Rondo has peaked

[droopdog7]

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.

two more words for you:  Chauncey Billips

Um, no.  Chauncey was a shooter the moment he stepped on to an NBA floor.  

What people are missing here is that there is a big difference between improving your shooting through repitition and practice and completely reinventing your shot from scratch.  The former is common place in the NBA.  The latter almost never works, though there are a lot of examples of players that even had to do that.

[droopdog7]

He still is young enough that he could easily improve, but he is largely the player he's going to be. But his flaws are such that even modest improvments to his free throw and jump shot percentage would create a large boost in his level of play.

So true. Which is why its interesting to see us giving up on him. Either there is some credibility to the rumors hes a lockerroom pain in the pa-toot. Or Ainge just isnt seeing enough improvement of his game to take it to the next level. My question is the latter part an issue of motivation or has danny seen him reach his ceiling?

Giving up on him?  Trading Rondo (if it happens) for a better player is not exactly giving up on him?

What i mean by that is fafnir is right.. Even small improvements to his free throw shooting and general fg percentage would bring his whole level of play up greatly in my opinion.

So essentially by trading him is danny saying "i dont see the kid makeing even these minor improvements"? Because for the most part it does seem like it could be minor tweaking and he would certainly be close to the level of CP or D Rose.

Or is it something else behind the scenes we arent seeing. Because if danny is ready to let the kid go who is so very close to that next level isnt that the smoke before the fire really? Just a thought i guess..

Not sure about that.  Paul isn't a great shooter.  But Rondo is still considerably worse.  And it isn't about FG%.  It's about Rondo willingness to even take shots where there isn't a guy near him.  That, as much as anything, is what bogs down the offense.  Will Rondo ever get to the point where another team won't consider leaving him wide open?

That alone should that Rondo is miles away from turning his shooting into a net positive.  He's not even close right now.  But I agree, if Rondo could ever shoot as well as Paul, he'd be a slightly better player.  But he isn't close.

The other thing for me is that even at age 25, Rondo wears down during the season.  That is because he has to work harder than most to accomplish things.  So if you take my premise that shooting will always be a Rondo weakness, then you have to know that Rondo won't be able to maintain his star very long.  By age 30 (at the latest), Rondo will already be in decline (IMO).  That, as much as anything, is what should be scaring other teams.

[PosImpos]

Not sure about that.  Paul isn't a great shooter.

paul was actually a very, very good shooter the last couple of seasons.  took a reasonably high number of shots and still got close to 50-40-90.

[soap07]

Paul isn't a great shooter. 

Not sure about that.  Paul isn't a great shooter.

paul was actually a very, very good shooter the last couple of seasons.  took a reasonably high number of shots and still got close to 50-40-90.

Yeah, I was just about to say this. Paul is a very good shooter.

[Neurotic Guy]

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.

two more words for you:  Chauncey Billips

I don't think either Jason or Chauncey are good examples.  The 2 shooting stats that I think are fair to use to compare are 3 pt% and FT% (FG% for Rondo is solid since most of his shots are close to the hoop). 

Kidd shot 27% from 3-point as a rookie and in the subsequent years (still under 26) he shot 33%, 32% and 38%.  His FT % improved dramatically over his career, but he was never close to Rondo's ineptitude -- Kidd shot 70%, 69%, 67%, 69% and 68% in his first 5 years. 

Billups averaged about 35% (with consistency) from 3 in his first 5 years (then got better) and averaged about 85% from the line in his first 5 years (then got better).

Rondo's career averages are 24% from 3 (23% last year) and 62% from the line (57% last year).

Billups always looked like he had a shot.  Kidd clearly got better in time, but was never in Rondo's league.  Rondo is a very bad shooter who has not gotten better.  He doesn't project to shoot nearly as well as Kidd -- never mind Billups.

[droopdog7]

Paul isn't a great shooter. 

Not sure about that.  Paul isn't a great shooter.

paul was actually a very, very good shooter the last couple of seasons.  took a reasonably high number of shots and still got close to 50-40-90.

Yeah, I was just about to say this. Paul is a very good shooter.

What  meanted is that Paul isn't a Steve Kerr, Larry Bird shooter.  You know, a GREAT shooter.  But yeah, I get that he can shoot the ball.

[Jon]

Paul isn't a great shooter. 

Not sure about that.  Paul isn't a great shooter.

paul was actually a very, very good shooter the last couple of seasons.  took a reasonably high number of shots and still got close to 50-40-90.

Yeah, I was just about to say this. Paul is a very good shooter.

What  meanted is that Paul isn't a Steve Kerr, Larry Bird shooter.  You know, a GREAT shooter.  But yeah, I get that he can shoot the ball.

Though compared to Rondo, Paul is practically Steve Kerr. 

[droopdog7]

Paul isn't a great shooter. 

Not sure about that.  Paul isn't a great shooter.

Good analogy and I agree. 
paul was actually a very, very good shooter the last couple of seasons.  took a reasonably high number of shots and still got close to 50-40-90.

Yeah, I was just about to say this. Paul is a very good shooter.

What  meanted is that Paul isn't a Steve Kerr, Larry Bird shooter.  You know, a GREAT shooter.  But yeah, I get that he can shoot the ball.

Though compared to Rondo, Paul is practically Steve Kerr. 

[thirstyboots18]

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.

two more words for you:  Chauncey Billips

I don't think either Jason or Chauncey are good examples.  The 2 shooting stats that I think are fair to use to compare are 3 pt% and FT% (FG% for Rondo is solid since most of his shots are close to the hoop). 

Kidd shot 27% from 3-point as a rookie and in the subsequent years (still under 26) he shot 33%, 32% and 38%.  His FT % improved dramatically over his career, but he was never close to Rondo's ineptitude -- Kidd shot 70%, 69%, 67%, 69% and 68% in his first 5 years. 

Billups averaged about 35% (with consistency) from 3 in his first 5 years (then got better) and averaged about 85% from the line in his first 5 years (then got better).

Rondo's career averages are 24% from 3 (23% last year) and 62% from the line (57% last year).

Billups always looked like he had a shot.  Kidd clearly got better in time, but was never in Rondo's league.  Rondo is a very bad shooter who has not gotten better.  He doesn't project to shoot nearly as well as Kidd -- never mind Billups.

I was not referring to shooting...I was referring to maturing as a player, in particular, as a point guard.  Rondo is still young (as is Paul) and I don't think he has reached his high point yet.  Last year was an anomaly, Rondo suffered with planter fasciitis and had no credible, consistent  back up.  It is my belief that Centers and Point Guards take the longest to perfect their games.