I accept that Rondo will never be a good free throw shooter

[Eja117]

It's extremely frustrating and I don't accept it in the same way I never accepted careless 4th quarter interceptions by Brett Farve and the way Deion Sanders wouldn't tackle people.

There are 7th graders that work harder on their free throws and get better results. You'd think for 10mill a year Rondo would care.

Rondo's act is getting thin

  How hard does Rondo work on his free throws?

  And, just for fun, what's the deal with the 400 or so players in the league that can't handle the ball or pass the ball as well as Rondo? Shouldn't they practice their deficiencies as well? You'd think that for a combined $46M+ KG/PP/RA would care. Their act is wearing pretty thin as well.

Hmmm. Maybe you're right. Rondo shouldn't practice. Nobody should ever have to practice. I mean if you have a deficiency you have a deficiency, right?  

  You didn't answer how hard Rondo works on his free throws, since you seem to be an expert on the subject.

  Your two choices seem to be "only Rondo needs to  work on his deficiencies" or "nobody needs to work on their deficiencies". Why is it so unthinkable that other players work on improving their games as well? Why does everyone but Rondo get a pass for having flaws they don't care enough to address?

You asked so I'll answer. Obviously he doesn't work on it hard enough.  Honestly this just strikes me as one of those questions that someone who has never played the game on even the lowest of weekend warrior levels would ask.  All shooting is based on a repetitious action, especially free throw shooting, where it's just you and the basket. It is essentially the easiest of any shot. You just stand there and shoot. The basket doesn't move. You don't jump. You just shoot. It's probably the single easiest thing in the game to practice and improve on. It is nothing like attempting to become a great ball handler in traffic or a great passer with other players defending you. It's more like a 5 year old learning to write their letters or numbers, only with less fine motor skill.  How much do you think he's practicing? Hours and hours? He gets there every day and shoots for 30 minutes a few hours before the game and then shoots 3 hours a day every day in the off season and shoots 300 times after every game that he makes less than half his free throws? And God has just happened to curse him with being the only person on Earth other than 7ft 2 Shaq who can't improve his free throw shooting?  A 6th grade girl can improve their free throw shooting. Legally blind kids can improve their free throw shooting. (They do it all the time at Perkins School for the Blind, which the Celtics have a relationship with through the owner, whose kid went there).  Old men can improve their free throw shooting. Everyone on Earth can improve their free throw shooting.  I'm not sure if apes can, but if they grasp the concept and they attach better performance to getting more treats I bet they can. But for some reason for years now Rondo can't. I don't believe it and I don't accept it.

  I'd say that if your claim was correct than almost every player in the league would be hitting 90% or so on their free throws. If Rondo could improve his free throw shooting with practice so could LeBron and so could Wade, both of whom have thrown away, I'd guess, close to 1000 points in their careers due to their lack of effort.

Yes. Exactly. Every player can improve their free throw shooting up to about 90% or so. Some would have an easier time than others, but they can all improve at pretty much any time.

[Donoghus]

It's extremely frustrating and I don't accept it in the same way I never accepted careless 4th quarter interceptions by Brett Farve and the way Deion Sanders wouldn't tackle people.

There are 7th graders that work harder on their free throws and get better results. You'd think for 10mill a year Rondo would care.

Rondo's act is getting thin

  How hard does Rondo work on his free throws?

  And, just for fun, what's the deal with the 400 or so players in the league that can't handle the ball or pass the ball as well as Rondo? Shouldn't they practice their deficiencies as well? You'd think that for a combined $46M+ KG/PP/RA would care. Their act is wearing pretty thin as well.

Hmmm. Maybe you're right. Rondo shouldn't practice. Nobody should ever have to practice. I mean if you have a deficiency you have a deficiency, right? 

  You didn't answer how hard Rondo works on his free throws, since you seem to be an expert on the subject.

  Your two choices seem to be "only Rondo needs to  work on his deficiencies" or "nobody needs to work on their deficiencies". Why is it so unthinkable that other players work on improving their games as well? Why does everyone but Rondo get a pass for having flaws they don't care enough to address?

Well, wasn't this thread established to highlight Rondo's free throw shooting?

I'm sure you can start a thread if you'd like to point out "others flaws" or how you feel everyone else gets a pass.

Rondo's free throw shooting has certainly opened the doors for criticism.

  So every time you want to disagree with someone you need to start a new thread to do so? If claiming Rondo doesn't care about his game can fit in the thread, pointing out that every other player in the league suffers from a similar lack of dedication fits in as well.

No, not really but you can be dramatic about it.  

