Spike in scoring and dip in assists (per 36). Maybe?
I actually wouldn't be surprised if it was the opposite, actually.
A little more reluctance to attack the rim and acting as a facilitator a bit more.
Have to agree with this. Especially with a new team around him, I think he's going to use the remainder of the season to move the ball and see what his options are.
I also agree with this, coming back from injury, you do not want to reinjure that knee. I expect a less aggressive Rondo than a Rondo that constantly drives.
I am expecting 6-8 ppg, 9-10 apg, 3-4 rpg, < 1 spg.
Those seem to be just where I'm thinking as well. Although I think his rpg will be more around 2.
these last stats may be the most accurate, but still a tad optimistic, when all is said and done.
SCORING
rondo has never, ever averaged more than 13.7 points a game. this was when he had two good legs and could cut to the basket, spin and shoot, and use basic agility to get free for shots. these were crucial parts of his game. further, he had other scorers to take pressure off of him and open up the floor.
now? i dont see him being as agile, nimble, spinning, as before, at least not for the first 15-20 games, maybe not until next season. i doubt his jump shot increased in accuracy during his time off either. the leg may also affect his jump shooting for a while, and not to the better.
i just dont see how being injured for months and not playing is going to help him score better than his career highs.
further, he has averaged at least 33 minutes a night over the past 5 seasons. does anyone here honestly think he will average that for this season? less minutes mean less chances to score, which means lower scoring stats.
given the above, even if we assume he regains his form after 15 to 20 games of playing himself back into shape, (which means well over half the season will be gone) i dont see him scoring as much compared to his past performance.
ASSISTS
you cant get an assist unless someone else scores. correct me if i am wrong on this. so, i have doubts that even if rondo were to return to "perfect-rondo" form instantly, that he could match the roughly 11.3 assists he averaged over the past 3 years.
KG and PP arent there to make those shots off his assists. neither is ray allen. what the celtics are as a team right now is offensive in the wrong sense of the word.
This celtics team ranks 26th in rating (96.9 pts/game) and are generally an inefficient and inconsistent group on the offensive end. just remember how badly they fluctuate from quarter to quarter let alone game to game.
and again, rondo wont be playing as many minutes and his teammates won't be shooting as well as previous teams.
i just dont see how he will be racking up 10 to 11 assists per game as an average.
HELPING THE TEAM BE BETTER
rondo will help, no doubt. but even a healthy rondo has limits given the team he has to work with. remember, last season WITH rondo the celtics were UNDER .500. if you argue that they would have been worse without him then i will agree. but WITH him they were UNDER .500
others may not agree, but i dont think this team is as good as last year's team. i would be very surprised is rondo could somehow carry this team - either with one or two good legs - to above .500....
keep in mind the rest of the supporting cast so far this season has the celtics team ranking in...
pace = 26th in nba
assists = 27th in nba
eff. fg = 20th in nba
ts% = 20th in nba
off eff = 26th in nba
geez lousie guys and gals, rondo will improve these stats, we all hope. but the question is just how much better he can make the current cast of mismatched talents.
how much can we expect from a recovering rondo here? should we expect him to work miracles? for me, no. will the celtics be better with him than without him? probably, if his leg holds up.
Topic: Rondo's Performance Upon Returning (Read 6481 times)