Rondo's Latest Trick: Consistency
by Jeff Clark on Dec 16, 2009 5:00 AM EST
in Boston Celtics Articles
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PrintRajon Rondo is going to be an All Star this year. I have no doubt whatsoever. Last year I was hoping for it, this year I know it. The thing is, there isn't a lot that he's doing this year that he didn't do at times last year. We've seen him rack up the assists and steals. We've seen him score when called upon to do so. We've seen him rebound and run the offense. We've seen that behind the back fake pass and the alley oops to KG and all that stuff. What we haven't seen before this year was consistency.
Looking back at last year's game logs, he was off and on for the first month, pretty good during the late November win streak, pretty good in December, and then pretty bad in early January (especially during the 4 game losing streak) which just about cooked him for All Star consideration. He finished out the year well, picking up a lot of the slack with Garnett out. Then he had that memorable Chicago series, which I think left a positive impression (and bodes well for his chances this year).
Compare all that to this year. There's maybe 1 or 2 below average games, but the rest are just solid (statistically speaking). Out of the 24 games thus far, he's scored in double figures 18 times. He's logged double figure assist totals in 14 games. He's only had 3 games where he didn't get double figures in one category or the other. And here's my favorite one: There has been only one game where Rondo failed to record a steal (and that followed a 5 steal effort the game before).
So far this year, the man has been a machine. One game after another a solid performance. He's also drawn raves from Doc for his improved team defense. He knows his teammates and they trust him to set up the offense and distribute the ball. KG is even raving about his improved leadership.
And all this coming after the offseason that Rondo had is all the more impressive. Between trade rumors, questions about his character, and uncertainty about his contract, he must have been pretty distracted. Yet he remained focused. Maybe all that even sharpened his focus. He seems to have a "I'll show you" mentality that fuels him better than Red Bull ever will.
So by all means, let the critics keep the criticisms coming. Harp on his outside shot. Question his attitude. Do your best to tear him down. As for me, I'll sit back and watch him tear you apart. Little by little. Game by game. Assist by assist. Steal by steal. Win by win.
Rondo will be an All Star this year and a star for years to come because he's learned how to be consistent.
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Consistency, it will be his savior.
If he keeps it up, (duh, that’s what consistency is, idiot Kiorrik!) consistency is what will save his game – it’s the only thing he needs to develop things like a midrandge jumper, FT shot and maybe even a three point shot (we are allowed to dream, right?)
If he keeps up, and consistently plays like he’s done over the past few games… wow. This will be our hero for the next decade.
- Dirk van Boxtel, the wandering Celtic fan.
Twitter: @4Hoopz
No. Not Yet.
I’d hate for him to ruin his confidence because it takes him 20 tries alone on the court center of attention to hit the top of the key jumper.
actually, I think he'd make it on the first try
There’s no one to pass the ball to, so he’d thinking of shot only.
"Little by little. Game by game. Assist by assist. Steal by steal. Win by win."
I notice you didn’t say “shot by shot.” LOL
He’s been great the past few weeks. And with Nelson and Harris being hurt for so much of the season, I think he should make the All-Star team.
I’ll determine “consistency” by looking in the rear-view mirror in July, though, not by prognosticating after a few weeks of strong play.
Let’s see hown he does in a 7-game series against our real competition, when the other team has time to game plan for him. That;s the real test, not how he does against the Nets and Knicks.
"People don't understand, if you can't live the rest of your life off one year in the NBA, you can't live off 21." -- Keon Clark
by Eeyore III on Dec 16, 2009 8:08 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
i agree
and I just love the questions with uncertain answers. he has proved every year that he has improved. thinking about an improved rondo in the playoffs IF he does is a nice thought. yet something in me still thinks about his awkward shooting mechanics. hope he does get it. hes gotten everything else so far. now its just shooting. if he gets that. there’s nothing else to be said but….GAME OVER. he will have no other flaws in his game. scary.
by celtsgofor8in on Dec 16, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
consistency is the key
if he plays consistantly at this level, it will result in a title this year. The Cavs, Hawks, Magic and Lakers have no one that can defend him.
If the Lakers try using Kobe again as a floater on defense, Rondo will be able to drive to the hoop and either score or dish off if there’s help defense.
