Veteran point guard Derek Fisher practiced with the Mavericks and is likely the starter at point guard.
Nov 302012
Nov 242012
Maybe in the end the question wasn’t whether Carmelo Anthony could have coexisted with Jeremy Lin, but whether Mike Woodson could have accepted Lin as his starting point guard.
Nov 202012
The NBA season has started and has already seen the twists and turns that you’d expect in an action flick. But it’s time to put the antics of those superstar players to the side to discuss the world of the NBA Developmental League. The likes of Byron Mullins and Alonzo Gee who both had extended time in the D-League in the past are currently having good seasons so far with their respective NBA teams and have proved how the D-League can help a player progress. There are hundreds of players currently in the D-League that are hungry that they could get to the level of Alonzo, Byron or other multiple former D-League players currently in the NBA.
Now even though they all dream of going to the NBA, those players still compete as a team to become the D-League champs like the Austin Toros last year. Players come and go in the D-League, but there’s still a championship to be won and one of these teams competing for the gold are the Idaho Stampede. The Stampede have struggled to even reach the playoffs since winning the title in 2007-08, but they hope that this is the year that they can make it back to the D-League playoffs and put excitement back in the CenturyLink Arena.
Idaho hopes former Magic and Richmond forward Justin Harper can be that player that can help lead this squad back to the playoffs. I’ve previously talked about Harper in my draft preview article. Harper plays in the same mold as Channing Frye. Harper never really had the opportunity to succeed with the Magic, but he was an all-around player at Richmond with his ability to score from the perimeter and the post and rebound.
Harper is going to have to lead this front court because they currently don’t have a big man that could pair up with him to rebound and block shots. The only player you could really call a center on this team would be 6’11″ rookie Garrett Green who was a role player with San Diego State last year (6.0 PPG and 4.6 RPG in 19 MPG). The likes of Paul Carter, who was a solid player for Idaho last year, could help the front court, but they’ll have to be hoping one of the other players step up or the Blazers send down Joel Freeland or Victor Clavor (more of a SF than a PF) to help the Stampede produce in the front court.
The Stampede is led by the returning Coby Karl who has played European ball for the past two seasons but was an absolute stud with Idaho in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. Karl will bring a veteran’s touch to a backcourt that’s filled with inexperienced players (minus journeyman D-Leaguer Darren Cooper). Another returning Stampede shooting guard is former Beavers guard Seth Tarver who’s been a solid role player for the past two seasons.
Tarver is a good scorer (.507 FG% last year), but he’ll most likely be the sixth man thanks to the return of Karl. Point guard will be a question mark for this team but I can see former TCU Horned Frog Hank Thorns, who’s a 5’9″ spitfire who was a solid player in his senior season last year (13.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, 1.0 SPG) taking the starting gig because he’s really the only PG. Thorns will have a challenging matchup basically every single night as the D-League site recently looked at in their top-10 D-league PG list. Thorns could become the starting PG for the season, but Nolan Smith could possibly be called down to the D-League if he continues to rot away on the Blazers bench.
It’s hard to really predict how a D-League team will finish because different players get called up and down so frequently. That said, I believe that the Stampede are going to be a team that are built around Karl and Harper but will be still be on the outside looking in once the 2013 D-League playoffs start.
Nov 142012
Both the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets are on fire.
Well, almost on fire.
The Nets have won three straight games since being blown out against the Miami Heat, while the Celtics are winners of their last two heading into Wednesday night’s bout with the Utah Jazz.
Neither of these teams has yet to play the role of the powerhouse they were thought to be, so both organizations will be looking to extend their most recent string of winning ways here.
Plus, in a stacked Atlantic Division, the outcome of this game could prove to have serious playoff implications upon season’s end.
Time: Thursday, November 14th, 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Records: Boston Celtics (4-3), Brooklyn Nets (4-2)
Betting Line: TBD
Injuries (via CBSSports.com)
Celtics: Avery Bradley (shoulder), out.
Nets: Marshon Brooks (ankle), questionable; Gerald Wallace (ankle), questionable.
Key Storyline: Are Either of These Two Teams Eastern Conference Powerhouses?
The going hasn’t been easy early on for both Boston and Brooklyn.
Both teams were supposed to emerge as championship contenders almost immediately, yet they continue to struggle to become a dominant force.
The Celtics are second to last in rebounds per game, 14th in scoring and 20th in points allowed per contest. They are fresh off an impressive win against the Chicago Bulls, but losses to the Heat and Milwaukee Bucks, along with two near losses to the Washington Wizards are more than troubling.
