Was rondo "playing hard" tonight?

[cons]

Just curious.
Does anyone think he was really playing very hard and doing everything he could to win the game?
He seemed to be kind of on fire hitting pull up 3 s and I think only missed one shot. He seems to be physically fine right now. But it looked to me that he's content to just kind of be back at this point as opposed to you know trying to really win the game.
We've all seen rondo have games where he dominates everything and often those have been games where he couldn't buy a jumper. But tonight he's easily hitting threes yet seems to have little else to offer.
My sense is that he's just going along w the plan right now - we want him to get back and healthy and that's really more important than winning. But it's just frustrating - I think if he truly wanted to he could've had much more of an impact tonight and it could've at least been a lot closer in the end.
I think our previous captain might have gone all out a little harder trying to carry the team to a win - even in a year that they suck. I remember they did beat San Antonio in TX in 2007 I think.

[pearljammer10]

This season is about Rondo working on his game, getting his rhythm back, and working on getting healthy. Winning is out the window.

[Tr1boy]

Just curious.
Does anyone think he was really playing very hard and doing everything he could to win the game?
He seemed to be kind of on fire hitting pull up 3 s and I think only missed one shot. He seems to be physically fine right now. But it looked to me that he's content to just kind of be back at this point as opposed to you know trying to really win the game.
We've all seen rondo have games where he dominates everything and often those have been games where he couldn't buy a jumper. But tonight he's easily hitting threes yet seems to have little else to offer.
My sense is that he's just going along w the plan right now - we want him to get back and healthy and that's really more important than winning. But it's just frustrating - I think if he truly wanted to he could've had much more of an impact tonight and it could've at least been a lot closer in the end.
I think our previous captain might have gone all out a little harder trying to carry the team to a win - even in a year that they suck. I remember they did beat San Antonio in TX in 2007 I think.

Rondo can play harder, better

Danny knows this also and is prob banking on him playing for his contract life next season.  If he doesnt you can bet rondo is traded at the latest by 2015 season trade deadline

[fanofgreen]

Of course Rondo wasn't playing hard!

Was the game nationally televised?

If not, then Rondo didn't play as hard as he could. Plan and simple. I thought this was something that was established about 2 or 3 years ago already!

[rondohondo]

are you serious with this?

Man people love to find something to hate on rondo for. Now you are comparing him to our last captain saying he doesn't care as much as PP did

please, get out of here with this stuff.....

[snively]

He was playing slow (and he wasn't hitting the defensive boards), but he played very smart.  Not his fault Stevens trotted out Gerald Wallace at 2-guard putting us at a speed disadvantage on D (no chance of hanging with Bellinelli) and destroying what little spacing we had on offense.

[nickagneta]

Rondo also has to adjust to this new offense. Doc had strict set plays and assigned options if the initial play broke down with secondary and tertiary targets available and to be searched out if the play broke down. As floor general leading that type of offense, Rondo thrived.

This offense is more college oriented with free flow ball movement, a de-emphasis on strict set plays with strict final options for that play. Instead the ball moves freely through all hands and it emphasizes the individual taking the initiative to create his offense.

Rondo's still getting used to that because its going to mean the ball not being in his hands as much and its going to mean Rondo shooting a lot more in the half court sets, especially given our lack of low post threats and quality bigs.

I am wondering if this type offense really utilizes Rondo skill set as well as it can be utilized. Rondo with a better outside shot and three point shot might be better suited to a high screen pick and roll and pick and pop type offense with set plays and defined roles in the offense rather than moving the ball around until someone finds an opening and then creates a shot.

Going to take a bunch more of seeing Rondo play under Stevens to see if what I am seeing now is right.

[Vox_Populi]

There seemed to be a concerted effort by the team to move the ball. Rondo had a *season low* 12.8 USG%. I think that was more by design than a lack of effort on Rondo's part.

