Rajon Rondo's February

[Vox_Populi]

It's seeming like his defense might be the last thing to come back. Doesn't seem like he's close to his former level there - would others agree?

His defense has been poor. But at least it seems his hands are still active as ever.

[D.o.s.]

You left out the fact that we're 5-6.

Deadspin dude nailed it, though:

"He's only going to pass it to you if he thinks he can get an assist." Roll that one around in your brain for a while. He's only going to pass to you if he thinks it will lead directly to a made field goal, the optimal outcome of a basketball possession.

[saltlover]

For comparison, his prior best month of free throw shooting was 75.5% in December 2008.  Certainly 84.2% is a small sample size, but it's way better than anything he's done over a month -- even other short ones.

[wayupnorth]

Pulled this from ESPN insider - overrated / underrated article, I would say it's a little harsh....

Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston Celtics




Eastern conference scout: "Three years ago, I was the only scout saying Rondo is overrated, and I was crucified for it. I was saying he was awful. I think he's a selfish player. He's only going to pass it to you if he thinks he can get an assist. I've seen him come out for pregame warm-ups with his shoes untied, shooting lefty foul shots. For him to come out for a game with that attitude makes me question his work ethic. I've never liked his game.




"If you play with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen at close to their peak, they're going to raise everyone's game. Defensively, Rondo's a bit of a gambler, and I don't think his defense is all that. If I was starting a team and had my choice of any point guard, he would be 40th. I mean it. I'd take some backups before him."

What an unintelligent scout.

If it wasn't anonymous I would send him all sorts of hate mail. That is just absurd, and that cannot be a real scout.

[LarBrd33]

Calling him "40th best PG" is like something an SNL Parody version of me would say.

Rondo has played really well this month.  He looks really good.  I think this is just about what we can expect from him heading forward... and it's fine.  I mean... if he can shoot like this heading forward, he's actually going to be even better than he was.   

He's been a Top 10 PG this month.  Just based on conventional stats I think he has been 8th.  CP3, Dragic, Curry, Wall, Lowry, Lillard, Irving, Rondo, Lawson, Thomas

He's shot exceptionally well and kept his turnovers down to reasonable levels.  It's actually rather amazing he's played this well considering he's not far removed from his injury.  I expected him to be good, but not very very good.  He's been very very good.   

At this point, I'm hoping we can keep him here long term.  If we make the playoffs, so be it.  I'd prefer we land a Top 5 pick in spite of Rondo's fantastic play.

What's the chances Rondo continues to shoot 40% from three and 84% from the line. I'd say slim to none.  But if he does... someone cook me up some crow to feast on.  I didn't think it was possible for someone to transition from "bad/mediocre" shooter to "fantastic shooter" at age 28.

[clover]

I nominate Ron Adams for assistant coach of the year.

[Nerf DPOY]

It's telling that the vast majority of Rondo's detractors' criticism tends to get personal. That Eastern Conference scout sounds like an obsessed idiot. I can't believe he would use those two talking points to bolster his argument. The only part of what he said that I consider thought provoking was that being crucified, while barbaric, probably does have it's place now and then.

[manl_lui]

Calling him "40th best PG" is like something an SNL Parody version of me would say.

Rondo has played really well this month.  He looks really good.  I think this is just about what we can expect from him heading forward... and it's fine.  I mean... if he can shoot like this heading forward, he's actually going to be even better than he was.   

He's been a Top 10 PG this month.  Just based on conventional stats I think he has been 8th.  CP3, Dragic, Curry, Wall, Lowry, Lillard, Irving, Rondo, Lawson, Thomas

He's shot exceptionally well and kept his turnovers down to reasonable levels.  It's actually rather amazing he's played this well considering he's not far removed from his injury.  I expected him to be good, but not very very good.  He's been very very good.   

At this point, I'm hoping we can keep him here long term.  If we make the playoffs, so be it.  I'd prefer we land a Top 5 pick in spite of Rondo's fantastic play.

What's the chances Rondo continues to shoot 40% from three and 84% from the line. I'd say slim to none.  But if he does... someone cook me up some crow to feast on.  I didn't think it was possible for someone to transition from "bad/mediocre" shooter to "fantastic shooter" at age 28.

Is that list just on scoring, fg%? or just overall performance, cuz if it is overall performance, Rondo definitely can go back to top 5 or even top 3 when fully healthy

[saltlover]

I nominate Ron Adams for assistant coach of the year.

I was psyched about that hire, because of his reputation for working with shooters.  Has he been the one working with Rondo?