As for the Nets, they haven’t fared much better. Brooklyn is in the top 10 in points allowed per game, but it’s near the bottom of the pack in points scored, assists and rebounds per game to counteract that. And though the Nets find themselves just behind the New York Knicks in their division, all four wins have come against lottery-bound teams.
If either—or both—of these teams is to develop into a true powerhouse, they’re going to have to start defeating formidable foes, not just win the games they’re supposed to.
For one of them, that will start here.
Key Matchup: Rajon Rondo, PG, Celtics vs. Deron Williams, PG, Nets
Let the battle of two All-Star point guards begin.
Despite Boston’s early struggles, Rondo is on pace to have a career year. He’s currently averaging 15.4 points, 13 assists and 5.1 rebounds on 52.8 percent shooting—all career highs.
The Celtics’ floor general is also navigating the floor extremely well and is the primary reason Boston leads the league with 25 assists per game. He’s been one of the team’s few bright spots on the defensive end as well.
Meaning?
Mr. Williams is going to have his hands full.
Though the Nets’ point man continues to lead the team in dishing and swishing, he’s averaging just 17.7 points and 7.7 assists per game—the lowest totals he’s seen since his sophomore season. He’s also shooting a career-worst 25.8 percent from deep as well.
While a decline in production is acceptable if Brooklyn’s offense was extremely potent, this isn’t the case. Again, the Nets are 18th in the league with 96.5 points scored per game. For them to win here, Williams is going to have to attack the basket and find his teammates more.
He’s also going to have attempt to contain one of the most elusive and defensively oriented point guards in the game while he’s at it.
That gives this matchup the makings of an epic positional battle.
X-Factors
Kevin Garnett, PF, Celtics
Garnett, the power forward turned center, needs to take advantage of the Nets in the paint if Boston is to prevail.
Currently, Brooklyn is allowing 45.3 points in the post per game—the fifth most in the league. The Celtics, by comparison, are averaging just 35.1 points in the paint—fifth worst in the Association.
One team is going to have to break here. Either the Nets’ inside defense remains porous enough to be exploited, or Boston’s lack of a true post scorer continues to prevail.
For the Celtics’ sake, Garnett must ensure the latter isn’t actualized.
Kris Humphries, PF, Nets
Once again, the Celtics find themselves near the bottom in rebounds per game. Like near the very bottom.
Though the Nets aren’t exactly hoarding rebounds themselves, Humphries—the team’s leading rebounder—needs to beat Boston into submission on the glass.
His ability to create second-chance points for Brooklyn while also preventing the Celtics from creating similar opportunities of their own is crucial the Nets’ cause in this one.
Especially considering an aging Boston core will be engaging in the latter half of a back-to-back.
Jason Terry, G, Celtics
Boston’s bench has been anything but productive this season.
Right now, the Celtics’ second unit is putting up just 29.7 points per game, nearly three points less than the Nets’.
Over the past few games, however, Terry has been on a personal tear, putting up numbers similar to what he put up with the Dallas Mavericks.
If he can give the Celtics the edge on the bench, that will go a long way in ensuring Boston emerges victorious here.
C.J. Watson, PG, Nets
Though the Celtics lead the league in assists per game, such an accomplishment is by no means courtesy of Boston’s backup floor generals. Instead, it’s all Rondo, who averages over 40 minutes per contest.
That means the Nets need to make the most of the seven-plus minutes he’s off the floor.
Enter Watson.
Don’t expect to see Rondo on the bench at any point where Williams isn’t. This leaves Watson with the opportunity to run the offense against Boston’s “true” second unit.
And, for Brooklyn to ensure it can make the most of Rondo’s time on the sidelines, Watson must attack the rim with a purpose. He must drive with the intent to score but be prepared to kick out if the opportunity isn’t there.
Should he be able to do just that, Rondo’s inevitably prolific stat line won’t be as detrimental to the Nets’ quest for a win.
Depth Charts
Celtics
Nets
Prediction: Celtics 104, Nets 99
By most accounts, the Nets are a stellar defensive team. In the interest of honesty, however, they’ve also had the luxury of playing a depleted Orlando Magic team twice, which has skewed the numbers in their favor.
While the Celtics’ offensive attack has been anything but dominant, Rondo should carve up a Brooklyn defense that cannot keep players out of the paint. Whether he’s getting easy looks at the rim or simply kicking the rock out to an open wing, expect the point guard to pick apart the Nets with the utmost of ease.
