anybody else think rondo still not 100%

[rollie mass]

i think he isn't back mentally yet or he is just taking his time,he really doesn't elevate unless he has too and he lacks that upward explosiveness in traffic.I am not criticizing and hope he's just playing it safe for a few months and concentrating on making others better.He likes to win but is smart enough to take his time.

[manl_lui]

no he's 100%. There's no reasons to not believe he is not 100%. Reports are saying his left hand is now perfectly fine (according to ESPN)

nothing in games is showing me that anything is holding him back, physically or mentally.

[Who]

Yes -- not mentally recovered from injuries (knee, hand). Better days ahead.

[Evantime34]

Yes -- not mentally recovered from injuries (knee, hand). Better days ahead.

completely agree.

[rollie mass]

mani-you don't notice a lack of aggression going to hoop,in my mind i have him as  an attacking guard with the ability to challenge big men with his quick elevation.Is this the playoff rondo from years ago that could score 40-----

[littleteapot]

I remember a game a week or so ago where Rondo was driving the lane as as usual no one really came to cut off his path to the rim, and he nevertheless attempted a completely crazy pass to a big, and I was screaming "just lay it in!" Then I started to think, when's the last time I can remember Rondo just powering into the lane and getting all the way to the rim. I honestly can't remember. He's still got great touch and has a great floater, but I'm starting to wonder if he just can't go hard to the rim like he could before the injury.

[TheFlex]

mani-you don't notice a lack of aggression going to hoop,in my mind i have him as  an attacking guard with the ability to challenge big men with his quick elevation.Is this the playoff rondo from years ago that could score 40-----

Rondo is scared to get fouled because he is so insecure about his free-throw shooting ability. He's been taking more threes and going to the basket less in order to avoid contact. His shooting percentage around the rim is far below his average because he has been distorting his shot so he won't get hit and thus the whistle won't be blown.

[Vermont Green]

Rondo has regressed Nov to Dec (against clearly weaker competition):

                  Nov              Dec
PPG             9.0               6.0
FG%          42.3%           32.4%
3P%          35.7%             8.3%
FT%          34.6%            50.0%
Rebs            7.4                7.8
Asst           10.4              10.8
Min            32.8              30.4
W-L           3-10                4-4

FT% for Dec. is a bit misleading as it results from 3 for 6 shooting (6 FT in 8 games for a starting PG, best player on the team, all star caliber, build a team around, attract top FA player?).  Minutes, points, shooting percentages all down, assists and rebounds up a tick.  Rondo was 1-7 on threes in Nov if you take out the 4-7 game.

There was a thread about how long before you bench Sully.  Sully has had 4 bad games.  Rondo has had a bad month.  I doubt they will ever "bench Rondo" nor should they although they have taken him out of some 4th quarters.

Rondo has always seemed to go in and out of funks, oscillating between really good and head scratching average but this particular funk has me more worried.  Physically, I see no problem.  He seems to be able to move just fine when he wants to (such as to get rebounds).  The problem is that he doesn't seem to what to.  He likes to make slick passes and get his 7.5 RPG but this is not the Rondo that Ainge proclaimed was going to "have the best year of his career".

It appears to me to be mental, not physical which I guess is both good news and bad news but I have no idea how to fix Rondo.  As others have said, he seems afraid to shoot whether a jumper of a drive to the hoop.

[2short]

Yes -- not mentally recovered from injuries (knee, hand). Better days ahead.

completely agree.

second that, can't speak about a hand injury but knee injuries the mental aspect takes longer than the physical healing
you are thinking about jumping, landing, contact instead of just playing naturally
knock on wood!  now i'll say it, many times guys blow out THE OTHER KNEE because they overcompensate for the original injured leg

[jpotter33]

I don't know. He just seems to be a guy that shows up for some games and doesn't for others. I just think that's who he is, and it's probably even worse on a rebuilding team.

[hwangjini_1]

Rondo has regressed Nov to Dec (against clearly weaker competition):

                  Nov              Dec
PPG             9.0               6.0
FG%          42.3%           32.4%
3P%          35.7%             8.3%
FT%          34.6%            50.0%
Rebs            7.4                7.8
Asst           10.4              10.8
Min            32.8              30.4
W-L           3-10                4-4

FT% for Dec. is a bit misleading as it results from 3 for 6 shooting (6 FT in 8 games for a starting PG, best player on the team, all star caliber, build a team around, attract top FA player?).  Minutes, points, shooting percentages all down, assists and rebounds up a tick.  Rondo was 1-7 on threes in Nov if you take out the 4-7 game.

There was a thread about how long before you bench Sully.  Sully has had 4 bad games.  Rondo has had a bad month.  I doubt they will ever "bench Rondo" nor should they although they have taken him out of some 4th quarters.

Rondo has always seemed to go in and out of funks, oscillating between really good and head scratching average but this particular funk has me more worried.  Physically, I see no problem.  He seems to be able to move just fine when he wants to (such as to get rebounds).  The problem is that he doesn't seem to what to.  He likes to make slick passes and get his 7.5 RPG but this is not the Rondo that Ainge proclaimed was going to "have the best year of his career".

It appears to me to be mental, not physical which I guess is both good news and bad news but I have no idea how to fix Rondo.  As others have said, he seems afraid to shoot whether a jumper of a drive to the hoop.

great homework VG. the numbers are amazing on a couple of levels. first, the drop in his shooting percentages, both 3pter and fg, are distressing. couple those with rondo's inability, or unwillingness, to drive to the basket and you have recipe for a severely limited pg. if he cant shoot from outside AND cant/wont drive for layups rondo's ability to lead the team is significantly diminished.

his passing and rebounding are still up with career norms and have not dropped. so it seems that only the offensive/scoring part of his game is suffering. since the other dimensions have not dropped i am not sure it is strictly a physical problem.

as ever, his free throws are a problem, but seemingly even more so this year. honestly, i dont know whether rondo will be able to be a consistent scorer in the future. i am not saying he cannot, only that i dont have confidence that it is anywhere close to a sure thing.

[oldtype]

I think he's just given up. Seems very reluctant to look for a shot and even more reluctant to drive to the basket. He just drifts around and plays a pass if he can.

He knows his days here are numbered. Whatever success he has remaining in his career most likely is not going to be in Boston.

[LarBrd33]

HOw is he not 100%?  Stick him with efficient scorers and he'll look like the Rondo of old.  Get some hall-of-famers in here stat.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Yes -- not mentally recovered from injuries (knee, hand). Better days ahead.

completely agree.

second that, can't speak about a hand injury but knee injuries the mental aspect takes longer than the physical healing
you are thinking about jumping, landing, contact instead of just playing naturally
knock on wood!  now i'll say it, many times guys blow out THE OTHER KNEE because they overcompensate for the original injured leg

Agreed x3. ACL injury, long period of time off the court, and a new team/system. Expecting him to play at his optimal level is narrow-minded.

[obnoxiousmime]

I feel that by now the ACL should be behind him. Yes, it was a serious injury but he did have 30 games last season to get some rhythm/confidence back. I'd be willing to buy that the hand injury has affected his confidence in shooting, however. There shouldn't be any reason that his FT%, for instance, would drop so dramatically - it's just a regular shot that isn't affected by opposing defense, athleticism, knee issues, etc. In fact, while he was injured with the knee FT shooting should have been one of the few things he COULD practice.