The one concern is getting more consistancy out of the second unit without having to rely on Rondo all the time.
scary
to think, he has only scratched the surface…imagine the mental gymnastics RR has to go through…establishing his leadership (and he is a leader) while trying to keep 3 hall-of-famers happy…
have to laugh...
at how illegal that screen is that KG is setting, guy gets away with murder on picks, almost always extending his arms to finish it off. perk meanwhile just stands there and gets it called on him.
rondo simply could not be a better fit for this team, it’s really quite remarkable. With a healthy big 3 and rondo at the helm this team is going places for sure.
"Take it to the hoop, there's a dance involved." - DJ Tommy
He hasn't even come close to his full potential.
I also like the fact that he is sacrificing his body a little less this year. His crashing to court five times a game was beginning to concern me. Rondo and Perk are truly Danny’s guys. He worked hard to get Rondo in the draft and Danny saw a diamond in the rough with Perk.
by thereallargejames on Dec 16, 2009 11:52 AM EST reply actions
Nice article Jeff, good rundown on Rondo's progress...
I think you’re right, the fact that he has followed such a negatively flavored offseason with such clear evidence of a focused mentality bodes well for us all, the team and fans. I have also noticed something new this year.
I can’t be sure because I only watched the last third of the season and playoffs last year on the intenret, and this may be a consistent thing for non-home broadcasts (Tommy has always sung Rondo’s praises) but after just 20 or so games this year I have noticed something. I watch the Celts free online and often the live feed is their opponents’ home announcers.
What is so striking to me is the amount of praise and ‘star talk’ towards Rondo from these broadcasters. There seems to be a really positive recognition of his game on the court that night being considered ‘star level’ and also many observations of his three year progression to this level.
Consistent play can only come with...
consistent minutes. You can argue that a big reason Rondo had been up in down the last few years was simply the faith his coach was putting in him. We saw time and time again where Doc would pull Rondo after a few mistakes, even electing to sit him on the bench for entire 4th quarters. I’m not necessarily disagreeing with Doc for doing this, because I know the intent was to protect and teach the player. All I’m saying is confidence is obviously a huge part of being consistent.
When Doc elected to go with Eddie House to finish off games, you have to think this deflated Rondo a little bit. This year we are not seeing that. Granted, I’ll be the first to admit Rondo is playing much better and more consistent, but mistakes are still happening. Yet the short leash is no longer there. Doc has complete trust in Rondo, so this is huge towards making Rondo more consistent. The biggest stat that proves this:
Games Under 30 minutes of play:
2008-2009: 20 (24% of their 82 games)
2009-2010: 2 (8% of their 24 games)
Sure there are other factors for this (blowouts being the biggest) but we are even seeing Doc keep Rondo out in 4th quarter blowouts this year, when he would not have in the past. I think there is a definitive effort by Doc Rivers this year to let Rondo run wild, and this to me is the number 1 reason why we are seeing Rondo be much more consistent.
SCOTT
by Vegas Scott on Dec 16, 2009 12:37 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Rondo should make it if the coaches have anything to do with it...
I do think Rondo is worthy of All Star consideration this season. Last year’s playoff run should have opened some eyes. Hopefully the coaches select him. I doubt the fans will vote him in.
But scorers will always get the most votes. TMac is the latest example. VC and AI before him. Nothing you can do about that.
nice article
but i am still not so sure if we could say we shall stop worrying about rondo’s consistency issue at this stage … i have a feeling it will drive ppl crazy again and again at times, just hope that such chances will be slimmer and slimmer. remember the game C’s vs magic in which rondo seemed afraid of even challenging howard? that was the moment we really really really needed him. oh well, prove me wrong, dear rajon.
by friedgreentomatoes on Dec 16, 2009 1:25 PM EST reply actions
RONDOS THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES THE GREEN MACHINE
i seem to remember a bunch of rondo haters on here when we had our little slump and the panic button was out.
i have always believed that as rondo goes – so goes the team..if he’s playing good – we win.
and now it looks like he’s got his free throws figured out as well..
i love this kid- love it when he dunks and just like the chief did laimbeer back in the day
last years playoff smack down of brad miller was f’ing great!!!!