On the flip side, though, Brooklyn should not have problems putting points on the board against a reeling Boston defense. That said, the team’s lackadaisical ball movement will be one downfall too many and will make the going much easier for the Celtics down the stretch.
Furthermore, unlike the Nets, the Celtics have beaten playoff-bound teams this season—on the road, no less.
Which means that, as long as Rondo is able to continue being Rondo and the Celtics’ defense is able to keep a bottom-half Brooklyn offense in check, Boston will ultimately prevail on the road once again.
Read more Boston Celtics news on BleacherReport.com
Nov 092012
A look around the league and the web that covers it. It’s also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren’t always listed in order of importance. That’s for you, dear reader, to figure out.
C : CSNNE.com . Detailing various Celtic frustrations with their 32-hour drive to work.
PF : Orlando Pinstriped Post . Glen Davis, out of nowhere, is Orlando’s go-to scorer.
SF : BrewHoop . Drew Gooden, for the first time in his healthy career, is “inactive.”
SG : Hardwood Paroxysm . Noam Schiller goes around the NBA, but mostly to Philly and Indy.
PG : 8 Points, 9 Seconds . Breaking down ex-Pacer Darren Collison’s initial run in Dallas.
Nov 022012
NBA D-League fans everywhere from Maine to Anaheim can start preparing themselves for the upcoming D-League season because of tonight’s D-League Draft starting at 7 PM ET. 261 hopeful prospects–from Faizel Aden all the way down to Deonte Wyatt (prospect link here ) will be available for all 15 D-League teams to help bolster their rosters or potentially land a spot on an NBA roster. There are plenty of intriguing and interesting players available that should be familiar to people who are fans of college or NBA basketball. The likes of Chris Douglas-Roberts, Travis Leslie and Christian Eyenga have all had somewhat relevant stints in the NBA. While reported 1st overall pick JaJuan Johnson (Purdue) , Jorge Gutierrez (Cal) and Darryl Patin (Boston University) have been called All-Conference player of the year for their respective college conferences.
Out of the 261 hopeful prospects, Tennessee Tech’s 7’2 center Liam McMorrow is the tallest of them all while former TCU Horned Frog PG Hank Thorns is tiniest one of the bunch listed at 5’9.
The draft has some prospects that belong to some very well-known basketball families like former Indiana Hoosier Jeremiah Rivers who’s the older brother to Hornets rookie Austin Rivers and of course the son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Harouna Mutombo was a 6’4 shooting guard for Western Carolina who happens to be the nephew of the great Dikembe Mutombo. Both LaPhonso Ellis Jr. and Glen Rice Jr. are sons of long time NBA veterans LaPhonso Ellis and Glen Rice. Now nobody if these second-generation ballers will be as good as their fathers but it’ll be interesting to find out as they hope to make a D-League roster.
Every single one of these potential D-Leaguers share the same goal of being one of the called up to the NBA. While some of these players have already played on an NBA court, the hunger still remains for the players and being selected in tonight’s draft is that first step in redemption. No matter if you are one of those aforementioned former NBA players or a player coming out of a small college, there’s a certain optimism with all these players because a record 60 players were called up to the NBA from the D-League last season.
Now who exactly will be called up to the Show during the 2012-13 or be making their way to the Houston to be part of the D-League All-Star game next Feburary?? Well make sure to follow @Dakota_Schmidt on twitter as I’ll be giving live updates of the draft while it happens but before then I hope you enjoy me looking into my crystal as I preview the first round of tonight’s draft.
2012 NBA D-League Mock Draft
1. Fort Wayne Mad Ants- JaJuan Johnson, PF, 6’10” (Purdue)
I’ve already written an article about how JaJuan will reportedly be selected by Fort Wayne with the first pick so you can take a peek at that to see my opinions about the selection. To briefly recap that, I think that JaJuan would be an excellent selection by Fort Wayne because he’s that big man the Mad Ants really never had and would instantly put them at least in the playoff picture simply for the one-two punch with long-time Mad Ant great SG Ron Howard.
2. Sioux Falls Skyforce- Travis Leslie, SG, 6’4” (Georgia)
Travis Leslie is a young 6’4 shooting guard who was drafted in the 2011 draft by the Clippers but was just waived last week which makes him eligible for tonight’s draft. The sky’s the limit for this 22 year old man out of Georgia who is probably the most athletic player in this draft. He has a developing three point shot which did improve in his time with the Bulldogs but is deserving of a big-time shot with the Skyforce or any other D-League team because he hasn’t yet had that opportunity yet besides a mid-season role with the Bakersfield Jam late last season.
