Smith has Rondo's number down low

[Red2]

good topic. IMO Rondo should be trying to lay it in instead of dunking. The big problem for him is that when he goes to dunk he brings the ball back behind his head and exposes it to the shot blocker. I think he would have scored on both of those plays and possibly drawn a foul if he had laid the ball in. Also that gives him a better chance at a goal tending call since smith might wind up swatting it after it hits the glass. My last thought is that when he gets a break away he needs to go all out speed wise. the first one he got blocked he sort of slowed down. I don think he was fouled on one if not both of those plays. you should not be allowed to send a man flying out of bounds without a foul.

[GuyClinch]

13 ppg, 8 asp, 4 rpg 2 spg. 47% from the field and 0.8 turnovers per game. Are we really having this conversation?? Rondo has been great in this series and both ends of the floor. He's done a great job of getting to the rim and getting shots off. Why are we making such a big deal about one of the best shot blockers in the game getting him a few times. I can't imagine what this thread would be like if Mike Bibby was our starting point guard.

Rondo has been great but that doesn't mean he couldn't learn from the CPs and the Tony Parkers of the world..

Pete

[MyInsatiableOne]

13 ppg, 8 asp, 4 rpg 2 spg. 47% from the field and 0.8 turnovers per game. Are we really having this conversation?? Rondo has been great in this series and both ends of the floor. He's done a great job of getting to the rim and getting shots off. Why are we making such a big deal about one of the best shot blockers in the game getting him a few times. I can't imagine what this thread would be like if Mike Bibby was our starting point guard.

Rondo has been great but that doesn't mean he couldn't learn from the CPs and the Tony Parkers of the world..

Pete

Exactly. He's been great but he can get even better!

[Gomes3PC]

Rondo does initate contact but he doesnt have the ref respect of Parker and CP. He is slowly earning it and next year I expect him to benefit from that. He has been phenomenal this series. Totally unaffaid of Smith- should he use a finger roll or up fake instead of the dunk next time? Yeah but I don't want him to change his aggressive style a bit. There's a reason why we're like +50 during the series with him on the floor.

[JoshB914]

There was maybe some contact between Smoove and Rondo after he blocked the shot cleanly. I have never seen that called. Ever.

[celticfan42487]

The poster was saying it was before the block. Regardless I didn't see it happen last night it looked clean to me.

I think once I thought they could of been a foul that was in game 3 or 4.

I'm suprised Rondo doesn't get blocked more in traffic, he may get up okay for a PG but it's nothing special and he doesn't have the bulk to take a hit then get a good shot off... I'm just impressed any time he makes it. Especially after earlier this season he showed he strugled consistently with making open layups.

[tombattor]

Well, Josh Smith is one of the best shot blockers in the league. Rondo was asking to get his shot blocked when he decided to just go for it.

[celtsloyalty]

smith has everyones number down low.

[s1ickd]

um... smith is a 6'8 slam dunk champion, and a top 3 shot blocker in the league. rondo is a 6'1 frail point gaurd. why are we comparing them "down low"?

we don't compare shaq and manu ginobli "down low" for the same reason.

[MyInsatiableOne]

um... smith is a 6'8 slam dunk champion, and a top 3 shot blocker in the league. rondo is a 6'1 frail point gaurd. why are we comparing them "down low"?

we don't compare shaq and manu ginobli "down low" for the same reason.

I certainly wouldn't call Rondo "frail"...he's pretty strong and wiry for a little guy.

But yeah, he's begging for it to get blocked...throw a fake or two, Rondo, and THEN lay it in!

[Man_Up]

Rondo rarely gets calls when there's contact. Why would/should he initiate contact when it's going to lower his chances of making the shot and he still won't get to the stripe? Rondo only gets calls when he flops like Ginobli and even then it's pretty rare.

I think Rondo should use the up and under a bit more. Use the rim to protect the ball. He just has to realize who is and isn't there when he comes around to the other side.

[GuyClinch]

I think Rondo should use the up and under a bit more. Use the rim to protect the ball. He just has to realize who is and isn't there when he comes around to the other side.

Exactly..Smith might be a shot blocker but Rondo had him beat in the open court. Many PGs would score in that scenario..

Pete

[conleyorbust]

I think Rondo should use the up and under a bit more. Use the rim to protect the ball. He just has to realize who is and isn't there when he comes around to the other side.

Exactly..Smith might be a shot blocker but Rondo had him beat in the open court. Many PGs would score in that scenario..

Pete

watch it again, Smith closed on him immdediately. He's just got longer legs and can get down the court really quickly.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ygZBFbVqtxg

Smith isn't as effective of a shotblocker in the halfcourt as a guy like Duncan (who is?) but he is the best transition shotblocker in the league bar-none. He is a very fast runner and he has long enough arms to consistently block the shot from behind without making contact before the shot.

Here are some more of his transition blocks:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=D6KVLbJW1ek&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qTKjch2-RHA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHjt-Ag02Sk&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1IRU4Ce ... re=related

He has good timing and isn't afraid to hit the floor.

[MyInsatiableOne]

^Good points.

And I agree with Pete, Rondo just needs to make a little adjustment, throw a fake or two, and all will be well!

[conleyorbust]

^Good points.

And I agree with Pete, Rondo just needs to make a little adjustment, throw a fake or two, and all will be well!

Yeah, I saw when he faked Sheed right out of his shoes earlier in the season. Rondo's massive hands should come in handy with those pumps because he can take it up with one hand and whip is back down like the dream shake.

[MyInsatiableOne]

-= original quote snipped =-



Yeah, I saw when he faked Sheed right out of his shoes earlier in the season. Rondo's massive hands should come in handy with those pumps because he can take it up with one hand and whip is back down like the dream shake.

In the cases in this series when he's gotten blocked on the break, all he needs to do is pull up short at the hoop so Smith goes flying by and then bank it in. ****, this move works great in all the year's I've played pick-up ball...it definitely works in the NBA!

[chakdaddy]

On that play I thought he spent to much time trying to go up for the slam, if he just laid it in maybe he could have gotten the shot off faster and made it or gotten a goal tend?

[GuyClinch]

On that play I thought he spent to much time trying to go up for the slam, if he just laid it in maybe he could have gotten the shot off faster and made it or gotten a goal tend?

Yes. He could have stopped and waited for Smith to go by him or tried to use the basket to shield himself - and more. There are a number of plays he could have gone too, IMHO.

Don't get me wrong Rondo has been great and I think he has improved in his finishing ability this year. But on that play he could have used more guile and less athleticism.

Pete