A Most Discouraging Win

[SHAQATTACK]

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning I guess.   I'd trade Rondo today for Pau Gasol in a New York second.

Rondo just got on my bad side last night .Having Dooling is maddening enought...but when Rondo starts with his Street ball & ADS play ... I 'll play how I want attitude ...I want him gone.

Maybe Rondo's screwy head games is messing up PP too?

[Kuberski1]

Definitely a bad game by RR.  But he still does things which help: e.g. on an in-bounds play, Pietrus was way out of position, Rondo yelled at him to get in the right place, and the play went to MP for an easy lay-up. 

[soap07]

Daily Dime:

That was ... weird: The Celtics won despite Rajon Rondo, their best player, going 0-for-6 from the floor and not shooting a single free throw. Rondo did finish with 11 assists, but his level of passivity on offense has become astounding. Rondo has never been a scorer, but he at least used to attack the basket whenever he had the opportunity to. Now, it looks like he wants to pass in every single situation, even if he has a better chance of scoring than a teammate does.

-- John Krolik

  I can see why you'd post this. Rondo averaged 23 points, 18 fga and 7.5 fta per game his previous 4 games. That is a pretty astounding level of passivity on offense...

And I can see why you'd post this.

In his last three games, Rondo is shooting 8-29 and averaging less than 3 FT's a game, but at least his turnovers are a solid 4 per game over that stretch. I agree, it is a pretty astounding level of passivity on offense.

[MBunge]

The problem with complaining about Rondo's passivity on offense is that we've seen what happens to the team when Rondo tries to be more aggressive.  NONE of the other regular starters will or can get out and run the court anymore and a more aggresive half-court Rondo only seem to result in a less effective Pierce and Allen.

There's a post on the front page that references how awful Boston's offense has been for a long time.  I don't think it has anything to do with Rondo.  It's an offense that's too complicated, too involved and takes too long to develop combined with a defensive rotation that's vulnerable to offensive rebounds, an emphasis on getting back on D with little to no effort to hit the offensive boards and a coach who tolerates WAAAAAAY too many turnovers from his veteran players.

And is anyone still going to argue against getting Michael Beasley?  Maybe Minny's asking prices will be too much but you can't deny how badly Boston needs a player with his scoring punch and no long-term salary commitment.

Mike

[clover]

How about the lesson the Captain took from his 4-11, 6 TO performance--he needs to shoot more and pass less:

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2012/02/29/celtics_regain_control/?p1=Well_Sports_links

[Marcus13]

I mean Cleveland is basically teh team right now that we're on par with.  It was grueling, back and forth game just as you'd expect it to be

[PosImpos]

Daily Dime:

That was ... weird: The Celtics won despite Rajon Rondo, their best player, going 0-for-6 from the floor and not shooting a single free throw. Rondo did finish with 11 assists, but his level of passivity on offense has become astounding. Rondo has never been a scorer, but he at least used to attack the basket whenever he had the opportunity to. Now, it looks like he wants to pass in every single situation, even if he has a better chance of scoring than a teammate does.

-- John Krolik

  I can see why you'd post this. Rondo averaged 23 points, 18 fga and 7.5 fta per game his previous 4 games. That is a pretty astounding level of passivity on offense...

That's true, but why does Rondo swing so drastically between one or the other?  Why attack relentlessly in some games and then be completely passive in others?

This is what I'm talking about when I say Rondo is maddeningly inconsistent.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

Relax. A 3-point win is the same as a 33-point win. It's +1 in the W column.

Sure, we should have demolished the Cavs and put them to sleep in the 1st quarter, but this is a "make-or-miss league" and "a league of runs" (those are Doc's words). We went on a run early and built up a 15+ point lead. Then they went on a run (largely a by-product of unforced/sloppy turnovers) and it was a game again.

The big 3 all came thought in the clutch and the only thing in question should be Rondo's effort/desire.

[BballTim]

Daily Dime:

That was ... weird: The Celtics won despite Rajon Rondo, their best player, going 0-for-6 from the floor and not shooting a single free throw. Rondo did finish with 11 assists, but his level of passivity on offense has become astounding. Rondo has never been a scorer, but he at least used to attack the basket whenever he had the opportunity to. Now, it looks like he wants to pass in every single situation, even if he has a better chance of scoring than a teammate does.

-- John Krolik

  I can see why you'd post this. Rondo averaged 23 points, 18 fga and 7.5 fta per game his previous 4 games. That is a pretty astounding level of passivity on offense...

And I can see why you'd post this.

In his last three games, Rondo is shooting 8-29 and averaging less than 3 FT's a game, but at least his turnovers are a solid 4 per game over that stretch. I agree, it is a pretty astounding level of passivity on offense.

  Actually, 10 shots and 10 assists a game doesn't really qualify as an astounding level of passivity to many people, even if they read that it was on the internet.

[snively]

Bad games from your two all-stars and you pick up a win on the road? 

Unless you expect your all-stars to continue to struggle, why would this be discouraging?

[Celtics4ever]

What was encouraging for me was Bradley looking more like a point guard. He has been able to get the ball up the floor and I think he will be a pretty good mid range shooter but it remains to be seen if he can play the point.

I saw one good pass from him.  Still his assists total are low for a PG.   We would need a point forward ala Larry or Pippen to use him at PG.   DJ was ok but we got by because we had Larry.

[TripleOT]

The Cs are 4-11 against teams that are currently .500 or above.  They are 12-6 against scrub teams, including losses to Detroit, Toronto and New Orleans.

When you're starving for wins, there's no such thing as a discouraging win.  Maybe this team can magically flip a switch and do some damage in the playoffs,  but 4-11 is a hideous mark against good teams.    

[PosImpos]

Daily Dime:

That was ... weird: The Celtics won despite Rajon Rondo, their best player, going 0-for-6 from the floor and not shooting a single free throw. Rondo did finish with 11 assists, but his level of passivity on offense has become astounding. Rondo has never been a scorer, but he at least used to attack the basket whenever he had the opportunity to. Now, it looks like he wants to pass in every single situation, even if he has a better chance of scoring than a teammate does.

-- John Krolik

  I can see why you'd post this. Rondo averaged 23 points, 18 fga and 7.5 fta per game his previous 4 games. That is a pretty astounding level of passivity on offense...

And I can see why you'd post this.

In his last three games, Rondo is shooting 8-29 and averaging less than 3 FT's a game, but at least his turnovers are a solid 4 per game over that stretch. I agree, it is a pretty astounding level of passivity on offense.

  Actually, 10 shots and 10 assists a game doesn't really qualify as an astounding level of passivity to many people, even if they read that it was on the internet.

I wouldn't argue that Rondo is astoundingly passive all the time.

What vexes me is that he can be the most aggressive player on the floor in one game and then astoundingly passive in the next.