Rondo, the main key to Celtics success.

by hepkat56 on Jun 21, 2011 7:17 PM EDT

This is my first time creating a story fan post. I'm not an expert at journalism nor writing a proper story. So please bear with me.

I already know there are many stories, comments on this topic. However, I feel it's a topic that should be addressed more often. Topic, Rondo's jump shot. I always wondered why a great player as Rondo have not worked on his jump shot? A few years ago, my friends and I had a debate about the future point guards. The two point guards at the top of the list were Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo. At the time both guards were compared equally with Rondo having a tiny advantage over Rose, assists. Rondo defensive game was second to none and his ability to see the floor was above many guards at the time. My Bulls fan friends had nothing to say about Rondo after bringing up Rondo's assist, steals numbers. It was clear Rondo was a better overall guard over Derrick Rose. This was three years ago. Since then both players are no longer matched equally. Derrick Rose has improved and Rondo remain the same.

Here is my true opinion about Rondo. I think Rondo has the potential in becoming a top 5 player and the best point guard in the new era. Also, maybe the best player in the league. The only problem or the only thing holding Rajon back is his jump shot. He has a amazing wingspan for a 6-1 PG, A very high basketball I.Q., quickness and leadership ability on the court. He has second to none advantages except a jumper. Just imagine Rondo with a consistent 15-20 ft jump shot? If Rondo had a consistent jump shot, the Celtics offense will improve. No more old age, must get younger excuse. They need Rondo to step up his shooting game. Rondo not shooting the ball is a huge cancer to the Celtics offense. I hate saying it but it's the truth. Opposing teams leaving Rondo open 10-15 ft away from the basket does slow down the Celtics ball movement and helps the opposing team to get back on defense. I'm sure I'm not the only one saying this. Please read the article link provided. Message to Rajon Rondo:

You can do it! Show the world who's the best! I know you can shake the world!

Where's Rondo's Jump Shot?

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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rondo has practiced

i remember last year or the year before he was taking tons of shots per day. turth is he has improved but only marginally and not enough. some people just dont get better at shooting in games, be it pressure or what not. of course my fingers are crossed that he does improve it more, it would make our team that much better.

"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

im gonna be all up on you like a spider monkey!

by remembering9ergods on Jun 21, 2011 7:33 PM EDT reply actions

Rondo is not that bad shooting the ball

If you look at the numbers (check the websites hoopdata or basket reference), Rondo took 10 shots per game this season:

- 4 shots at the rim per game @ 63%
- 1 shot from 3-9 feet per game @ 27%
- 0.5 shot from 10-15 feet per game @ 31%
- 3 shots from 16-23 feet per game @ 41%

(don’t mind his 0.6 3-pt shot per game)

There is no surprise in those numbers regarding his shots at the rim. Finishing around the rim is his bread and butter when it comes to scoring. But his FG% from 16-23 feet is quite surprising because he is shooting the ball as well as the other top PG from that range (for example Rose was taking 4 shots from 16-23 feet this year @38%).

The problem with Rondo’s jumpshot is that he doesn’t take enough of them, thus it is helping him from being a confident shooter. He takes less than 1 shot from 10-15 feet per game which is crazy because 10-15 feet = midrange. Why does he take 4 shots from 16-23 feet but less than 1 from 10-15?

The defenses disrespect Rondo’s jumpshot (for good reasons) because they think he can’t knock down the midrange jumpers consistently. The only solution for him IMO would be to take more midrange jumpshots right from start of next season (and when I say midrange, I mean 10-18 feet). We know he is capable of knocking those shots down, it’s all about confidence and rythm.

When the opposing PG disrespects him by sagging off, Rondo should not look to make a play for another Celtics (as he does too often), he should shoot the ball immediately. This is the only way for him to make defenses respect him and playing him tight, thus allowing him to do what he does best: distributing the ball.

It’s not about scoring or about taking the best percentage shots (this team doesn’t need a PG who scores 25 points while eating the ball). It’s about making defenders pay when they sag off. If he is able to do that, defenses will have to play him tight and that’s what Rondo needs because when he is played tight, he can penetrate and distribute the ball with ease and he does not penalize the C’s by allowing the opposing team to play 5 vs 4 basketball.

I think Rondo has the tools but he doesn’t have the confidence in his jumpshot and he is struggling when he has to decide between trying to make a play or shooting the ball. He should take those open shots without even thinking about it: an open shot from midrange by Rondo is a good shot, no matter what some ESPN morons say about Rondo’s hands being too big or his arms being too long to shoot efficiently. If he shoots the ball more, it will all come together naturally because he will have more rythm.

At the end of the season, he was shooting the ball more from the perimeter and that was good. During some games, he had stretches during which he could knock down several jumpers in a row and you could feel the confidence flowing in him just because he was shooting and the shots were falling. During those stretches, he was shooting the ball as soon as he was opened and that’s what we want.

He has the skill to knock those shots down but he got to keep working on his jumpshot and the most important thing here IMO is that he has to become better at choosing when to attack the paint, when to shoot the ball and when to pass the ball.

by lepooo on Jun 22, 2011 9:19 AM EDT reply actions

He still seems young between the ears

You can see it when he brings the ball up and sometimes picks up his dribble without knowing what he is going to do, then he stands there looking for someone to pass it to. Rondo takes more jumpshots when his confidence is up in games, and seems to make them more when he takes over games. I think Rondo not shooting when his guys sags 9ft off him ( thats about how far Bibby played off him) is a problem. Doc says he makes them all day at practice so it might just be a case of him shooting more often in games. Doc can work around this though without Rondo shooting the ball when his guy sags. One way or the other the defense has to pay for it!

THIS IS JUST AN IDEA FOR A REMEDY
I think once Rondo picks up his dribble and stands there looking for someone, that something should be designed for those moments. Someone comes to the ball to recieve it from Rondo, a screen is set on Rondo’s sagging defender, then Rondo comes around another screen to get the ball back, on or just inside the perimeter. If he is already moving he could just continue to the basket. If his guy is sagging off and the screens are set where they need to be this could become a big problem for Rondo’s guy being able to recover quick enough to get in front of him. Either he gets an open lane to the basket, gets and open shot ( maybe he would be better catching and shooting), the defense has to help too much leaving someone else open for a shot, or his guy has to foul.

Too often it seems like once Rondo makes the first pass he isnt as involved in the offense. If he can receive the ball back after that first pass the offense can continue to run through him, and he can continue to create for his teamates instead of other guys on the team ( other than pierce) having to create their own shot. The ball keeps moving (it would be in Rondo’s hands more often) but it keeps moving, and the ball being in his hands more often wouldnt be a bad thing. This could keep whoever is guarding Rondo on their toes, and maybe they wouldnt sag off him as often. Like I said this is just an idea of one way to keep the defense honest.

IN THE 4TH QUARTER
This could also help the offensive breakdowns late in games. Keep the ball in Rondo’s hands more often and allow him to create for others. I dont care if he misses free throws late in games, he needs the ball! He makes the team more effective, he can create for everyone better than anyone else on the team, and can be dangerous when he drives to the basket. Coming around a screen to get the pass will have him already moving, and if he could do it full speed their arent many guards in the league that are going to stay in front of him. So he either has a straight shot, or like I said before the defense has to help too much, and KG is left wide open at the basket (or on the elbow), Ray is left open for THREE, or cuts to the basket unguarded. Or Rndo simply makes a pass, then the extra pass is made by whoever recieves the ball and the other teams defense cant recover and breaks down. Many things could come from running Rondo around screens, and I want to see what could happen.

by CoachBullins on Jun 22, 2011 1:11 PM EDT reply actions