Rondo At Work Early

by Jeff Clark on Nov 20, 2009 5:53 PM EST in News/Links Comment 9 comments

This is good to hear. His free throw shooting has been worse than terrible.

Rondo, an early arrival, hard at work - Celtics Blog - Boston.com

With Orlando in town again tonight for the first time since that playoff series, Rondo sat on the bench watching film of his free throws with Celtics assistant coach Armond Hill more than 3 1/2 hours before gametime. The pair then took to the court to practice Rondo's form. "That's too much," Rondo said of his grip on the ball, his right hand cocked out awkwardly to his right side. "Just square it up," said Hill, a patient teacher. "I'm straight!" Rondo shouted back, taking another free throw. "My elbow is straight." "You think its straight," said Hill. "I can show you right on film, right now." How concerning is Rondo's current free-throw percentage (currently at 25 percent)? Celtics GM Danny Ainge came out to check on the lesson, giving Hill and Rondo a putting analogy from golf. Hill, who played eight seasons in the NBA, took the time to put his hands on Rondo's elbow to shift it into the right position.

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ugh

I predict it will get worse before it gets better, if they are doing that much tinkering.

That said, I’m not worried about it for the long run.

by mmmmm on Nov 20, 2009 5:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Aren't these professional b-ball players?

I don’t get it? Guys at the YMCA are hitting their free throws and none of them have the potential to be an NBA starter. So why is our star PG having major issues with basic fundamentals, the basic jump shot and the free throw?

by TitleMaster on Nov 20, 2009 6:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bill Russell Wasn't A Good Free Throw Shooter

And he is the greatest player to ever play the game.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Nov 20, 2009 6:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Russelll didn't take many

I believe Russell took at most 5 or 6 free throws per game, making half of them. He was efficient but not perfect.

Also, his field goal attempts were very contained. If he scored let’s say 16 pts, it was out of a total of 15 to 16 attempts, many of whom were put backs. I believe Silas was the only other Celtic with a near perfect, points off the offensive glass efficacy. But that’s Silas, a one of a kind dynamo in that regard. The rest of the time, Russ was passing the ball to a Heinsohn, Sharman, Hondo, or Jones. If Rondo’s rebounding was as off-the-chart as Russell’s than it would be another story. Here, he’s an assist’s person w/o much else in terms of an mid-range offensive game, either jumpers or free throws.

by TitleMaster on Nov 21, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

aint happening any time soon

yup… if he’s still having this much trouble even knowing when his arm is straight or not… I’d say it’s going to be a long, looong time until this gets worked out. Actually, I don’t really expect that he’s suddenly going to have a major breakthrough in the middle of a season.

by LarBrd33 on Nov 20, 2009 6:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maturity Issue

Rondo needs to remove his ego from the situation and listen to his coaches who all want the same thing as he does, to hit his free throws with ease and regularity. If Armond Hill says he’s not squaring up then Rondo should, by all means, take him at his word. Good grief.

by BleedinGreen417 on Nov 20, 2009 6:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

With Ray Allen

Rondo has spoken with Ray Allen about the mental approach to shooting free throws. I don’t think it’s a question of ego or not listening. I think it’s more mental. I’m also not sure that technique will solve the problems. All players shoot differently whether it be free throws or from the field. Who has an uglier release than House when shooting threes. Yet they go in. Rondo just needs to calm himself down, relax and gain confidence. Right now he’s very frustrated.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Nov 20, 2009 7:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know what they are talkin about. The problem is that he brings the ball back too far. Imagine a plane at the front of your chest. The ball should never cross or even touch that. That is the problem.

by chicagogreen on Nov 20, 2009 7:11 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

makes you wonder wtf mark price was paid for if the shooting action is still really bad. agree with the other comments… going to get worse before it gets better and he has to put in a lot of time and effort to fix it.

:(((((((((((((((((((

by 00dc2 on Nov 20, 2009 7:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs