How Do You Stop Rondo?
by Jeff Clark on Apr 24, 2009 4:07 PM EDT
in Boston Celtics News & Links
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PrintWell, the short answer is "you don't" but that won't stop teams from trying. One writer for Chicago's CSN affiliate has these few ideas:
So, what can Vinny Del Negro and his staff do to flush that disaster away, and get ready for Game 4? First of all, they have to come up with a new strategy for defending Rajon Rondo. The Celtics' do-everything point guard is dominating the series, and it's painfully obvious neither Derrick Rose nor any of the other Bulls' guards can stay in front of him. The coaches must commit to trapping Rondo on the high screen and roll, and have their big players step into the lane to stop his penetration. Yes, that will lead to some dunks for Kendrick Perkins and "Big Baby" Davis, but it's worth it to keep Rondo from doing anything he wants on the court. And, as my dear departed friend Norm Van Lier would say, knock him on his rear end (he would have used a different word) whenever he drives to the basket. Hard fouls are part of playoff basketball, and anything that can get Rondo out of his comfort zone is worth a try.
Hard fouls are part of playoff basketball, but lets hope that the sight of Kendrick Perkins gives the Bulls' bigs pause when considering how hard to hit our diminutive quarterback.
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Violence is not the answer!
And neither is Allen Iverson!
Seriously though, if R2 gets an injury from one of these new ‘defensive strategies’, someone will have to deal with Perk. Or Billy can earn his first playoff ejection or something.
actually AI IS the answer,
just to a different question ;-)
(I couldn’t resist…)
...there's some folks that, if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
I will accept all bad-pun related consequences
No worries. :)
SWEEP THE LEG
Sunday is a new day, a new game…maintain homecourt and get this series OVERWITH.
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk
Wow, what a classless solution
I hope the Bulls are not truly considering the option. This article reminds me of the dumb Dampier’s statement about Tony Parker before game 3.
believe me, they are not
they have enough on their plate with playing the correct way, to try that stunt.
...there's some folks that, if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
the guy's a writa', for God's sake
not a playa’…
...there's some folks that, if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
"the sight of Kendrick Perkins gives the Bulls' bigs pause when considering how hard to hit our diminutive quarterback."
Or remembering being hit by Perkins already? Like there haven’t been hard fouls in this series? The Bulls bigs are just waifs, so it matters less from them.
talking ‘hard fouls’ as some kind of deterrent to Rondo is silly. Just keep him off the friggin glass, how’s that for strategy. I swear, people in Chicago still believe Jordan’s Bulls got over the hump because they all of a sudden became ‘tougher’, instead of ‘better’
USE THE SOFTWARE. Actions-> Rec/Flag. Reply to comments with the reply button. Rec good fanposts/fanshots so the crud gets pushed down.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 24, 2009 4:48 PM EDT reply actions
I agree
people have been trying to foul Rondo hard for years – he does hit the deck but he usually pops back up
besides, you can’t hit what you can’t catch
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
and is secretly made out of rubber.
When Perk was asked what he thought of Howard winning the gold medal this summer, he responded: "What’s his impression of me after I won a ring?"
being a UK fan
saw this coming…I had heard Boston (when R2 was drafted) wasn’t so high on the kid…but now…you see that he is worth it…he’s also one of the toughest kids on the floor (and one of the toughest kids to play at UK since Dan Issel)…we Kentucky fans tend to support the teams that draft UK players and I am no different…although I live in Portland Oregon, and still follow the Blazers…I have my Boston Rondo jersey (as well as my anicent employee #5 jersey…but we won’t go there)…I hope you guys meet Portland in the Finals…that would be too cool…good luck in dispatching the Bulls and the hated Joakim Noah (next to Christian Laettner, the second most “hated” basketball player in the bluegrass state—too funny)…and Kendrick, if anyone hurts Rajon, feel free to drop that SOB into next week…
Actually
Rondo is the guy Danny Ainge wanted all the time. He passed up on several other point guards who others rated more highly. Phoenix thought so much of him that they traded with Boston so we could get him.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
At Number 7....
Danny was going to take Rondo at # 7 but gambled and got him at 21. Look at all the stiffs drafted before Rondo. He was Danny’s guy all the way.
I believe
we actually passed on Marcus Williams, rated by most as the top PG in the draft
funny how that worked out
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
What Did Danny Do With #7
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
he traded it
7 and LaFrentz for Telfair and Theo Ratlif – this is how Portland got Brandon Roy
at the time it was a terrible trade, but having Theo’s contract helped us get KG so no regrets here
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
At the time it was terrible?
