Lester Helping Rajon

[Red2]

I agree re Eddie; he has really struggled this year. Stacey King had an interesting observation which is that Eddie only makes shots when the Celts have a lead. I don't think that's 100% true but there is some truth to it. Eddie really should be your 10th or 11th guy and not your 6th or 7th guy. Here's hoping that Hudson develops and gets some burn because he could really help especially now that marquis is down. Tony allen has done a very nice job thus far

[GuyClinch]

His #s and all that probably won't get to where you'd like them until late in the year--but the #s will only be an indication of what we've already seen--that Rondo now knows when to shoot and pass. You can talk #s all you want, but what I'm talking about doesn't have a #.

Yeah sorry but Rondo figured out long ago he shouldn't be burning possesions with his .350 (efG jump) percentage to make the defense "respect" him. <g> He is playing great now but the vast majority of his shots are layups.

[sam_I_am]

In the playoffs, Rondo will be left wide open all the time and teams will stay 4 feet back to prevent him driving to basket. That will seriously diminish his offensive game. Even if he shoots 40% from the field, teams will be happy with that - because if they don't have to bother defending the shot they can't foul him. Shooting 40% from the field uncontested is like 28% from 3 point range uncontested. It is awful.

For comparison, Ray Allen shoots 40% from 3's when he has maybe 1-2 inches with which to get his shot off.

Rondo is going in the right direction and that is what counts. Until he actually plateaus in his development nobody can really say how good his outside shot can be.

[ryaningf]

His #s and all that probably won't get to where you'd like them until late in the year--but the #s will only be an indication of what we've already seen--that Rondo now knows when to shoot and pass. You can talk #s all you want, but what I'm talking about doesn't have a #.

Yeah sorry but Rondo figured out long ago he shouldn't be burning possesions with his .350 (efG jump) percentage to make the defense "respect" him. <g> He is playing great now but the vast majority of his shots are layups.

Yeah, sorry, but you're completely, and utterly WRONG. Maybe you should read this.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/12/14/rondo_giving_it_his_best_shot/

Giving it his best shot
By Gary Washburn

Almost smothered amid the re-emergence of Kevin Garnett and the Celtics’ 10-game winning streak is the offensive maturity of Rajon Rondo, who three weeks ago struggled mightily with his free throw and perimeter shooting.

Nothing has dramatically changed with Rondo’s mechanics, except for a slight twitch on his free throw release. But what has developed is Rondo’s offensive confidence and his insistence on making opposing teams pay for leaving him open.

Opposing scouts are brutally honest and when several watched the Celtics, they noticed that Rondo was reluctant to shoot, even when open, so that enabled clubs to cover the other four Celtics with five players.

The more Rondo pops his jumper, though, the more he demands defensive respect and the more his teammates will get open shots.

Rondo continued his offensive tear by dropping 16 points on 6-for-13 shooting in Saturday night’s 106-80 win over the Chicago Bulls. He is averaging 13.1 points and 9.8 assists, with 51 percent shooting from the field and 71 percent from the line over the last nine games.

And his aggressiveness on offense is apparent. After attempting just 26 free throws in 14 November games, Rondo has had 19 in six December games, sinking 13. He attempted two free throws after taking a forearm shiver from Chicago’s Brad Miller in the first quarter Saturday.

“I have been hit harder than that,’’ Rondo said. “I was just concentrating on hitting free throws. I sort of expected it.’’

Rondo outplayed counterpart Derrick Rose, finishing with 16 points and 14 assists (Rose had 19 points and four assists). And not all of Rondo’s points were scored on driving layups; he canned 3 of 6 jumpers Saturday and 6 of 14 during Thursday’s win over the Wizards.

Weeks ago there was hesitation. Rondo would pause before taking a jumper and then either force the shot or attempt an acrobatic drive. That is no longer the case.

“I’m taking [the jumper] more. I am getting it with the shot clock running, trying not to settle for the jump shot, [but] I don’t mind taking it at all,’’ he said. “I just try to be efficient as much as possible. Teams are giving me the shot and I am taking it this year and I think that’s the only difference. I have more freedom. I don’t know what it is, I am just shooting it.’’

Coach Doc Rivers has been pushing his point guard to shoot more. First, the more Rondo shoots, the more confidence he gets. Second, the more he draws defenders, the more he can drive past them for a dish to a teammate or layup.

“It’s great where he is at mentally, he understands our team,’’ Rivers said. “If we come down and take three or four shots without running the offense, he’ll slow us down and get us in a set. That’s the sign of a great point guard. He’s become a leader on our team and I think that’s the step he’s taken this year. Our guys now want to follow him and that’s huge when your point guard is your leader.’’

Rondo was stubborn about acknowledging he needed to work on his offensive game. He just kept quiet and kept working and now those concerns about his shooting have dissolved.

“It’s part of basketball; you are not going to be great at everything,’’ he said. “Even Mike [Michael Jordan] wasn’t great at everything. I’m only 23, I am going to keep getting better, that’s how I look at it. I am going to keep working. I believe in myself. I want to go to the free throw line. I want to take the jump shot. When I don’t shoot my shot, I feel like I am cheating myself because I feel like no one can stop me from getting to the basket.’’

[GuyClinch]

A fluff piece my man..come on now. Rondo shooting isn't new. He took THE MOST SHOTS ON THE TEAM in the Orlando series. Unfortunately for us Celtics fans he also shot the worst percentage..

[DarkAzcura]

GuyClinch you are missing his point. Rondo was 3/6 on jumpshots in the Chicago game and 6/14 (I missed this game, and I question this stat..I don't believe Rondo took 14 jumpshots in a game) in Washington according to that article. You are basing your argument on the 35% eFG stat that I'm assuming you got from 82games.com. If I've done my math right, I don't think 82games has updated since the Bucks game. Adding in the 9/20 on jumpshots (and whatever he did jumpshot wise against Memphis..missed the game) that Rondo has supposedly hit and taken to the 82games stats will probably increase (a lot) that 35% eFG.

EDIT: Yeah looking at Hotspots..Rondo took 10 jumpshots at most (can't figure what could have been a floater or not) in Washington