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I was able to attend the Bucks game in Milwaukee last night.

I got there an hour early and watched the pre-game shooting drills. Rondo, Walker and O’Bryant shot 2s for a long time. All three were hitting the shots consistently (at least 75 percent) from every angle. O’Bryant’s were more of the 15 -17 foot range; Rondo and Walker 18-20 foot range.

One thought after seeing another lackluster effort: this team rises and falls with Rondo on the offensive end. I would tell Rondo he should take 5 open jumpers in every game, and I want at least 8 free throw attempts in every game. I don’t care if his shooting percentage is .300. Keep shooting; keep driving. It may cost us some games now, but unless he gets comfortable doing that in the playoffs we will not win the title in 2009. If Rondo can get consistent, and get comfortable, we will be able to play with anyone.

nice observation on rondo. that's why i think our bench should play better so that we could jump out early. in that way, rondo will be more comfortable taking those shots instead of hesitating because it may cause us the game. and the pefect way for him to get his confidence on jump shots is if we play him with the 2nd unit, which doesn't happen at this point.

I will settle for Rondo taking the open lay ups. It is almost like he is focusing on trying to increase his assist totals opposed to making the right decision with the ball.

That was really the pattern in the playoffs as well, aggressive Rondo or no aggressive Rondo, rather than home vs road.

He had that confidence and was burying that 18 footer from the corner in the playoffs, has missed nearly all of the very few times he's taken it this year.

sully00 wrote:I will settle for Rondo taking the open lay ups. It is almost like he is focusing on trying to increase his assist totals opposed to making the right decision with the ball.

Agreed. He *still* does that which drives me nuts, which is drive up to the rim and then pass up a 2-foot layup to kick it out to the 3-point line...ARRGGH!

MyInsatiableOne wrote:

sully00 wrote:I will settle for Rondo taking the open lay ups. It is almost like he is focusing on trying to increase his assist totals opposed to making the right decision with the ball.

Agreed. He *still* does that which drives me nuts, which is drive up to the rim and then pass up a 2-foot layup to kick it out to the 3-point line...ARRGGH!

I think he could be afraid that he would either miss the layup or get his shot blocked? Both have happened a lot last season. He is probably the worst finisher around the basket that I have ever seen. Even Heinson said that during the layup line, Rondo just tosses up the ball lackadaisal(sp) at the hoop, missing lots layups in the layup line. He needs to practice his layups! Getting all the way to the rim only to miss layups is no help at all.

^^You're right, he is a bad finisher. Another problem he always has is he tried to dunk it, which always gets stuffed. He can jump but because of his height he *just* makes it when he tried to dunk, so he needs to be more creative and effective around the rim.

I think if they were to tell gabe pruitt to do eddie houses job, he'd do it better.

He's a much better ball handler, on ball defender, and finisher... and has a more consistent jump shot. It doesn't help that BOTH of our rotation point gaurds are the two worst finishers on the team.

^^At least Eddie can shoot. Right now it's only Rondo's passing and defense that are making him worthy on this team...and it pains me to say this, I like the kid...

I don't even care about Rondo's jumpshots so much. I agree with Chak, we need Rondo to be agressive. Even when he's not finishing as he should be, we need him getting to the hole, and if the opposing defense is preventing that we have to find a way to get him to the hole.

Of course he has to be a better finisher, but even before that happens he can't let that affect his agressiveness.

I have finally got league pass and can actually watch more than 2 celtics games a season and I agree with what you guys are saying about Rondo. I like him taking the open shot, but his shot selection is pretty terrible. I dont like him shooting from the three point arc, I realise he can hit it and has hit a couple of really big time shots from there but that shouldnt be his range. I would love to see him become more comfortable taking it a few steps inside the arc and putting up a mid range Jumper. I really think it is a confidence issue because in some games he will drive to the hoop with real agression, and when his numbers build up he becomes more confident in his own abilities. I dont mind him missing shots, but he needs to be taking them without any hesitation and taking shots which suit his abilities.

Rondo only takes a 3pt attempt if the shot clock is running out.

I simply think the kid struggles with one of the elements that makes him great he thinks pass first all the time, Jason Kidd does a lot of the same things, though not passing up lay ups. Some guys don't take their eyes off the rim he doesn't seem to ever look at it.

At the moment Rondo is finishing at the rim at over 70%, and fortunealy that is were half of his attempts are because his jumper is going at about 15% which is pretty damn yikes.

If Rondo can hit them in practice, why does he shoot so few in games? Is it nerves?