Rajon Rondo Is Hard To Guard

by Jeff Clark on Feb 19, 2012 4:00 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

The blog Shaky Ankles took a closer look at Rajon Rondo's game the other night and had some nice observations. Here's one of them.

Analyzing The Anomalous: Rajon Rondo vs. Chicago " Shaky Ankles

I believe it was during halftime that Kenny Smith declared Rajon Rondo the second hardest point guard to defend in the league; his combination of unpredictability and weird athleticism always making him a threat to do damage from a variety of different angles. Early in the fourth quarter Rondo put this on display. Starting on the left wing, Rondo took a screen from Pietrus and drove towards the paint. With Pierce and Garnett standing well guarded in the corners, the options here were more than enough for Rondo to do his damage: he could loft a floater, kick it back to Pietrus for three, or toss a lob to the rolling Wilcox. Door No. 3 was wide open, and the pretty alley-oop was converted.

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What a joke

Kobe sure didnt have much trouble guarding him..

by mdowell04 on Feb 19, 2012 6:02 AM EST reply actions

To be fair

Kobe wasn’t really guarding him. He just left him open to shoot. So the secret to defending rondo is…don’t defend him.

by jv_squad on Feb 19, 2012 7:12 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

True dat

If rondo was that good them he would have SOME consistent success against kobe…gimme westbrook all day

by Rondizzle on Feb 19, 2012 7:08 AM EST reply actions

And Rondizzle

Is my damn name

by Rondizzle on Feb 19, 2012 7:09 AM EST reply actions

Shows what you guys know about point guards. Glad I can listen to Kenny or shaq or Charles who know something about basketball instead of bandwagon russel fans. Congrats for your failure as a C’s fan.

by RR_The_Future on Feb 19, 2012 7:18 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Wait a minute...

We are in Celticsblog at 7am ET – I think we are doing just fine as fans. :)

I think just about all of us love “good Rondo” – speed, triple doubles, hustle, alley oops, defense, etc. It’s the extreme inconsistency and “bad rondo” that is frustrating – bad decisions, uninspired play, no jump shot, gambles on d, etc.

On most nights i love Rondo and to his credit, he has been improving in most areas and the wrist injury has been a set back.

With the said, seems like good point guards are a bit of a commodity these days so as great as he can be, I dont think it is unfair to want a PG who isn’t a liability in half court offense.

by jv_squad on Feb 19, 2012 7:54 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Liability?

What is that based off of? I don’t know if you’ve seen him play this year but he is consistently hitting jumpers. When pierce isn’t trying to take over the game going 1-12, rondo is very consistent.

Rondo has a very consistent game when ALLOWED to play it. The nights rondo “breaks out” are the nights pierce and allen and KG go
4-7 and score 13 pts while rondo drops 30 cause he can. The problem is too often (lately) Kg or pierce go 6-23 or 4-16 trying to be the star that they no longer are. Which leaves rondo less chances to do what he can do which is score. Many many many articles are going around about pierce being unable to let rondo take over the team when rondo is clearly our best player now. I’ve even posted links to a few.

Show me stats or reasons how rondo is a liability, his half court isnt the liability but pierce or kg taking shots they woulda hit and dominated 5 years ago. That’s our liability.

by RR_The_Future on Feb 19, 2012 12:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

4 on 5 when he is off

Ok “liability” might be a bit strong and I acknowledge he’s improved his jumper.

But over the years, opposing teams have the ability to sag off rondo and help out against ray and pierce. When rondo is not aggressive it is basically 4 on 5. I’m not the first to make this observation so I’m not going to bother with stats.

I’m not saying I would rather have deron or Westbrook, but it would help our half court offense given the current makeup of the team (as you suggest).

by jv_squad on Feb 19, 2012 1:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

So then...

Now the argument changes. The original post was saying rondo is inconsistent and basically isn’t a good PG. Now we switch to he has A WEAKNESS and there are some point guards better then him. That is an acceptable post and response. To say rondo is inconsistent and essentially not a good PG though, is not.

by RR_The_Future on Feb 19, 2012 1:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Sorry for double post

And yes I know those original posts were not yours. I was addressing those. Not yours, claiming rondo has a weakness I can live with. To talk like rondo is trash – that is not acceptable. Especially when some of the best analyst note rondo as a top 5 PG in the league.

by RR_The_Future on Feb 19, 2012 1:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yup – never thought Rondo was trash. Just wish he were more consistent in making teams pay for backing off of him. Sonetimes it works to his advantage since he can see the floor better.

Either way – I hope to see us build a running team in the future that will leverage his strengths as he continues to improve his jumper.

Also for the record I share your pain in Pierce hero ball.

by jv_squad on Feb 19, 2012 1:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Liability?

Show me stats or reasons how rondo is a liability, his half court isnt the liability but pierce or kg taking shots they woulda hit and dominated 5 years ago. That’s our liability.

by RR_The_Future on Feb 19, 2012 12:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Good rondo bad rondo

He’s the only guy that can create his own shot anymore. No other celtic is a threat now unless they stand wide open with a shot. Not really celtics bball to me

by vgarcia890 on Feb 19, 2012 8:07 AM EST reply actions