3. Idaho Stampede- Shelvin Mack,PG, 6’3” (Butler)
If the name Shelvin Mack sounds familiar to you and you don’t know why just remember that he was the 2nd best player on those Jimmer Fredette Butler teams that had such a great run in the NCAA Tournament a few years ago. Shelvin is that instant offense type of player thanks to his jumper that helped those great Butler teams despite being outshined by Jimmer. Shelvin shouldn’t be outshined thanks to this #3 selection by the Idaho Stampede which have been struggling since being the D-League champions in 2008.
4. Maine Red Claws- Sean Singletary- PG, 6’0” (Virginia)
The streak of guards continues with Sean Singletary who’s a talented shooter who has made his way around the world playing in Belgium and Spain after being cut from the Bobcats in the winter of 2009. Singletary was known as one of the best players in the history of Virigina basketball but really hasn’t been on any pro team for over a year but hopes for greener pastures with a potential trip back to the USA to play in the D-League.
5. Reno Bighorns- Justin Harper-PF, 6’8″ (Richmond)
Justin Harper really is a strange player because he’s really a shooting guard trapped into a body of a power forward. If you were to compare him to any current NBA player he’d be more like Channing Frye which would mean he’s an agile, speedy PF that can shoot the lights out from beyond the arc but really doesn’t have the bulk to post up some of the bigger PF’s in the D-League. Despite being slight of frame by currently being listed at 6’8 and 225 pounds, he’s still a worthy draft pick mid way through the first round because of his shooting capabilities.
6. Tulsa 66ers- Christian Eyenga- SG, 6’5” (Congo)
To say that Eyenga has been around the block since being drafted by the Cavaliers in the 2009 draft would be a huge understatement. Eyenga has had two stints with the Cavaliers and even laced up his sneakers for a game with the Lakers, you may also have seen him made his way around the D-League cities in Canton, Erie and LA with the D-Fenders. Christian is the sort of player that really doesn’t do anything spectacular but he’s pretty good at most things. He can knock down three pointers and has a nice first step to get to the basket but he really shines defensively where he is an absolute workhorse. He would be a good fit on any D-League roster
7. Rio Grande Valley Vipers- Shan Foster- SF, 6’6″ (Vanderbilt)
After a fantastic career at Vandy where he was awarded the 2008 SEC Player of the Year award, Shan Foster has been hidden in the Dominican Basketball League and in Italy but he’s hoping that he can make a return to the U.S with tonight’s draft. Scouts worried about certain aspects like his quickness, strength and ball handling skills. He may not be the best player but he’s a solid defender and had an outstanding shooting percentage from behind the arc while at Vandy.
8. Texas Legends- Andrew Goudelock- PG/SG-6’3” (College of Charleston)
Goudelock is the type of player that’s skilled enough that he could currently be on any NBA roster but really hasn’t had that opportunity to shine because of playing at a small school like College of Charleston. Andrew has a killer jump shot that could light up the scoreboards in Frisco, Texas with the Legends this year. He’s a pretty average player all around besides where he really shines which is his outside shooting.
9. Iowa Energy- Jorge Gutierrez- PG, 6’3″ (Cal)
Just like Goudelock, Gutierrez could be called a combination PG and SG but is more of a PG because he really doesn’t have the scoring touch like Goudelock to be at SG. Gutierrez is one of those players who are a jack of all trades but a master at none because he’s an able rebounder and assist man but really doesn’t wow anybody. Gutierrez is the reigning Pac 12 Conference Player of the Year but it’s still a mystery if he can bring that game to the pro level in the D-League.
10. Canton Charge- Ryan Rossiter-PF, 6’9″ (Siena)
As I was trolling through the internet trying to find a scouting report to get a good idea about what type of player he is, I absolutely found nothing. Maybe it’s because he played at a small school like Siena but it’s really odd for you to not find anybody this kid even after he posted up 19 PPG and 9 RPG in his senior year. He ended up playing in France last year after not being drafted but he’ll be hoping to get his name called tonight to hopefully be a more well-known name.
