Why is Rondo so passive?

[Don Draper]

I'm not one to blame a single player or play for a loss, but with 2 minutes to go and the final score being 90-87, you can't help but wonder what the f*** Rondo was thinking. YES, Tony Allen is behind you, YES you are a poor free throw shooter, YES you are not a strong finisher. But not going for the layup allowed the grizzlies to get back on defense and completely halt any fast break opportunity you had.

This was my main thing. Regardless of why he did it (stat padding or fear) his confidence (or lack thereof) in his shot is disturbing. If I'm a Celtics fan I can live with Rondo not being a good shooter but I can't live with him being scared to shoot.

[Imadogg]

Haha wtf just happened in that video. No one else is close.. plus Rondo is known as a fast little ****... he should not be afraid of a chasedown from Young or Allen. Take and make a layup, don't be a puss or think pass-first no matter what.

[Pablo Escobar]

He can't score so he pads his assists

[kassian]

lol @ some people pretending Rondo was a sensitive target for a Tony Allen block. Rondo's one of the fastest players in the NBA and could've just layed that one in without ANY problem.

I don't think he passes such easy bucket opportunities because he's afraid of the contact. In fact, he can throw some down with authority in traffic and take contact. He just wants MOAR, MOAR assists. Not the first or second time I see him do this; I can recall, many times, him passing out of an easy lay-up to a guy on the perimiter, in mid-air.

[BrooklynBulls]

Rondo's fallen apart after the ASG.

His numbers post-ASG:
16 games
36.1 MPG
8.3 points
4.1 rebounds
9.5 assists

Which isn't that bad for a slump, until you consider this:

3 TOPG
.408 TS.

The 3 TOPG isn't a big deal, but the .408 TS on a terrible volume is just killing the Celtics offense. I really think he's the entire explanation for their offensive struggles of late.

[Big Shamrock]

He can't score so he pads his assists

can't =/= won't

[celticfan42487]

He can't score so he pads his assists

can't =/= won't

Same result. Celtics lose.

[Shot Clock]

He should have been going up hard for the dunk, likely gonna draw a foul at least. That was pathetic.

[GYBE]

He's been a shell of himself lately, especially since the Perkins trade. It sucks.

Hopefully he does his usual thing in the playoffs and elevates his game.

[Antetokounmpo]

That's just sad.. I used to like Rondo ages ago, now though, wow..

[Midway Bully]

That was bad...I know he's worried about Tony Allen, but he slowed down towards the end. He had at least a step or 2 on both guys, and he could've easily gotten a layup without even using the glass, especially if he was scared of getting blocked from behind.

[ropjhk]

Two things:
1) he's a bad jumpshooter.
2) he's bad at FT's.

Rondo is at his best when he has confidence in his shot and he's aggressive going to the rim. He's deadly under those circumstances. On a night like last night, when he was 2-12 from the field, I don't think he had confidence in his shot. So in this instance, I think it was in the back of his mind that he didn't want to get fouled and put on the line.

He's had stretches this season where he's gone several games with barely any free throws. He knows he can contribute in many other facets of the game, and he knows he has teammates who can score much better than he can. But I think his lack of confidence in hitting a jumpshot or a FT causes him to be too passive.

[Big Shamrock]

Rondo's terrible, the only reason he does so well is because he's surrounded by a dozen hall of famers who are still playing at an MVP level. If he was on the Pistons he'd average 6 points and 4 assists. Time to trade him for Chris Duhon.

[Big Shamrock]

Two things:
1) he's a bad jumpshooter.
2) he's bad at FT's.

Rondo is at his best when he has confidence in his shot and he's aggressive going to the rim. He's deadly under those circumstances. On a night like last night, when he was 2-12 from the field, I don't think he had confidence in his shot. So in this instance, I think it was in the back of his mind that he didn't want to get fouled and put on the line.

He's had stretches this season where he's gone several games with barely any free throws. He knows he can contribute in many other facets of the game, and he knows he has teammates who can score much better than he can. But I think his lack of confidence in hitting a jumpshot or a FT causes him to be too passive.

He's bad at FT's and *three point* jumpshots. From what I've watched this year his mid-range jumper has been somewhat solid.

I really can't fathom the whole can't-shoot-free-throws thing...

[dhh2h]

Rondo's terrible, the only reason he does so well is because he's surrounded by a dozen hall of famers who are still playing at an MVP level. If he was on the Pistons he'd average 6 points and 4 assists. Time to trade him for Chris Duhon.

Nah, I would say more like 7 points and 7 assists on the Pistons

[Mamba Venom]

Rondo's terrible, the only reason he does so well is because he's surrounded by a dozen hall of famers who are still playing at an MVP level. If he was on the Pistons he'd average 6 points and 4 assists. Time to trade him for Chris Duhon.

Nah, I would say more like 7 points and 7 assists on the Pistons

[G-Heel]

He had a good distance ahead, for a guy some people argue the fastest in the NBA, he should be able to put up a non-contested layup easily. He was just scared and not trusting his layup. Even JJ Redick would have lay it up even if Lebron was chasing after him, that's a simple bball move and what you suppose to do when you're ahead of everyone.

[KingoftheCastle]

Rondo's terrible, the only reason he does so well is because he's surrounded by a dozen hall of famers who are still playing at an MVP level. If he was on the Pistons he'd average 6 points and 4 assists. Time to trade him for Chris Duhon.

Really no need for green font there.

[Al Swearengen]

The reason he passed that up wasn't because he heard Tony Allen's footsteps. It's because he hears Steve Nash's.

[Kilroy]

I thought he was just trying to use some more clock...

But when you have a wide open layup, you need to take the shot... Maybe you get fouled... Either way, that's the smart play.