I just got the sense that you used that "everyone else" crutch to try and deflect the criticism off of Rondo rather than offer any explanations for why or why not Rondo is a good free throw shooter.  Or maybe what the reasoning is for shooting around 60%?  You clearly disagree with eja's guess.  

What's your guess about Ronod's woes at the free throw line?  Or do you think he's fine as is as a free throw shooter.

[Jon]

Well, I think Rondo has "accepted" that he's a poor free throw shooter too.  And that's a good thing, so long as accepting it means driving to the lane anyway (though hopefully he's still trying to improve).  

Regardless of the percentage, we're a better team when Rondo penetrates opening things for others, getting easy buckets, and getting the other team in foul trouble.  

[green7]

as long as rondo can average 15 and 11 this season that's all i care about but i think these past two games rondo didn't really care for scoring which i don't like because he is facing the bulls next week we need rondo to be a scoring monster inside @ the line mid range whatever he needs to play hard these next 3 games

[BballTim]

It's extremely frustrating and I don't accept it in the same way I never accepted careless 4th quarter interceptions by Brett Farve and the way Deion Sanders wouldn't tackle people.

There are 7th graders that work harder on their free throws and get better results. You'd think for 10mill a year Rondo would care.

Rondo's act is getting thin

  How hard does Rondo work on his free throws?

  And, just for fun, what's the deal with the 400 or so players in the league that can't handle the ball or pass the ball as well as Rondo? Shouldn't they practice their deficiencies as well? You'd think that for a combined $46M+ KG/PP/RA would care. Their act is wearing pretty thin as well.

Hmmm. Maybe you're right. Rondo shouldn't practice. Nobody should ever have to practice. I mean if you have a deficiency you have a deficiency, right? 

  You didn't answer how hard Rondo works on his free throws, since you seem to be an expert on the subject.

  Your two choices seem to be "only Rondo needs to  work on his deficiencies" or "nobody needs to work on their deficiencies". Why is it so unthinkable that other players work on improving their games as well? Why does everyone but Rondo get a pass for having flaws they don't care enough to address?

Well, wasn't this thread established to highlight Rondo's free throw shooting?

I'm sure you can start a thread if you'd like to point out "others flaws" or how you feel everyone else gets a pass.

Rondo's free throw shooting has certainly opened the doors for criticism.

  So every time you want to disagree with someone you need to start a new thread to do so? If claiming Rondo doesn't care about his game can fit in the thread, pointing out that every other player in the league suffers from a similar lack of dedication fits in as well.

No, not really but you can be dramatic about it.  

  Funny, I thought suggesting people start a new thread instead of disagreeing with some of the criticisms was more on the dramatic side than my response.

I just got the sense that you used that "everyone else" crutch to try and deflect the criticism off of Rondo rather than offer any explanations for why or why not Rondo is a good free throw shooter.  Or maybe what the reasoning is for shooting around 60%?  You clearly disagree with eja's guess.  

  I didn't think it was a crutch. I just find it odd that people think that people who attack Rondo for not trying to improve his flaws don't feel that other players should as well. I doubt it's true that Rondo doesn't practice free throws or doesn't care, but (just like everyone else here) I don't really know how much he practices.

What's your guess about Ronod's woes at the free throw line?  Or do you think he's fine as is as a free throw shooter.

  I don't know why Rondo doesn't shoot better from the line. I wouldn't be surprised if he improved somewhat but wouldn't be amazed if he didn't. I don't think he's a good free throw shooter but he's a very good player in spite of it.

[kozlodoev]

What?

I thought he was improving....6 games is still a small sample-size.

I thought so too. For about 2 games -- after than we went back to, I regret to say, normal.

[guava_wrench]

The 'why' seems like a pointless question.

He is not a shooter. We all know that. Just because he hits the gym and practices a lot does not mean he will develop to be anything more than acceptable. Practice is not enough to develop an elite skill.

I think a lot of people also think about the time they hit 5 in a row and think shooting FTs are easy need to remember that Rondo has also hit 5 in a row before. But then there are times he goes to the line and it is off. I expect in practice he can hit 85% if he just keeps shooting one after another, but that is not how FTs work in the NBA. You shoot after doing something very different.

As Rondo continues to increase the number of midrange jumpers he takes, I think that will also help his FT shooting since he will be used to shooting.

[Army_of_One_Nation]

as long as rondo can average 15 and 11 this season that's all i care about but i think these past two games rondo didn't really care for scoring which i don't like because he is facing the bulls next week we need rondo to be a scoring monster inside @ the line mid range whatever he needs to play hard these next 3 games

Why settle for 15 and 11? If he goes to the free throw line an average of 7 times a game, with a better free throw stroke, he could be averaging 20 and 11.

