Celtics Mailbag: Rajon Rondo Unlikely to Develop Jumper at This Stage of Career

[Mike-Dub]

Is there any offseason plan for Rajon Rondo to work on his outside shot? If he could keep defenses honest, it would create easier scoring chances across the board.
--Dan

I'll put it this way, Dan: I was in the Celtics' gym last week, and Rajon Rondo wasn't on the floor shooting. He was upstairs, running on the treadmill.

It pains me to say this, and I'm sure it's no picnic for you to read it, but I don't think Rondo is at all concerned with being a shooter. He's a Celtic, and he's surrounded by three Hall of Famers who can shoot like nobody's business. I think he takes that for granted a little bit. For now, Rondo's content just to be a defender, a fast-break weapon, and a facilitator for his teammates in the half-court offense.

I do agree with your assessment that Rondo developing a jumper would make everyone's lives easier; I just don't see it happening any time soon. Maybe there's hope for Rondo pulling a Jason Kidd and becoming a shooter late in his career. But for now, don't hold your breath. Sorry.

http://www.nesn.com/2011/06/celtics-mailbag-lockout-threatens-final-season-for-kevin-garnett-ray-allen-in-cs-green.html

Found this pretty interesting and hope that he is wrong, but honestly don't know.

There were also some other pretty interesting tidbits in it.

[Donoghus]

I see him developing maybe a little more consistency with his jumper as his career progresses but certainly no delusions of grandeur.  I don't see him ever having that "knockdown jumper" that comes time after time at any point. 

It doesn't just show up one day and Jason Kidd is an exception, not a common occurrence. 

[droopdog7]

I have been saying this for bascially ever.  You can put it in ink.  Rondo will never approach being an average shooter.  It's isn't because he doesn't want it.  He just doesn't have the ability.

And I am tired of hearing comparisons to other guys that seemingly got better.  First of all, someone like Kidd is the exception.  He may have improved more than any other player in NBA hitory.  He is the outlier, not the rule.

Second, people still seem to forget how much Rondo has ALREADY improved.  He was Ben Wallace when he came into the league.  

That factors into the equation.  The most other players have to do is get better through repitition and refinement their shot (even Kidd).  Guys like Rose also fit into that category.

Rondo basically had to re-invent his shot.  And he has gotten better.  But frankly, it is too late.  And, he likely had a much lower ceiling as a shooter than other guys to begin with.

[Mike-Dub]

I see him developing maybe a little more consistency with his jumper as his career progresses but certainly no delusions of grandeur.  I don't see him ever having that "knockdown jumper" that comes time after time at any point. 

It doesn't just show up one day and Jason Kidd is an exception, not a common occurrence. 

I agree.

[Mike-Dub]

I have been saying this for bascially ever.  You can put it in ink.  Rondo will never approach being an average shooter.  It's isn't because he doesn't want it.  He just doesn't have the ability.

And I am tired of hearing comparisons to other guys that seemingly got better.  First of all, someone like Kidd is the exception.  He may have improved more than any other player in NBA hitory.  He is the outlier, not the rule.

Second, people still seem to forget how much Rondo has ALREADY improved.  He was Ben Wallace when he came into the league.  

That factors into the equation.  The most other players have to do is get better through repitition and refinement their shot (even Kidd). Guys like Rose also fit into that category.

Rondo basically had to re-invent his shot.  And he has gotten better.  But frankly, it is too late.  And, he likely had a much lower ceiling as a shooter than other guys to begin with.

Rose improved immensely this year from repetition.  Rondo does have the ablitity to shoot.  Just about everyone has the ability to be able to shoot a basketball well if they work on it and I believe Rondo fits into that category.

[cman88]

Rondo already has been improving...he went from 33% on long jumbers in 2009-10 to 41% in 10-11....he shpuld be able to get that up to 45% as they start contesting hm....its all about getting the shots in in thhe gym

[Fafnir]

I see him developing maybe a little more consistency with his jumper as his career progresses but certainly no delusions of grandeur.  I don't see him ever having that "knockdown jumper" that comes time after time at any point. 

It doesn't just show up one day and Jason Kidd is an exception, not a common occurrence. 

