Rondo has peaked

[moiso]

I think the playoffs showed Perkins was overrated ( I was upset too at first, but soon saw the light , and I think the same could be said of his buddy Rondo.

Face it Rondo was lifted into the limelight by the big three, Rondo has mentioned on coccasion himself that he would have been traded 2-3 times by now if not for the unique fit he gave the team early on.

A short man who can't shoot or make a freethow is about worthless in the NBA.

 

 
  

I think the playoffs showed that Perk wasn't completely healthy.  He doesn't play well when he isn't 100% healthy below the waist.  I thought he was a stiff the year he had plantar fascitis.

I'd take Rondo over Eric Gordon any day.

[Interceptor]

Kidd could at least shoot a respectable FT percentage. He also at least broke 30% from 3.

He had decent form.

Rondo's mechanics look hopeless.

Mechanics are not everything. Paul Pierce has one of the ugliest forms I've ever seen for threes -- even Doc says they never look like they are going in -- but he's an elite shooter.

Rondo can improve here, especially on his FT shooting. He is not doomed to be terrible forever just because he's already 25 years old. The only thing he can't beat is Father Time, but his legs are a long way from giving out on him.

[Inside-Out]

Yes, he's young and technically has time to develop, but really, how long would a 25 (or whatever) year old basketball player been working on FT's and shooting wide open 15' jumpers?

If he hasn't developed this skill to at least a passable level a by now (after at least a decade of trying to), he simply won't.

Two words for you: Jason Kidd.

Kidd could at least shoot a respectable FT percentage. He also at least broke 30% from 3.

He had decent form.

Rondo's mechanics look hopeless.

Kidd's improved shooting is a bit overstated as well.

His FT shooting improved a good chunk, but was never horrible, increasing from around 70% in the early (worst) years to around 80%.  Last year it bumped to 87%, but that seems to be the outlier.

His 3pt shooting hasn't shown much consistent improvement, either.  He's been a rather lengthy low-30% guy almost every season with the exception of his first in PHX and first couple in DAL when he hit a remarkable 40%, but then last year dropped right back to 34%.

Aside from improving a never-terrible FT% starting his second season in PHX, Kidds shooting hasn't imrproved as much as advertized.

And as Kidd's FT developed and improved his 5th year in the league, Rondo's plummetted into the "completely unacceptable" level in HIS 5th year.

Two words.

Bad comparison.

No hope.

Permanent deficiency.

Complementary player.

Trade bait.

[Marcus13]

He definitely hasn't peaked.  While he might not become a lot better - I honestly believe we wil see improvements in the mid-range jumper and Free Throw.

All that takes is work ethic

[Interceptor]

Kidd's improved shooting is a bit overstated as well.

Nope.jpg.

If Kidd's 87% FT is an outlier, so is Rondo's 56.8% season. If Kidd's 70% FT is "not horrible", and Rondo makes the same raw ~10% improvement over his career, hit FT shooting also becomes "not horrible".

[PosImpos]

Kidd's improved shooting is a bit overstated as well.

Nope.jpg.

If Kidd's 87% FT is an outlier, so is Rondo's 56.8% season. If Kidd's 70% FT is "not horrible", and Rondo makes the same raw ~10% improvement over his career, hit FT shooting also becomes "not horrible".

i think the problem is that the kind of shooter who only shoots 55-60% free throws is much different than the kind of shooter that makes 70% free throws.

[CelticHooligan3]

He definitely hasn't peaked.  While he might not become a lot better - I honestly believe we wil see improvements in the mid-range jumper and Free Throw.

All that takes is work ethic

Has it not been there before? Work ethic can be improved no doubt but why hasnt it so far?

[Interceptor]

i think the problem is that the kind of shooter who only shoots 55-60% free throws is much different than the kind of shooter that makes 70% free throws.

The real problem is that everyone in the NBA should be a 90% FT shooter. It's an uncontested shot fifteen feet from the backboard that you have all day to make, and can do basically however you want as long as you don't violate any of its few rules. Practice and effort get you there.

[Fafnir]

i think the problem is that the kind of shooter who only shoots 55-60% free throws is much different than the kind of shooter that makes 70% free throws.

The real problem is that everyone in the NBA should be a 90% FT shooter. It's an uncontested shot fifteen feet from the backboard that you have all day to make, and can do basically however you want as long as you don't violate any of its few rules. Practice and effort get you there.

Shooting free throws in NBA level basketball games isn't easy, and the history of the league shows is not something everyone can learn.

[PosImpos]

i think the problem is that the kind of shooter who only shoots 55-60% free throws is much different than the kind of shooter that makes 70% free throws.