My favorite Celtic
Rondo continues to be my favorite. Fun to watch.
I hope he does make it! One scenario where he doesn’t has to do with Iverson. Since AI moved back to the east, it is possible a bunch of knuckleheads vote him in as point guard. Hopefully not.
The snake in the grass
around here will probably be the Boston media.
Just wait. Rondo will be a stud, earning every penny of that big contract for a couple of years and then the moment that he says something wrong, or is injured or playing poorly for a stretch, or gets in a tussle with some media darling (see Paul, Chris), he’ll get crucified and criticized for the same old things – whether they are relevant or not.
As much as I love him, I can see that he’s the type of athlete that a certain segment of the sports ‘journalists’ just don’t get and for some reason love to hate.
Randy Moss being the current victim of their collective ire.
Stay the course, Rondo!
I see Rondo being skewered by the national media, not the local media
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything too negative about Rondo from the local press.
You could be right
I’m just very jaded about sports ‘journalism’ in general after the bizarre feeding frenzies that have gone on in recent years both locally (see Moss, Randy) and nationally (see Spygate).
Too many of them are ex-jocks or ex-jock-wannabes, with no real talent or inclination toward real journalism, I guess.
He might not make it
… to the All Star team. We love Rondo for all the right reasons, and we know he’s a better PG than just about anyone else in the league. But non-Celtics fans don’t know it. His talents aren’t flashy enough. The All-Star game is about flash and fun… it’s certainly not about team play and good D. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rondo doesn’t make it. (Fine by me, btw… it would light an even bigger fire under him to go get the really important title.)
He won't get voted in
and then it is not up to the fans, but the coaches and players. After the starters, who are your candidates to be selected at point guard ahead of him curiously?
Correction
Rondo’s SCORING talents aren’t flashy enough. But the kids got plenty of flash: athleticism, crazy moves, he just doesn’t score enough to get recognized by the average, somewhat idiotic NBA fan.
Rondo's Progress
This is Rondo’s 4th year with the team, but let’s not count his first year. In his first real season he helped the team win a championship. After a summer of trying to bring him down we are agreeing that he has become a better and more consistent player. He is younger than Lester Hudson. Doc says it often, but we forget how young Rondo is and that he’s on a team with 3 possible future Hall Of Famers, all out of his age group (which is with Perk) who’s been here about 7 years already (amazing). We just forget how young he is and who he’s playing with. He is such a good player that we forget he is just learning his trade. We seem to take it for granted that he’s a ten year vet and have been judging him on those standards, the same as Kidd and Cash. So why are we surprised when we say he needs to improve his jump shot and free throw shooting. He’s already amongst the best pass-first point guards in the league (which is much harder than being a shoot-first player). Who does he already remind Celtic fans of? Bob Cousy. That says an awful lot about Rondo. He’s maturing as a person and improving his game all the time. Danny——how in the world did you get this guy?
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
At the least....
He is the best pure passer in the NBA, no doubt he has the respect of those three future hall of famers (good call TrueGreen), quite possibly the quickest point guard EVER. Granted his jump shot is not all star caliber…yet. Free throw inconsistency is his glaring weakness. Otherwise he is in the top three PG’s with ChrisPaul and Deron Williams, making him the East starter in this years Allstar game. IF he can get a consistant jumper and settle down on the free throws, and it’s evident he can get to the rim whenever he wants to….a little bulk on the frame and he is not far from becoming an MVP. In the meantime let us enjoy another Celtic legend in progress….. thanks Danny!
He's got the numbers except in points
Rondo leads all Eastern PGs in assists and steals by a MIlE, and also leads in rebounds and FG%. It would be a crime to keep him off the All-Star Team but it wouldn’t surprise me.
yeah he does
Fourth in the NBA, the top three guys are out west.
Won't start
Fans vote for All-Star starters. With so many Celtics haters out there, I don’t think Rondo will be voted as the first five. The coaches get to pick the next 7. Will the C’s be able to hold onto the first place to make Doc the coach of the East? I hope they will and I think they can. If Doc coaches the East, Rondo is in. He has the credential to be there.
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