You are not giving DA enough credit and looking at this trade very superficially as many continue to do. Danny did not know of course it would exactly lead to KG, but he knew Theo’s contract was going to be a big chip. He is on record saying he liked Roy very much but with Pierce already in the same spot, it wasn’t going to be a great fit.
For those who think the trade was about getting Telfair, then why did Danny trade for Rondo on the exact same day? It was not a terrible trade then or now, Pierce and Roy were redundant, so Danny did the best he could with the pick to continue towards a bigger move down the road, which by the way, he did.
Hey Fincity:
I’m a UK fan also and saw Danny at a UK game scouting Rondo when he was playing for Tubby Smith. At least the local media commented that he was looking hard at Rondo. That was back when Tubby was still coaching UK. Rondo’s style was a bit suppressed under Tubby’s deliberate style of play. I was always a big RR fan and thrilled to see him do so well. Most of the UK fans here thought he’d be a flop in Boston, but I loved him and supported him from day 1, and thrilled to watch how he’s grown.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to pat myself on the back for having the crystal ball to see RR’s work progress as it has. I also have to confess that I was just as thrilled when Pitino left UK for the Celtics. Thought he’s bring a winning atmosphere back to the C’s………..and we all know how that worked out!
The only thing
that can stop Rondo is, well, Rondo.He has to stop sacrificing his body so much and start wearing high tops. Can you say Tiny Archibald?
by The Real Large James 2 on Apr 24, 2009 6:42 PM EDT reply actions
I agree...
The sky’s the limit for Rondo. He’s a hard worker and a physical freak. He should only get better.
fincity
thanks for the post…I guess we all do that….I follow the Cuse players…
one of my closest friends
went to the cuse…of course, he is always jabbing me about Donovan McNabb over Tim Couch (hey, nobody said UK was a football school)…Donovan and Antoine were close friends, and I always liked his game (Donovan’s that is)…he gave me a ton of crap in 96 before the Cats won the Title…still Jimmy B. is still a great coach and gave Pitino his big break….how did you guys feel about Rick coming to Boston and basically turning it into a post-UK roster (didn’t Walter McCarty, Tony Delk, Wayne Turner, Ron Mercer and Antoine all play for Boston at some point)..???
How To Stop Rondo
Put your best defender on him, don’t play him for the outside shot and let his defender take part in the team defense. That’s what the Lakers did last year with Kobe guarding Rondo. And it worked so well that………….There is only one player in the league that can control Rondo and his first name is Rajon.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
I think the Bulls are defending Rondo the right way, considering their resources...
… and alternatives. They’re giving him space, going under the screens and daring Rondo to shoot jumpers. It’s killing them because Rondo is hitting the jumpers. But it’s probably their best option, especially considering that Rose isn’t a good defender.
seems some bulls fans lost many other things
after they lost the huge game.
Yes
I’m a Celtic fan, but I felt the Bull fans were terrible to boo their team. They were playing as hard as they could. They just got beaten by a better team. In Boston the fans will boo if they feel the team isn’t giving it their all, but they’ll be supportive if we are not playing well.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
I can't believe no one knows how to stop him, its obvious. UNTIE BOTH HIS SHOES
if you can get his shoes to fall off nearly at the same time, he is completely incapacitated, until at least one shoe is back on. He won’t be able to move at all in the meanwhile and may need to end up on the stretcher. He will pop back up soon as one shoe is back on, however. its a sure thing I am telling ya.
But its the only way. God help you if his shoes don’t fall off because if he is playing with shoes on you won’t be able to stop him at all.
If rondo
if rondo plays like this threw out the playoffs. i have a feeling we can go you know where. but garnett has to come back. i have feeling he might be back. pls lord here my prayer
by 2liveNdieNBoston on Apr 25, 2009 12:03 AM EDT reply actions
rondo's comfort zone
id love to see rondo get out of the habit of lofting that floater. a few HARD drives to the basket will absolutely get him to the free throw line where he can get his form down early within the flow of the game. hell make his foul shots and thatll keep the bulls further on their heels. plus, there isnt a bad option for him if he decides to distibrute.
We appreciate the advice, obviously you're the expert on this...
what, no suggestions on ‘technique?’ – well, keep practicing… – oh, remove the foot first, and – Oh, I see, you have plenty of room in there eh?
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