I actually got to watch a good part of the game last night. I don't use stats as the final arbiter of a player's ability or contribution.
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I also don't buy the Rondo isn't healthy or fully has his timing back, wait until next year, argument. I think Rondo is fine. This is what Rondo is and always has been.
Since you don't use stats, we should just take your word then?
Those stats that you don't use seem to disagree pretty strongly with the idea that Rondo is 'fine' and what he 'always has been'. In particular, his layup, dunk & tip shooting percentages are all dramatically lower than who he 'always has been'.
They are, however, completely consistent with someone who is still getting his legs & timing back after a long layoff from the game.
I don't use stats as the "final arbiter" meaning stats are part of the equation but I also go more than most I suspect based on what I see on the court. Stats can be deceiving. People will have to decide for themselves whether to take "my word" or not.
The recovered from injury question is a perfect example. There is no stat for that. You just have to watch him play and decide what you think. I see a player that looks fine. I don't have much else to go on (I am not able to talk to him or his trainers). Maybe next year he will make all his layups and shoot 40% from 3Pt, win the MVP, and carry us to a title. If that is the case, I will be very surprised and proven very wrong (wouldn't be the first time).
Just using one's eyes - does it really _look_ to you like he has been able to hit his floaters & layups anywhere NEAR the same consistency as before the injury?
My lying eyes can see that much pretty plain as day. He has not.
I think he is getting less space to shoot when he shoots so the degree of difficulty is greater lately than in the past. So it is not that he is shooting worse than he did in the past but that he is trying to make harder shots.
This is quite a departure from your usual "defenses ignore Rondo" claims, isn't it?
He actually appears to be shooting jumpers better than in the past. Seems that would not be the case if he wasn't 100%.
I just think overall, he looks just fine.
He's still not moving that well laterally or as quick or explosive on his drives. And I can't imagine that someone coming back from a knee injury would have an easier time driving/cutting/jumping on drives to the hoop than he would shooting jumpers, which he was probably able to do weeks if not months before he returned to the court.