Kidd isn't even a good shooter, what he is an acceptable set shooter from the three point line. He still can't shoot off the dribble or off screens well at all.

[droopdog7]

I have been saying this for bascially ever.  You can put it in ink.  Rondo will never approach being an average shooter.  It's isn't because he doesn't want it.  He just doesn't have the ability.

And I am tired of hearing comparisons to other guys that seemingly got better.  First of all, someone like Kidd is the exception.  He may have improved more than any other player in NBA hitory.  He is the outlier, not the rule.

Second, people still seem to forget how much Rondo has ALREADY improved.  He was Ben Wallace when he came into the league.  

That factors into the equation.  The most other players have to do is get better through repitition and refinement their shot (even Kidd). Guys like Rose also fit into that category.

Rondo basically had to re-invent his shot.  And he has gotten better.  But frankly, it is too late.  And, he likely had a much lower ceiling as a shooter than other guys to begin with.

Rose improved immensely this year from repetition.  Rondo does have the ablitity to shoot.  Just about everyone has the ability to be able to shoot a basketball well if they work on it and I believe Rondo fits into that category.

Like I said.  For guys like Rose, it is about refinement and repitition.  Most of those guys do improve over their careers, but generally not as much as people perceive. 

And the idea that everyone is born with the ability to be an NBA level shooter is a complete fallacy.  Sure, most ordinary people have the ability to get the ball to the rim.  But being a great shooter (or even a good one) takes a certain kind of hand eye coordination that differs from guy to guy. 

And generally speaking, people tend to gravitate and develop their strengths.  The reason Ray is a great shooter and okay ball handler is partly based on the fact that shooting came easier to him than ball handling (I am speculating).

Rondo never developed a consistent shot in part because it was never natural to him (I am speculating).

[Donoghus]

I guess it also comes down to what your expectations of "develop a jumper" are.

Personally, I think we're seeing just about the best we'll see with his jumper.  Perhaps, he'll uptick things a bit percentage-wise but I expect a relative "plateau" at this point.  I don't see things shifting into another gear with his jumper and he starts making things all over the court at a consistent rate.

[Mike-Dub]

I have been saying this for bascially ever.  You can put it in ink.  Rondo will never approach being an average shooter.  It's isn't because he doesn't want it.  He just doesn't have the ability.

And I am tired of hearing comparisons to other guys that seemingly got better.  First of all, someone like Kidd is the exception.  He may have improved more than any other player in NBA hitory.  He is the outlier, not the rule.

Second, people still seem to forget how much Rondo has ALREADY improved.  He was Ben Wallace when he came into the league. 

That factors into the equation.  The most other players have to do is get better through repitition and refinement their shot (even Kidd). Guys like Rose also fit into that category.

Rondo basically had to re-invent his shot.  And he has gotten better.  But frankly, it is too late.  And, he likely had a much lower ceiling as a shooter than other guys to begin with.

Rose improved immensely this year from repetition.  Rondo does have the ablitity to shoot.  Just about everyone has the ability to be able to shoot a basketball well if they work on it and I believe Rondo fits into that category.

Like I said.  For guys like Rose, it is about refinement and repitition.  Most of those guys do improve over their careers, but generally not as much as people perceive. 

And the idea that everyone is born with the ability to be an NBA level shooter is a complete fallacy.  Sure, most ordinary people have the ability to get the ball to the rim.  But being a great shooter (or even a good one) takes a certain kind of hand eye coordination that differs from guy to guy. 

And generally speaking, people tend to gravitate and develop their strengths.  The reason Ray is a great shooter and okay ball handler is partly based on the fact that shooting came easier to him than ball handling (I am speculating).

Rondo never developed a consistent shot in part because it was never natural to him (I am speculating).

No he never developed a jumper because he never had to.  In all the other levels he played at he got buy without having a jumper. He's getting buy here too, but he will never be a truly great player unless he develops a jumpshot.

[WeMadeIt17]

The reason he was on the treadmill is because his elbow isn't fully healed yet. Danny said he was still weeks away from actual basketball drills. No matter what his shot has improved over the years. Not that much but it has. He will keep working.

