing a couple of jumpers.

[KungPoweChicken]

When Rondo is really playing with great energy, he has shown the ability to be clutch in unusual ways: steals, rebounds, etc. But he will never be a clutch offensive player.

[ssspence]

I'm inclined to say no, he will never be that sort of player.  

The C's will always need a player like Pierce or Allen to make the clutch plays for them with Rondo as the PG.

Not sure I agree with this.  If he applies the confidence in his stroke that he showed in San An this week to his FT shooting, I suspect he'll be come a better one -- a bit like Duncan working through his shooting and FT woes. When that happens, I think he'll be an EOG weapon -- particularly when this becomes 'his' team. He'll have no choice, and he's a pretty tough kid.

[LB3533]

If Rondo ever gets his FT shooting up to 75%, than maybe he can be a clutch player at the end of games.

But right now if he has the ball and decides to drive...opposing defenses are just going to foul him and send Rondo to the line.

[PseudoElite]

He should spend the entire summer training with the best trainers/players he can find to improve his jumpshooting and FT percentages. Just non stop every day in the gym.

The kid's got so much talent, it's a real shame if he doesn't work hard to establish himself as one of the game's best players.

[thebat]

I think so YES!
He single handedly almost won us game 7 of the finals last year and that was the last 2 mins of the game.

[BballTim]

The kid's got so much talent, it's a real shame if he doesn't work hard to establish himself as one of the game's best players.

  Pretty sure he does work hard, and when he's healthy he's one of the game's best players.

[LooseCannon]

He should spend the entire summer training with the best trainers/players he can find to improve his jumpshooting and FT percentages. Just non stop every day in the gym.

The kid's got so much talent, it's a real shame if he doesn't work hard to establish himself as one of the game's best players.

He spent the summer of 2009 working with Mark Price and that didn't seem to do much good.  I don't think he's going to improve that much, no matter how much practice he pours into it.

[OsirusCeltics]

By clutch, I guess you didn't see his performance in the playoffs for the past two years?

[Bahku]

He already has been ... more than once:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBU9FeS_gU&feature=related



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaUmeK89A9c&feature=related



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6xRhdeA6WA



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BepYrEmJoDg



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMx_mLHQ2JA



How soon we forget.

[housecall]

Beside having talent the right mental makeup plays into being a clutch player in the last few mins.of games.Its almost like a closer in baseball mentality they are not going to be denied or lose a game.Usually consistent closers of games realize they are clutch in HS and college.Example:ck out MJ last season at UNC he learned early on that he is a clutch player.Im not saying Rondo can't become a clutch player but if he does its because he already had it in his makeup from the start.In the NBA its hard to tell which players might possess the clutch gene because teams single-out who they want to be their closer and usually its a veteran that has proven he is consistent in making shots late in game,ala Paul Pierce.

[celtics2]

Rondo only holds back out of respect for the Big 3. The Big 3 aren't the biggies anymore. Time for Rondo to take over. He's shown he can shoot.

[Jaycelt]

Rondo only holds back out of respect for the Big 3. The Big 3 aren't the biggies anymore. Time for Rondo to take over. He's shown he can shoot.

No one is holding Rondo back, least of all the Big 3.  Whatever shortcomings Rondo has are his alone.  It's time to stop pointing fingers and making excuses.  Either he's a great player or he's not.