Shooting is not the only basketball skill there is. Rondo's elite passing and ball handling skills won't go away.
but when you lose a step, you can't hit the passes because you aren't in the same position on the floor. You can't do a killer crossover (as an example), if your knee is weaker or slower. That is the problem with Rondo right now. His best attributes were based in a large part on his physical gifts, he just doesn't have those physical gifts anymore. He has to learn how to play differently, something he has never demonstrated a real ability to do. He isn't a guy that can morph into a spot up shooter, or a back you down and post you up type PG. He isn't going to blow by anyone off the dribble. His game was and is based on his physical attributes, which he just doesn't have right now. He should be able to get some of that back as his knee gets stronger, but he will never be the player he once was physically, so he is going to have to change his game a bit. I have very little confidence that he will be able to make the adjustments he will need to make to be an all star PG again. He will still be very good, but I see a guy that is at best a title contenders 3rd best player where pre-injury I think he could have been the 2nd best player (though not the second scoring option).
He may never be as athletic as he was before the injury, but I expect him to look more explosive and more comfortable driving the basketball again by next season.
And I think it bordering on criminal how many of you don't recognize how
skillful Rondo is at finding the open man and delivering the basketball. There is a theory that this skill is simply a by-product of his athleticism and/or the teammates he's played with.
Rajon Rondo is one of the best basketball passers of the last twenty years. I'd honestly say in the top five, along with Johnson, Nash, Kidd, and Stockton. That fact that this isn't recognized as
skill more often really hurts my basketball sensibilities.