[LarBrd33]

Calling him "40th best PG" is like something an SNL Parody version of me would say.

Rondo has played really well this month.  He looks really good.  I think this is just about what we can expect from him heading forward... and it's fine.  I mean... if he can shoot like this heading forward, he's actually going to be even better than he was.   

He's been a Top 10 PG this month.  Just based on conventional stats I think he has been 8th.  CP3, Dragic, Curry, Wall, Lowry, Lillard, Irving, Rondo, Lawson, Thomas

He's shot exceptionally well and kept his turnovers down to reasonable levels.  It's actually rather amazing he's played this well considering he's not far removed from his injury.  I expected him to be good, but not very very good.  He's been very very good.   

At this point, I'm hoping we can keep him here long term.  If we make the playoffs, so be it.  I'd prefer we land a Top 5 pick in spite of Rondo's fantastic play.

What's the chances Rondo continues to shoot 40% from three and 84% from the line. I'd say slim to none.  But if he does... someone cook me up some crow to feast on.  I didn't think it was possible for someone to transition from "bad/mediocre" shooter to "fantastic shooter" at age 28.

Is that list just on scoring, fg%? or just overall performance, cuz if it is overall performance, Rondo definitely can go back to top 5 or even top 3 when fully healthy

It's just conventional stats.  The stat junkies poop on that stuff these days.

Points + rebounds + assists + steals + blocks.  Subtract missed shots and turnovers. 

Rondo has been the 8th best PG over the past month... which is terrific.  At his peak he was 6th, I believe.  The dude gets his stats.

This month, though... he's actually knocking down shots.  It's a nice counter to his month of Jan where he shot comically bad... 27%/20%/50% ...  My guess is he's somewhere in the middle.  No way he continues to shoot 48%/40%/84%...

[Mr October]

Calling him "40th best PG" is like something an SNL Parody version of me would say.

Hahaha! Thank goodness that scout isn't a GM. He is probably the type of scout who demands that his guards be shooters. He might take a Mo Williams over Rondo. 

There is some truth to what he is saying though. rondo can be selfish sometimes. He rarely moves the ball just to keep it moving, and sometimes looks too hard for the assist. He also has a reputation for having great rondo vs mediocre rondo games, from an energy standpoint.

Having said that, his court vision in the full and half court is among the best of all time. He changes the game. Not many small guards can do that. Paul, Westbrook, Curry (on one end of the court) can as well.

[cman88]

Pulled this from ESPN insider - overrated / underrated article, I would say it's a little harsh....

Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston Celtics




Eastern conference scout: "Three years ago, I was the only scout saying Rondo is overrated, and I was crucified for it. I was saying he was awful. I think he's a selfish player. He's only going to pass it to you if he thinks he can get an assist. I've seen him come out for pregame warm-ups with his shoes untied, shooting lefty foul shots. For him to come out for a game with that attitude makes me question his work ethic. I've never liked his game.




"If you play with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen at close to their peak, they're going to raise everyone's game. Defensively, Rondo's a bit of a gambler, and I don't think his defense is all that. If I was starting a team and had my choice of any point guard, he would be 40th. I mean it. I'd take some backups before him."

and yet, Rondo is averaging pretty much what he has his whole career for ppg/rpg/apg except he is playing with much lower quality players than pierce/KG/Ray allen now

[kozlodoev]

and yet, Rondo is averaging pretty much what he has his whole career for ppg/rpg/apg except he is playing with much lower quality players than pierce/KG/Ray allen now

Yeah, over 9 games.

[BleedGreen1989]

I nominate Ron Adams for assistant coach of the year.

I was psyched about that hire, because of his reputation for working with shooters.  Has he been the one working with Rondo?

He's clearly helped Avery's stroke as well and Marco Belleneli gave him credit this season as well for working with him on his shot.

I was very happy about him as a hire and still am. I think he's a fantastic assistant coach, which likely means he'll be hired by somebody as a head coach eventually...

[saltlover]

I nominate Ron Adams for assistant coach of the year.

I was psyched about that hire, because of his reputation for working with shooters.  Has he been the one working with Rondo?

He's clearly helped Avery's stroke as well and Marco Belleneli gave him credit this season as well for working with him on his shot.

I was very happy about him as a hire and still am. I think he's a fantastic assistant coach, which likely means he'll be hired by somebody as a head coach eventually...

I doubt it.  Not being ageist, but he's what, 65, and has never been a head coach.  He's been a great assistant for years -- started coaching in the late 60s-- if he hasn't become a head coach by now, I think that ship has sailed.  Hopefully we can keep him from retiring for a few years.