[BballTim]

It's extremely frustrating and I don't accept it in the same way I never accepted careless 4th quarter interceptions by Brett Farve and the way Deion Sanders wouldn't tackle people.

There are 7th graders that work harder on their free throws and get better results. You'd think for 10mill a year Rondo would care.

Rondo's act is getting thin

  How hard does Rondo work on his free throws?

  And, just for fun, what's the deal with the 400 or so players in the league that can't handle the ball or pass the ball as well as Rondo? Shouldn't they practice their deficiencies as well? You'd think that for a combined $46M+ KG/PP/RA would care. Their act is wearing pretty thin as well.

Hmmm. Maybe you're right. Rondo shouldn't practice. Nobody should ever have to practice. I mean if you have a deficiency you have a deficiency, right?  

  You didn't answer how hard Rondo works on his free throws, since you seem to be an expert on the subject.

  Your two choices seem to be "only Rondo needs to  work on his deficiencies" or "nobody needs to work on their deficiencies". Why is it so unthinkable that other players work on improving their games as well? Why does everyone but Rondo get a pass for having flaws they don't care enough to address?

You asked so I'll answer. Obviously he doesn't work on it hard enough.  Honestly this just strikes me as one of those questions that someone who has never played the game on even the lowest of weekend warrior levels would ask.  All shooting is based on a repetitious action, especially free throw shooting, where it's just you and the basket. It is essentially the easiest of any shot. You just stand there and shoot. The basket doesn't move. You don't jump. You just shoot. It's probably the single easiest thing in the game to practice and improve on. It is nothing like attempting to become a great ball handler in traffic or a great passer with other players defending you. It's more like a 5 year old learning to write their letters or numbers, only with less fine motor skill.  How much do you think he's practicing? Hours and hours? He gets there every day and shoots for 30 minutes a few hours before the game and then shoots 3 hours a day every day in the off season and shoots 300 times after every game that he makes less than half his free throws? And God has just happened to curse him with being the only person on Earth other than 7ft 2 Shaq who can't improve his free throw shooting?  A 6th grade girl can improve their free throw shooting. Legally blind kids can improve their free throw shooting. (They do it all the time at Perkins School for the Blind, which the Celtics have a relationship with through the owner, whose kid went there).  Old men can improve their free throw shooting. Everyone on Earth can improve their free throw shooting.  I'm not sure if apes can, but if they grasp the concept and they attach better performance to getting more treats I bet they can. But for some reason for years now Rondo can't. I don't believe it and I don't accept it.

  I'd say that if your claim was correct than almost every player in the league would be hitting 90% or so on their free throws. If Rondo could improve his free throw shooting with practice so could LeBron and so could Wade, both of whom have thrown away, I'd guess, close to 1000 points in their careers due to their lack of effort.

Yes. Exactly. Every player can improve their free throw shooting up to about 90% or so. Some would have an easier time than others, but they can all improve at pretty much any time.

  Ok, so Rondo's among the 98% or so of the players that don't care enough about their games to practice their free throws enough to hit them as well as they should.

[JohnBagleyValueMeal]

Yes. Exactly. Every player can improve their free throw shooting up to about 90% or so. Some would have an easier time than others, but they can all improve at pretty much any time.

I don't believe that at all. Basketball-reference only has 3 guys with a career ft% over 90% (i'm not sure what the minimum FTA for that is), and last year only 4 guys averaged 90% for the season. It's not like Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan didn't work hard on their game, and neither of them averaged over 85% for their careers.

If all it took to shoot 90% at the line was hard work, more than a handful of guys would do it every year.

[vinnie]

His jumpshot got better (hit one pretty much every night and he Paul Pierce faked Gaines last night). Not even 10 games into the season and already this. Jeez.

Rondo has been a bad free throw shooter since he got here, not just 7 games, FYI.

One question: has there ever been an elite point guard who shoots as poorly from the line as Rondo?

[Greenbean]

Yes. Exactly. Every player can improve their free throw shooting up to about 90% or so. Some would have an easier time than others, but they can all improve at pretty much any time.

I don't believe that at all. Basketball-reference only has 3 guys with a career ft% over 90% (i'm not sure what the minimum FTA for that is), and last year only 4 guys averaged 90% for the season. It's not like Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan didn't work hard on their game, and neither of them averaged over 85% for their careers.

If all it took to shoot 90% at the line was hard work, more than a handful of guys would do it every year.

If a guy is taught good form and a good release at a young age, then yes all it takes is repetition.

