Rondo should be smarter at scoring

[bfrombleacher]

A picture speaks a thousand words. Videos are like many pictures put together so:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCll14sypvs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo7VDqmHegc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_xPNnG7pE4

Andre has played something along the lines of 600 consecutive games before being suspended for shoving Blake Griffin. The guy has pretty much tricked his way into such a long career. I don't think there is a problem at all with playing under the rim and being more controlled. Like Miller, play smart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHiR-qeX7V8

Rondo does have a nice floater but utilizing it more helps him stay on the floor.

Rather than going headstrong up against the defender, protect yourself Rondo! Tony Parker and Andre Miller don't have jumpers either but they don't scare me every time they attempt to score.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PLWvSqkDAU

Rondo doesn't have the stroke that Cassell has but if he could create space and post up like Cassell does, he wouldn't have to out-jump and out-pace everyone (which make him really injury prone). I'm a bit disappointed to see Rondo not post up this season as I've read articles about him working on that aspect of his  game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BaDqwhA19k

Sorry to have to make you guys watch Rondo get injured again but I think he could have and should have slowed down in that play. This video is a stark contrast of all the other videos. Even if he was built thicker like Deron Williams, the wear and tear adds up.

Every time I watch Rondo drive in I cringe because he throws his body around so much. This year especially it seems that he's even more aggressive than before. I swear every single layup he has made this year involved him getting whacked to some degree. The wrist injury was kind of inevitable.

The thing that separates him from a top tier player - the missing piece that everyone keeps talking about - is a better propensity to not only score but score consistently. Punishing his body like that will only hurt that cause.

If he learns from the guys above, not only would it increase his longevity but also his effectiveness and I think he'd be "that guy" that we need.

But I dream.

[IrishGreen]

Possibly one of my favorite posts I've seen on this forum. You hit it right on the nail.

In my opinion I don't think a player can become smarter at scoring overnight - it comes with alot of games and experience, as is quite evident with Miller and Parker. As time moves forward you will see Rondo adapt to his game to certain situations on the offensive end. Miller and Parker know when they are going to drive to the basket, whereas Rondo is always looking for mismatches in the low post, or Ray Allen running off screens. In this regard, I firmly believe that he's the smartest PG in the league.

Rondo has always been a drive-to-the-basket type player when it comes to getting baskets, but only as a 3rd-4th option, and when that happens and he's unable to get his pass off he drives alot of the time into crowded lanes. If you look at alot of clips you posted you can see that Miller and Parker could have found open passes but instead drove to the basket because the defense was spread. Furthermore some of them clips show Miller and Parker at times playing with their backs to the baskets, which for a point guard is tough to master - especially with RR long arm span.

I don't doubt Rondo could put up 30+ most night is he was more selfish but at the end of the day you've got to ask yourself...

Do you want a pass-first PG or a do you want someone to move from 4th choice scorer to 1st? Personally I'd rather Rondo as a  pass first largely because I believe they're a dying breed. No one since John Stockton has dictated a game by their passing rather than his scoring. I MISS that!

[TA9]

Nice post!
In my opinion i think that Rondo can score just as good as any body in this league.
But the problem is.. He doesnt have to do it right now! He got KG, Ray, Pierce etc. on this team. I think that this will chance however when we begin rebuilding..

[clover]

And there's Doc with his classic top-of-the-head palm of concern in the video where Rondo gets hurt.

[bfrombleacher]

Possibly one of my favorite posts I've seen on this forum. You hit it right on the nail.

In my opinion I don't think a player can become smarter at scoring overnight - it comes with alot of games and experience, as is quite evident with Miller and Parker. As time moves forward you will see Rondo adapt to his game to certain situations on the offensive end. Miller and Parker know when they are going to drive to the basket, whereas Rondo is always looking for mismatches in the low post, or Ray Allen running off screens. In this regard, I firmly believe that he's the smartest PG in the league.

Rondo has always been a drive-to-the-basket type player when it comes to getting baskets, but only as a 3rd-4th option, and when that happens and he's unable to get his pass off he drives alot of the time into crowded lanes. If you look at alot of clips you posted you can see that Miller and Parker could have found open passes but instead drove to the basket because the defense was spread. Furthermore some of them clips show Miller and Parker at times playing with their backs to the baskets, which for a point guard is tough to master - especially with RR long arm span.

I don't doubt Rondo could put up 30+ most night is he was more selfish but at the end of the day you've got to ask yourself...

Do you want a pass-first PG or a do you want someone to move from 4th choice scorer to 1st? Personally I'd rather Rondo as a  pass first largely because I believe they're a dying breed. No one since John Stockton has dictated a game by their passing rather than his scoring. I MISS that!

Thank you!

Certainly I would love Rondo to continue to improve everybody but his inability to score at will is the main knock on him.

Chris Paul is also considered a pure point guard but teams have to guard him in crucial situations.

Also, I think part of the reason Doc doesn't run a lot of pick and rolls with Rondo is because of his inability to really score (teams just go under the screen). If he can slip past the defense like Miller, even without a jumper he'd be hard to defend in that situation. He'd be deadly off the pick and roll if he were more of a threat.