[cman88]

As long as he can continue to shoot 41% when players start contesting him...that's above avg forpointguards

[Mike-Dub]

The reason he was on the treadmill is because his elbow isn't fully healed yet. Danny said he was still weeks away from actual basketball drills. No matter what his shot has improved over the years. Not that much but it has. He will keep working.

Good point.

[droopdog7]

I have been saying this for bascially ever.  You can put it in ink.  Rondo will never approach being an average shooter.  It's isn't because he doesn't want it.  He just doesn't have the ability.

And I am tired of hearing comparisons to other guys that seemingly got better.  First of all, someone like Kidd is the exception.  He may have improved more than any other player in NBA hitory.  He is the outlier, not the rule.

Second, people still seem to forget how much Rondo has ALREADY improved.  He was Ben Wallace when he came into the league.  

That factors into the equation.  The most other players have to do is get better through repitition and refinement their shot (even Kidd). Guys like Rose also fit into that category.

Rondo basically had to re-invent his shot.  And he has gotten better.  But frankly, it is too late.  And, he likely had a much lower ceiling as a shooter than other guys to begin with.

Rose improved immensely this year from repetition.  Rondo does have the ablitity to shoot.  Just about everyone has the ability to be able to shoot a basketball well if they work on it and I believe Rondo fits into that category.

Like I said.  For guys like Rose, it is about refinement and repitition.  Most of those guys do improve over their careers, but generally not as much as people perceive.  

And the idea that everyone is born with the ability to be an NBA level shooter is a complete fallacy.  Sure, most ordinary people have the ability to get the ball to the rim.  But being a great shooter (or even a good one) takes a certain kind of hand eye coordination that differs from guy to guy.  

And generally speaking, people tend to gravitate and develop their strengths.  The reason Ray is a great shooter and okay ball handler is partly based on the fact that shooting came easier to him than ball handling (I am speculating).

Rondo never developed a consistent shot in part because it was never natural to him (I am speculating).

No he never developed a jumper because he never had to.  In all the other levels he played at he got buy without having a jumper. He's getting buy here too, but he will never be a truly great player unless he develops a jumpshot.

Hey, at least I indicated that I was speculating.  

But in terms of never having to, we can say that because he is IN the NBA.  If, Rondo didn't have the other abilities that he does and would have needed a better jumper to make the league, you think he just would have developed it?  He would have just dusted it off and put it to use?

Doesn't make any sense really.  There are plenty of guys his size out there than can't shoot. And because they don't have his other abilities, they aren't in the NBA.  

I am more confident that Rondo would have been THAT guy than a different guy (i.e., one that could shoot).

[paulcowens]

The reason he was on the treadmill is because his elbow isn't fully healed yet. Danny said he was still weeks away from actual basketball drills. No matter what his shot has improved over the years. Not that much but it has. He will keep working.

Exactly.

Listen, Clinchy is an idiot.  I suspect most of us here are well aware of this.  What he says has one relevance only, and that is that he seems to be some kind of Danny Ainge stooge.  If his thinking reflects  Ainge's thinking, possibly,  it says nothing about Rondo, but it says a lot about the probability that Ainge is looking to trade Rondo.  Given Ainge's apparent manic tendencies, I've been expecting him to trade Rondo anyway.  Rondo is his best trade bait, and he seems to be addicted to the power he feels when he wheels and deals.   

But indications are that Rondo is someone who works hard to improve his game, and that he is an almost frighteningly ambitious person.  I think he will be working hard on his shooting game again this summer, as he has done before but probably more so,  as soon as his body feels healed.  I think the important thing for him to do is to seek a mix between working on shooting options that feel natural to him, and developing a more classical form for set shot situations.  Folks say that he can't possibly improve because that would make him a statistical outlier.  For God's sake, this obsession with statistics over reality is insane.  But listen, statistic-heads:  to put it in your language, Rajon Rondo is a walking outlier.  It's also well-known that he is relatively a late-comer to the game. 

If you watch Rondo play, you can see that he has the feel and touch of a shooter.  He will be a true scoring threat before he is done.  Count on it.