11. Bakersfield Jam- Durrell Summers-SG, 6’4″ (Michigan State)
As a Badger fan I know about how good Summers could be after blowing up against Wisconsin multiple times in his stint with MSU. The main reason why Summers is probably in D-League draft and not in the NBA is because he has issues with consistency because there could be a game where he he’s hitting shots left and right but the next game he has the look of a guy who can’t even shoot a bouncy ball into the Atlantic Ocean. If Summers is going to be inconsistent than he’s going to have to remain the great defensive player he was at Michigan State and last year with the Maine Red Claws.
12. Erie Bayhawks- Jack McClinton- PG, 6’1” (Miami)
Now when you take a look at Jack’s stats at Miami or his three seasons playing pro ball in Europe and you wonder why he doesn’t have a roster spot in the NBA. He was one of the more efficient scorers in that class of ’09 that featured many great guards but the big problem with him is the fact that he was around 24 on draft day ’09 and he’s 27 right now so you basically get what you see when it comes to McClinton. He is going to be one of the older players in the D-League when he’s drafted but the team that does select him will be receiving a great shooting threat.
13. Santa Cruz Warriors- Terrence Jennings- C, 6’10” (Louisville)
Hey, we actually have a center listed in this mock draft! Now, Terrence Jennings might not be the best center I’ve ever seen or even in the top 30 but he is a big body which is a necessity for any team out there. He was a great force in the paint in Louisville when it came to blocking shots and was a pretty good offensive rebounder by averaging 5 offensive rebounders per 40 minutes. Will Terrence be a star in the D-League?? No, but his work in the paint makes him a valuable piece to a team like Santa Cruz that could be on the verge of going to the D-League Finals.
14. Springfield Armor- Demonte Harper- SG, 6’4″ (Morehead State)
While Kenneth Faried was being a monster force on the boards at Morehead State, Demonte Harper was leading the backcourt into the NCAA Tournament by averaging 15 PPG and 5 RPG his senior season. Demonte is a total package anywhere on the court with the ability to score, pass and is an awesome rebounder for a 6’4 shooting guard. He probably won’t play at the level of his college teammate but expect to see Harper light it up a few times this season with Springfield.
15. Austin Toros-Chris Johnson- SF,6’6″ (Dayton)
Remember when I told you that Demonte Harper was the total package?? Well Chris Johnson did it all in his career at Dayton by recording 1,400 points, 800 rebounds (300 defensive), 200 points from beyond the arc and shot over 80 % from the free throw line. Perhaps I overlooked Chris while doing this mock draft but I’ll be extremely surprised if he isn’t one of the D-League players caught up to the NBA this season.
16.Los Angeles D’Fenders- DeVon Hardin- C, 7’0″ (Cal)
Finishing up this first round mock draft for tonight’s D-League draft we have DeVon Hardin who has made his way around the international basketball scene after leaving Cal as the second all-time leading shot blocker. DeVon didn’t really do great in his last stint in the D-League with the 66′ers but his work with the Cal Bears and his work in countries like Belarus and Venezuela. Hardin won’t set the world on fire like the Rockets guard with a similar last name but he’ll be a valuable asset to LA either on the bench or in the starting lineup with his copious amount of skills.
Oct 292012
Brooklyn Nets All-Star Deron Williams said Saturday that Raymond Felton is a better playmaker than the point guard he replaced in New York, Jeremy Lin.
Oct 132012
If you think preseason basketball doesn’t matter, you need a reality check.
While it may not be the most entertaining, the NBA preseason gives organizations a chance to look at their teams under a microscope and craft a roster and rotation for the upcoming season.
The New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics will have the opportunity to do just that on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in TD Garden.
Here are three players I’ll have my eye on tomorrow night.
Jared Sullinger, F, Celtics
The Celtics get another chance to look at their No. 21 overall draft pick on Saturday night. The 6’9″ forward logged 26 minutes in his first preseason action against Istanbul, scoring 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds and recording a block.
In a starting role against Milano, Sullinger was again solid, netting nine points, snatching seven rebounds and swatting one shot in 18 minutes.
The 20-year-old rookie is already receiving high praise from starting point guard Rajon Rondo, according to the Celtics.
Rajon Rondo says that Jared Sullinger is the smartest rookie the Celtics have had during Rondo’s tenure with the team.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 10, 2012
Sullinger looks to be a bright spot of the draft and could eventually find his way into a starting role, sending Brandon Bass to the bench.
Jason Kidd, PG, Knicks
It’s going to be interesting to see what Jason Kidd’s role is in the Knicks offense this season, and if he can make it home safely without crashing his Escalade.