And yes it'll take time to master. I hope Rondo's slight arrogance doesn't stop him from working on his craft (no matter what direction he wants to take his game). He's in a good a position as any with the tutelage of Doc and hall of famers.

[bopna]

Rondo IS Smart.... I would only judge him after the Big three era. for now, him defering to the Big three is already a testament to how smart he is. Remember, This is the same guy that almost single handedly advanced us in the Playoffs in 2009 and 10. He is not the best PG out there as we all know it, but he is THE PG for PP, Ray and KG.

Is this another Bash Rondo thread simply because he is not good at scoring. Everytime Rondo plays bad we always see these the sky is falling we need a scoring PG thread. I mean honestly, Do we really want Andre Miller running the show post Big three. 

Sometimes how I wish Rondo is traded already so all of us can feel how awful this team is gonna be without a legit PG... How I love to see how good this team is gonna be with Derek Fisher starting. HAH!

[bfrombleacher]

Is this another Bash Rondo thread simply because he is not good at scoring.

No, definitely not. I like Rondo and I hope he stays (especially after he gave up his arm for us like that).

I just think he should learn to avoid contact and play under the rim a lot like what Andre Miller does (who also happens not to have a jumper). Instead of going straight up against opposition, avoid the contact and be more nifty.

I'm not saying he's not smart. Maybe I shouldn't have put it that way. I guess what I was trying to say is that he should be less headstrong so he won't get injured too much.

[mgent]

So you think less aggression is gonna equal more offense?  Typically guys who play with reckless abandon are better than the ones that are scared of contact.

Playing style is not the only factor in injuries.  Plenty of guys drive hard to the rim and make their living banging around inside like Iguodala, Rose, LeBron, Dwight, and they hardly ever miss games.  (I'm sure there's better examples but it's early for me.)

[bfrombleacher]

So you think less aggression is gonna equal more offense?  Typically guys who play with reckless abandon are better than the ones that are scared of contact.

Playing style is not the only factor in injuries.  Plenty of guys drive hard to the rim and make their living banging around inside like Iguodala, Rose, LeBron, Dwight, and they hardly ever miss games.  (I'm sure there's better examples but it's early for me.)

I see your point but Rondo's build is unlike any of the examples you gave. I guess Rudy Gay has a build like Rondo's but Rondo is more than half a foot shorter than Gay is (plus wasn't he injured all of last season or something?).

I think he can be aggressive without being reckless by looking to outsmart rather than overpower.

[Celtics4ever]

Sad thing is the refs protest some guys they don't protect Rondo.  League-wide I think other teams know to hack him because the bad free throw percentage he shoots.   So worse case scenario they know he will miss one most likely and best case they put him out of the game.

[mgent]

I see your point but Rondo's build is unlike any of the examples you gave.

Well which is it, not big enough or not smart enough?

He's his own player.  You can't outsmart injuries.

[BMark3]

This may not be a popular opinion here but I think Rondo is developing into an Allen Iverson-like player without a jumpshot. In the half-Court offense he holds the ball way too long and looks to often to make the flashy Nash-like assist.

[pearljammer10]

Is this another Bash Rondo thread simply because he is not good at scoring.

No, definitely not. I like Rondo and I hope he stays (especially after he gave up his arm for us like that).

I just think he should learn to avoid contact and play under the rim a lot like what Andre Miller does (who also happens not to have a jumper). Instead of going straight up against opposition, avoid the contact and be more nifty.

I'm not saying he's not smart. Maybe I shouldn't have put it that way. I guess what I was trying to say is that he should be less headstrong so he won't get injured too much.

But when he is playing headstrong and driving to the basket thats when he is at his best... If he gets timid and spots doing that the offense is non existant.... Id much rather take headstrong Rondo driving to the basket hard than timid Rondo dirbbling for 20 seconds waiting for one play to develop, watching it not work, and then having him take a desperation jump shot.

[bfrombleacher]

I see your point but Rondo's build is unlike any of the examples you gave.

Well which is it, not big enough or not smart enough?

He's his own player.  You can't outsmart injuries.

Not big enough so he shouldn't play bigger than he is. He is smart but he loves to challenge the bigger guys from what I see. He goes straight into the defense.

[2short]

Rondo IS Smart.... I would only judge him after the Big three era. for now, him defering to the Big three is already a testament to how smart he is. Remember, This is the same guy that almost single handedly advanced us in the Playoffs in 2009 and 10. He is not the best PG out there as we all know it, but he is THE PG for PP, Ray and KG.

Is this another Bash Rondo thread simply because he is not good at scoring. Everytime Rondo plays bad we always see these the sky is falling we need a scoring PG thread. I mean honestly, Do we really want Andre Miller running the show post Big three. 

Sometimes how I wish Rondo is traded already so all of us can feel how awful this team is gonna be without a legit PG... How I love to see how good this team is gonna be with Derek Fisher starting. HAH!

rondo is one of the smartest basketball players i've ever seen