However, if you are stuck with bad form (including lower body balance, elbow position etc) like Rondo is, you are limited by that form and release. His ceiling with the way he shots might only be about 70-75%.

Ray Allen, who started with absolute perfect form has a much higher ceiling (90-95%).

For Rondo to scrap his shooting form after using it for the 20 years he has likely been playing basketball is an= near impossible task.

[bfrombleacher]

His jumpshot got better (hit one pretty much every night and he Paul Pierce faked Gaines last night). Not even 10 games into the season and already this. Jeez.

Rondo has been a bad free throw shooter since he got here, not just 7 games, FYI.

One question: has there ever been an elite point guard who shoots as poorly from the line as Rondo?

The sample is still very small. I'm just saying wait a while before drawing conclusions.

[Greenbean]

It's extremely frustrating and I don't accept it in the same way I never accepted careless 4th quarter interceptions by Brett Farve and the way Deion Sanders wouldn't tackle people.

There are 7th graders that work harder on their free throws and get better results. You'd think for 10mill a year Rondo would care.

Rondo's act is getting thin

  How hard does Rondo work on his free throws?

  And, just for fun, what's the deal with the 400 or so players in the league that can't handle the ball or pass the ball as well as Rondo? Shouldn't they practice their deficiencies as well? You'd think that for a combined $46M+ KG/PP/RA would care. Their act is wearing pretty thin as well.

Hmmm. Maybe you're right. Rondo shouldn't practice. Nobody should ever have to practice. I mean if you have a deficiency you have a deficiency, right?  

  You didn't answer how hard Rondo works on his free throws, since you seem to be an expert on the subject.

  Your two choices seem to be "only Rondo needs to  work on his deficiencies" or "nobody needs to work on their deficiencies". Why is it so unthinkable that other players work on improving their games as well? Why does everyone but Rondo get a pass for having flaws they don't care enough to address?

You asked so I'll answer. Obviously he doesn't work on it hard enough.  Honestly this just strikes me as one of those questions that someone who has never played the game on even the lowest of weekend warrior levels would ask.  All shooting is based on a repetitious action, especially free throw shooting, where it's just you and the basket. It is essentially the easiest of any shot. You just stand there and shoot. The basket doesn't move. You don't jump. You just shoot. It's probably the single easiest thing in the game to practice and improve on. It is nothing like attempting to become a great ball handler in traffic or a great passer with other players defending you. It's more like a 5 year old learning to write their letters or numbers, only with less fine motor skill.  How much do you think he's practicing? Hours and hours? He gets there every day and shoots for 30 minutes a few hours before the game and then shoots 3 hours a day every day in the off season and shoots 300 times after every game that he makes less than half his free throws? And God has just happened to curse him with being the only person on Earth other than 7ft 2 Shaq who can't improve his free throw shooting?  A 6th grade girl can improve their free throw shooting. Legally blind kids can improve their free throw shooting. (They do it all the time at Perkins School for the Blind, which the Celtics have a relationship with through the owner, whose kid went there).  Old men can improve their free throw shooting. Everyone on Earth can improve their free throw shooting.  I'm not sure if apes can, but if they grasp the concept and they attach better performance to getting more treats I bet they can. But for some reason for years now Rondo can't. I don't believe it and I don't accept it.

  I'd say that if your claim was correct than almost every player in the league would be hitting 90% or so on their free throws. If Rondo could improve his free throw shooting with practice so could LeBron and so could Wade, both of whom have thrown away, I'd guess, close to 1000 points in their careers due to their lack of effort.

Yes. Exactly. Every player can improve their free throw shooting up to about 90% or so. Some would have an easier time than others, but they can all improve at pretty much any time.

  Ok, so Rondo's among the 98% or so of the players that don't care enough about their games to practice their free throws enough to hit them as well as they should.

LOL its funny isnt it?

Like if Shaq was a 90% free throw shooter he might have averaged 50 pts a game and I dont think Im exaggerating.

So the line of thinking here is that Shaq just said, nah I dominate already too much. I dont want to score more, make more money than Jordan, win more championships than Russel. Im content.

These guys are competitors. The majority of them care about getting better especially if there is more winning and money on the line if they do.

[ManUp]

I'm sorry, but I find this form stuff to be absolute crap and honestly can't understand the people who seem to obsess about it. We've seen time after time guys with unorthodox shots who can absolutely light you up so I honestly don't buy the form stuff. Even Ray himself has said that it's about repetition and not form when he tried to coach Rondo. IMHO, as long as you have one hand on the side of the ball, one hand under the ball, and you have a fluid follow through your basically good to go.