The threes were nice and I wonder why there wasn't a play to get him open for one considering he was the only hot hand in the starting 5.
http://on.nba.com/1lGlTOQ

[Tr1boy]

Rondo also has to adjust to this new offense. Doc had strict set plays and assigned options if the initial play broke down with secondary and tertiary targets available and to be searched out if the play broke down. As floor general leading that type of offense, Rondo thrived.

This offense is more college oriented with free flow ball movement, a de-emphasis on strict set plays with strict final options for that play. Instead the ball moves freely through all hands and it emphasizes the individual taking the initiative to create his offense.

Rondo's still getting used to that because its going to mean the ball not being in his hands as much and its going to mean Rondo shooting a lot more in the half court sets, especially given our lack of low post threats and quality bigs.

I am wondering if this type offense really utilizes Rondo skill set as well as it can be utilized. Rondo with a better outside shot and three point shot might be better suited to a high screen pick and roll and pick and pop type offense with set plays and defined roles in the offense rather than moving the ball around until someone finds an opening and then creates a shot.

Going to take a bunch more of seeing Rondo play under Stevens to see if what I am seeing now is right.

Good eye. Though stevens style cant be pinned down to being college style ball. The miami heat and pacers also play this way

[sed522002]

Of course Rondo wasn't playing hard!

Was the game nationally televised?

If not, then Rondo didn't play as hard as he could. Plan and simple. I thought this was something that was established about 2 or 3 years ago already!

Was that Philly game televised? He played really hard then..maybe he was just imagining that it was on ESPN or TNT 

[D.o.s.]

The idea is silly.

Effort doesn't look the same from player to player. People used to vaguely and incorrectly knock T-Mac for "not playing hard" for this all the time. You don't need to act like Kent Bazemore to be excited for your teammates while you're on the bench, and you don't need to look like, say, Kris Humphries to give it your all on the court.

Just because he's not splaying out on the floor trying to recover the ball doesn't mean that Rondo didn't play hard or could've played harder.

[Tr1boy]

The idea is silly.

Effort doesn't look the same from player to player. People used to vaguely and incorrectly knock T-Mac for "not playing hard" for this all the time. You don't need to act like Kent Bazemore to be excited for your teammates while you're on the bench, and you don't need to look like, say, Kris Humphries to give it your all on the court.

Just because he's not splaying out on the floor trying to recover the ball doesn't mean that Rondo didn't play hard or could've played harder.

You have to play smart but also desperate to be elite in this league

Look at kg

[D.o.s.]

The idea is silly.

Effort doesn't look the same from player to player. People used to vaguely and incorrectly knock T-Mac for "not playing hard" for this all the time. You don't need to act like Kent Bazemore to be excited for your teammates while you're on the bench, and you don't need to look like, say, Kris Humphries to give it your all on the court.

Just because he's not splaying out on the floor trying to recover the ball doesn't mean that Rondo didn't play hard or could've played harder.

You have to play smart but also desperate to be elite in this league

Look at kg

Nonsense.

I'll raise your KG with a Tim Duncan.

[Tr1boy]

The idea is silly.

Effort doesn't look the same from player to player. People used to vaguely and incorrectly knock T-Mac for "not playing hard" for this all the time. You don't need to act like Kent Bazemore to be excited for your teammates while you're on the bench, and you don't need to look like, say, Kris Humphries to give it your all on the court.

Just because he's not splaying out on the floor trying to recover the ball doesn't mean that Rondo didn't play hard or could've played harder.

You have to play smart but also desperate to be elite in this league

Look at kg

Nonsense.

I'll raise your KG with a Tim Duncan/

TD played desperate tonight. He was fighting for position and for loose rebounds.

You dont have to scream like kg but a certain kind of intensity and effort is required to be good.

[Tr1boy]

Dos do you know what winning plays mean? Hustle plays?

Do you have to go into the stands or dive for balls? No , but if you do and buy a possession that could mean the diff between winning and losing a game. Rondo hasnt portrayed this way of playing thus far. He rarely drives to the basket , takes punishment to get a layup anymore. He could of taken two charges today but didnt

Maybe he is instructed not to. But bottom line is he could play harder