All jokes aside, Raymond Felton appears to be in great shape this season and is set to be the starting PG in New York, with Kidd assuming a backup role for the first time in his career.
In his first action with the Knicks, in a preseason game against the Washington Wizards, Kidd scored four points and dished out four assists in 23 minutes but turned the ball over three times, finishing the game with a plus-nine.
I think Kidd is going to provide the veteran leadership that this Knicks team lacks with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire as the leaders.
I’d expect to see Kidd log somewhere around 20 minutes again on Saturday and I’ll be watching his stroke from beyond the arc and his turnovers.
Fab Melo, C, Celtics
Much has been made of the 2012 Big East Defensive Player of the Year Fab Melo after being deemed ineligible for the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
After spending just two seasons at Syracuse, Melo has yet to really prove his worth to the Celtics in two preseason games so far.
In 14 total minutes this preseason, Melo has yet to score his first bucket and has a combined four rebounds and one block.
Melo finds himself behind Kevin Garnett at center, and unless he really starts to develop, his playing time won’t increase much unless Garnett suffers an injury (which is pretty likely at his age).
Regardless, Melo is an interesting player to study on the court. He has all the tools to be a solid NBA center, but I’m still questioning his attitude and work ethic.
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Read more Boston Celtics news on BleacherReport.com
Oct 032012
Raymond Felton will start at point guard for the New York Knicks this season, coach Mike Woodson announced Tuesday.
Oct 012012
An incredible talent with overrated regular season production, Rajon Rondo defies simple analysis. He has the potential to be a first team All-NBA player next season, and he could just as easily be a mere shade above average. Since Rondo is so fantastic at certain parts of the game and so terrible at others, his projection depends on how much this still young player improves at what ails his game.
By statistical measure, Rondo leaves something to be desired. While it is common to cite his assist totals, there are more aspects to offensive production than passing. Rajon struggles to score, and scoring is an important part of a point guard’s job.
The conventional positional wisdom is that a PG must be a distributor, that a scoring point is somehow a degradation of the game. This is a silly way to think because there’s no tangible proof that a team needs a shot-averse point guard. These positions are somewhat arbitrary anyway, especially as the league evolves.
For example: LeBron James is Miami’s best passer, but he plays small forward while doing his best work in lineups that feature him as a power forward. When analyzing players, it is better to just look at the production rather than positional archetype.
So let us look at Rajon Rondo’s production. He led all NBA players in assists at 11.7 per game. For many basketball observers, the Rondo conversation ends there. He’s the assist leader, so he’s therefore elite.
But to what end is Rondo getting those assists? Boston ranked 24th in offensive efficiency last season and 18th the year before. Obviously, overall team age is a contributing factor in that ranking, but the Celtics boasted fine shooters all around.
Often, the only poor shooter on the court was Rondo himself. The mediocre .448 field-goal mark fails to tell the whole story because much of that story is Rajon passing up open jumpers and layups. Passing when you should shoot is just as bad as shooting when you should pass, in the general sense. For some reason, we give point guards a proverbial pass for over-passing. We take it especially easy on Rondo because some of that over-passing can lead to brilliant results.
But Rondo’s refusal to shoot (only 10.8 field-goal attempts per game despite handling the rock more than any teammate) and inability to present the threat of shooting hinder Boston’s ability to space the floor.
At the same time, Rajon Rondo is dynamic—or at least on the cusp of dynamism. The slight-of-height guard is a sleeping giant, if only he’d fix that jumper.
Last postseason was a preview of what could be. Rondo shot more, with his field-goal mark jumping to 15.8 per game. As a result of the shift, he delivered a breakout game against the Heat, going off for 44 points on 24 shots.
Obviously, Rondo isn’t going to be scoring 30 points per game anytime soon, but he’s one skill away from elite status. Thankfully for Rajon, outside shooting tends to improve as players age. He has the fortunate quality of being good at things players rarely improve upon (passing, rebounding) while being bad at a skill that players often get better at.
If Rondo becomes more of a scoring threat, he will become a more dynamic distributor. When teams fear his outside shot or his driving ability, lanes and space should open up for his teammates. Right now, Boston is too dependent on Rondo dribbling out the clock in search of an open man. A scoring Rajon could speed the pace with scoring tries, helping the overall offensive fluidity.
At age 26, this could be the year when Rajon Rondo becomes a two-dimensional offensive force. If it happens, the Celtics may become more than just a defensive juggernaut.
Read more Boston Celtics news on BleacherReport.com