Wondering what most of your guys thoughts are on Rondo thus far.
They are 6-2 since the trade, with losses coming to the Suns and the Hawks.
The only PG to do well against Rondo thus far has been Dennis Schroder.
Along with Devin Harris, there is never any room for the opposing PGs to relax on offense. Long gone are the days of struggling watching Jose Calderon and Mike James trying to play defense.
VS SAS: Cory Joseph, 5/15, 14 points, 1 turnover.
VS ATL: Dennis Schroder, 9/15, 21 assists, 5 turnovers.
@ PHO: Eric Bledsoe, 6/19, 16 points, 3 turnovers.
VS LAL: Jeremy Lin/Ronnie Price, 5/17, 12 points, 3 turnovers.
VS OKC: Russell Westbrook, 6/23, 18 points, 5 turnovers.
VS WAS: John Wall, 4/7, 11 points, 3 turnovers.
@ BOS: Avery Bradley, 9/20, 22 points, 1 turnover.
@ CLE: Kyrie Irving: 2/9, 6 points, 1 turnover.
So he's played against Eric Bledsoe, Russell Westbrook, John Wall, and Kyrie Irving, and rendered them inefficient. He's let Avery Bradley and Dennis Schroder score on him.
I'm not entirely too sure what to think of him offensively, but I'm pleased with what he's shown on the other end of the floor. He's made it so that there isn't a guard that can relax playing against Dallas. Monta Ellis is no defensive guru, but he stays on his assignments and attempts to make plays. Devin Harris is quick enough with his feet and is long enough that he can contend pretty much any PG. Then JJ isn't so much a good defender as he is a pest that will cause a few turnovers again just on his floppiness.
What I'm satisfied with is that in our losses with Rondo, the average margin has been six points. Our wins have been by an average of 13 with him. That means closing games out strong, something that we've lacked because we've let guys pounce on us late and get back into games.
Now on the offensive end, he's still trying to mesh. He's taking way too many FGA in my opinion. He's forcing the situation, something I don't think he needs to do. Prior to the game in Cleveland, there wasn’t a game where he shot less than 10 shots. Two of our biggest wins thus ar with him? Against Cleveland and Washington, where he has had his lowest FGA upto this point. I don’t care if he has 2 points, but he should not put up more FGA than Monta, Dirk, OR Chandler Parsons unless he has his shot going early like he did against Boston.
There are three games in which Rondo has put up more shots than both Dirk and CP in the same game. Those three games were two losses and a close win against the Lakers. It’s obvious that isn’t going to cut it. In none of those games were those guys playing that poorly either, they just didn’t get up enough hots.
It's something he will have to learn how to do, but I am so interested in seeing what this team can do when the Playoffs hit. You typically shorten your rotation when the Playoffs come, but our bench has played so well, I don't know who you really want to take minutes away from. Barea, Harris, RJ, Aminu and Charlie V are all playing really well considering what is expected of them. Yeah, Charlie freaking Villanueva and Richard stupid Jefferson are playing well for this team. What the hell man.
