No longer believe Rondo could become a decent shooter

[chenaren]

Every time Rondo goes on a shooting streak in some playoff series or even regular season games, people start to babbling about how much he has improved in this aspect of game bla bla bla. In my opinion, it's all confirmation bias. In reality, his awkward shooting mechanic has never changed much since he was drafted into this league, and his shooting stats by season don't really show any good trend. Let's wait until Rondo has a over .700 free throw shooting season, and then we talk about what a much better shooter he has become.

[Fafnir]

Every time Rondo goes on a shooting streak in some playoff series or even regular season games, people start to babbling about how much he has improved in this aspect of game bla bla bla. In my opinion, it's all confirmation bias. In reality, his awkward shooting mechanic has never changed much since he was drafted into this league, and his shooting stats by season don't really show any good trend. Let's wait until Rondo has a over .700 free throw shooting season, and then we talk about what a much better shooter he has become.

Possibly. Right now for this season he's about his career norm from the line and 2 point jumpers, well above his career average on 3s, and far below his career average near the rim.

In my opinion, it's all confirmation bias. In reality

Of course you did choose to start this thread after a notably poor shooting night from Rajon and declare your POV to be reality. So yeah confirmation bias isn't your best point to make.

[LarBrd33]

He shot terribly his first month and terribly this month.  He was amazing in February, though.

Prob a streak. 

For all the talk about Rondo's improved 3-point shooting... he's missed his last 9.  He's made 1 of his last 15.  Seems to me the law of averages is catching up to him.  Players don't generally go from "poor" to "excellent" shooters in their late 20s.   His shooting is going back to the norm... his low FG% is the result of lack of explosiveness.  Here's hoping he gets that back.

[hwangjini_1]

All the points above are valid on rondos shooting in one form or another. Just to add to the overall murkiness here, we should also consider rondos injury and whether it is affecting his shooting around the basket.

He seems to lack his past ability to score on lay ups and spin moves. is this due to the injury?

I agree that rondo will probably not be a great shooter - ever. But I think he is better than what we have seen since his return.

It will be difficult to judge whether or not he has improved until well into next season I believe.

[Sketch5]

Eh...

Lets wait until next season when Rondo has a chance to really work out and get in shape and get comfortable with his body again before we start nit picking every little thing.

Coming back from that injury, he's was going to have his ups and downs with his entire game.

Rondo may never be a great shooter, but he does other things better than average. In a shooters league, it's nice to have a guy who doesn't need, or want to be on. He's not effective right now, because we are weak on shooters.

I do wish of all things he was a better FT shooter, but I've also come to that realization that he probably wont, and have gotten over that.

[kozlodoev]

In my opinion, it's all confirmation bias. In reality

Of course you did choose to start this thread after a notably poor shooting night from Rajon and declare your POV to be reality. So yeah confirmation bias isn't your best point to make.

These days there isn't much choice on the matter, since pretty much every game is a notably poor shooting game where Rondo is concerned. He has shot above 45% twice since February 19.

[droopdog7]

Surprised it has taken people this long.  I have been saying going back 3-4 years that Rondo would never get much better.  That's just the way it is.

[thirstyboots18]

I don't want Rondo to become a volume shooter, even if it means he gets 30 pts./night.  I would much rather Danny find some good scorers to surround him with and let him do what I believe a top point guard should do...set up plays for his scorers.  Volume shooters, especially point guards, are often one man losing teams.  I do like the fact that he is no longer afraid to let it fly occasionally from outside...other teams have to pay attention to him which frees up someone else.  (Unfortunately, this year the free man often can not score.)  Danny, get busy.  You got rid of PP and KG....without finding people who could replace their production or demand the other team commit to defense...hopefully next year things will fall into place.

[PhoSita]

Volume shooters, especially point guards, are often one man losing teams.

I still see this idea put out there from time to time, but it seems dated to me.

Looking around the league, a number of really good teams are led by point guards that score quite a lot of points.  Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Russell Westbrook are at the top of that list.

I don't want Rondo trying to be a volume shooter because I don't think that's his game.  He doesn't have the skillset to take 20-25 shots a night.  He isn't at his best when that's who he's trying to be.  I do think that for Rondo to continue playing at a high level into his mid 30's, he's going to need to become a reliable spot-up three point shooter the way that Jason Kidd did.  Otherwise he'll be more of a borderline starter a la Andre Miller.

[#1P4P]

What are the guidelines for a decent shooter?

If decent is average or slightly above, Rondo can eventually become a decent shooter... When you've taken thousands of reps using a specific technique, it takes thousands of reps to change it especially if your previous technique continue to rear its head).

Rondo allowed the criticism to alter his game, instead of tailoring his training to enhancing his exceptional skill of getting into the paint by obtaining a signature high % shot (ala Tony Parker, his tear drop, layup, and ability to draw foul calls) , he chose to improve his skill in one of the lowest % shots in basketball (the mid range and 3 point shot).

Now, he's shooting at the worst FG% of his career (and has seemingly regressed at one of his former strengths) because he's trying to satisfy cornballs criticism by proving that he can shoot.

[Vermont Green]

I think Rondo is shooting better this year but he is being given less room to shoot because the team is worse.   Back in the big 3 glory days, he was very often left wide open and simply dared to shoot.  These days, he is still finding space to shoot but not as much and not as often.

[BballTim]

Volume shooters, especially point guards, are often one man losing teams.

I still see this idea put out there from time to time, but it seems dated to me.

Looking around the league, a number of really good teams are led by point guards that score quite a lot of points.  Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Russell Westbrook are at the top of that list.

  I'd guess Durant and Aldridge might take issue with who leads their teams.

[BballTim]

It will be difficult to judge whether or not he has improved until well into next season I believe.

   Someone did a study about how players who come back from knee injuries tend to end up shooting better at jump shots but the improvement isn't seen the year they come back, it shows up the next year.

[PhoSita]

Volume shooters, especially point guards, are often one man losing teams.

I still see this idea put out there from time to time, but it seems dated to me.

Looking around the league, a number of really good teams are led by point guards that score quite a lot of points.  Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Russell Westbrook are at the top of that list.

  I'd guess Durant and Aldridge might take issue with who leads their teams.

Maybe, but I don't think either would dispute who the primary ball-handler and playmaker for their team is.

[LarBrd33]

Guys let's wait until Rondo retires before making any rash judgements about his shooting ability.  He might find his groove in his late 30s.