The real problem is that everyone in the NBA should be a 90% FT shooter. It's an uncontested shot fifteen feet from the backboard that you have all day to make, and can do basically however you want as long as you don't violate any of its few rules. Practice and effort get you there.

imagine your hands were twice as large as they are right now and you had the added pressure of taking the shots in front of thousands of people.  not easy.  even if the pressure doesn't ever bother you, it might be impossible if your hands are so disproportionately large compared to the ball (rondo and shaq have that problem).

[Inside-Out]

i think the problem is that the kind of shooter who only shoots 55-60% free throws is much different than the kind of shooter that makes 70% free throws.

The real problem is that everyone in the NBA should be a 90% FT shooter. It's an uncontested shot fifteen feet from the backboard that you have all day to make, and can do basically however you want as long as you don't violate any of its few rules. Practice and effort get you there.

I agree completely, especially since it's exactly the same shot since 5th grade.  I might argue it's even harder in 5th grade or HS since girls are sometimes watching...much more of a distraction for a HS kid than 18K fans for an NBA player, I think, who is more accustomed to being watched.

It doesn't (and shouldn't) take a Michael Jordan to hit it with the eyes closed.  I used to do that all the time for fun.  In a little informal experiment, it actually didn't reduce the % much, either (having eyes closed).

[Interceptor]

Shooting free throws in NBA level basketball games isn't easy, and the history of the league shows is not something everyone can learn.

I think what it shows is that there are a lot of people with NBA talent, that have a poor work ethic to go along with it. Ray Allen is not a magical unicorn, he wasn't born with the ability to hit shots like a boss.

imagine your hands were twice as large as they are right now and you had the added pressure of taking the shots in front of thousands of people.  not easy.  even if the pressure doesn't ever bother you, it might be impossible if your hands are so disproportionately large compared to the ball (rondo and shaq have that problem).

Shaq's problem is his pride. Big hands? Big deal. Take your free throws Rick Barry style, underhand. Shaq's abysmal FT% is all between his ears, concern about image.

I personally think that Rondo should do his FT attempts as a jumpshot; he seems more comfortable shooting that way and it's not against the rules.

[moiso]

Shooting free throws in NBA level basketball games isn't easy, and the history of the league shows is not something everyone can learn.

I think what it shows is that there are a lot of people with NBA talent, that have a poor work ethic to go along with it. Ray Allen is not a magical unicorn, he wasn't born with the ability to hit shots like a boss.

imagine your hands were twice as large as they are right now and you had the added pressure of taking the shots in front of thousands of people.  not easy.  even if the pressure doesn't ever bother you, it might be impossible if your hands are so disproportionately large compared to the ball (rondo and shaq have that problem).

Shaq's problem is his pride. Big hands? Big deal. Take your free throws Rick Barry style, underhand. Shaq's abysmal FT% is all between his ears, concern about image.

I personally think that Rondo should do his FT attempts as a jumpshot; he seems more comfortable shooting that way and it's not against the rules.

Yeah, I'm not sold on the big hands theory.  I can hit a higher percentage shooting a softball than Shaq can hit with a basketball.

[BballTim]

Rondo and his style have been absolutely perfect for this team the last 5 years.

After all those veterans and offensive firepower leave, he is not nearly as valuable.

There are only a handful of teams where Rondo would be as valuable as he is on the Celtics.

Miami, Lakers and I cant think of many more.

  Look for teams that have decent outside shooters, athletic bigs or players that can run the break. There must be at least a few of them in the league.

  I would expect the team in the league where he'd be the least valuable would be the Heat, unless you could convince both Wade and James that Rondo needs to start the offense on most possessions. Their biggest use of a pg is a spot up shooter to spread the floor.

[Yogi]

   Rondo is physically more gifted than Chris Paul.  He is faster, longer and more durable.  Rondo is smarter than Chris Paul.  He is more aware of what is happening during games and can make adjustments and call plays on the floor like a coach.  Chris Paul is much more skilled than Rondo.  He's an elite passer, elite scorer, good defender and good rebounder.
   Chris Paul is without a doubt the better player.  However Rondo has a much higher ceiling.   Skill can be learned, but IQ and athleticism can't.  Rondo has improved at a much faster rate than Chris Paul.  Rondo came into the league very raw as a late round draft pick.  Chris Paul was a star from the moment he stepped into the NBA.  Rondo has not closed the gap completely, but he's a lot closer to Paul than he was to start.  Rondo has also slowly improved his field goal percentage, despite a steady increase in shot attempts,  to near 50% and actually shoots more efficiently from the field than Chris Paul.  Paul is still the far better scorer because he is a far superior 3 point shooter and converts his free throws.  
   If Rondo becomes a better shooter, he would surpass Chris Paul as the best point guard in the league. However there is no reason to expect Rondo will become a better shooter overnight.  His humongous wingspan and large hands makes it very hard to get a shooting touch.  But he WILL improve his shooting, especially as his responsibility shifts from set up man to leader.  I have no doubt that in two years Rondo will be equal to if not better than Chris Paul.