In early April, Alan Stein of Stronger Team posted a challenge to watch the NCAA Final Four through a different lens - one focused completely on one player. I'll admit I didn't follow through with Coach Stein's challenge then, but I took it and ran last night during the Hawks/Celtics game. I was going to focus on Paul Pierce, to see how he used screens and footwork to get himself open for jumpers, but just before tip-off the analysts disclosed he had a knee injury and his minutes might be limited. I changed my game plan and decided to focus on Rajon Rondo instead. I wanted to look at how he operated in transition, and really see if I could nail some of the keys that make him effective in the open court beyond his speed.
1. Rondo gets to the middle of the floor on almost every shot the opponent takes.
It was pretty obvious that the Celtics were not worried about Jeff Teague going to the offensive glass. I don't think I saw Rondo make a conscious effort to box him out around the perimeter during the game. What I like about Rondo getting to the middle of the floor is that it allows him to read rebounds and get to his outlet areas quickly. He's able to get to either sideline in equal time (minimal for him anyway because of his quickness) and begin the Celtics transition attack.
2. Rondo is moving forward as he receives the outlet pass whenever possible.
He is not waiting for the outlet pass to get to him with his feet planted. He gets to the outlet area along the sideline, and starts moving forward. His momentum is headed down the court already, and that allows him to throw ahead with pace on his passes when the opportunity to do so presents itself. In the game last night, the Hawks didn't try to pick him up early - instead opting to meet Rondo between half court and the top of the key. This allowed him not only time to get moving forward on outlets and get some shots of his own, but also to set up the next point -
3. Rondo knows where teammates who are trailing are going to be.
I've heard a lot of people say that the Celtics are too old for Rondo, and their age and tendency to not run limit his effectiveness offensively. What I saw last night was that Rondo has actually taken this potentially frustrating trait and turned it into a dangerous advantage. He ALWAYS knows what is happening behind him. When he received outlet passes, his first look was up the floor. But if he didn't throw ahead, he would turn his head and look behind. If you're looking for it, you'll see him turning his head and picking up teammates as they trail him down the court. He knows where they're going to be, and it allows him to set them up for secondary transition opportunities.
4. Rondo moves defenders to open up passing lanes in transition.
Guys like Rondo and Steve Nash get a lot of credit for "probing" the lane and creating tight passing angles - and they should. It requires a confident handle, ability to get by defenders and draw help, and precise passing ability on the move. What I saw last night was Rondo doing the same thing in transition that he does when he "probes" the lane in set plays - moving the defense. One sequence in particular, Rondo came down the floor well ahead of his teammates. He pushed the ball below the free throw line, just outside the paint, and drew his own defender and a big who had been the first man back to that side of the floor. Once they engaged him, Rondo took a retreat dribble, pulling them further from the paint and opening a lane down the middle of the floor. Right on cue, Ryan Hollins trailed the play with a cut down the lane for an alley-oop. This was my favorite play of the night. Rondo knew Hollins was trailing the play from glancing back as he pushed the ball up the floor, then moved the defense to open a lane for the cut.
Three additional observations:
Rondo uses deliberate ball fakes very well, and defenders react to them.
Rondo rarely turns around if he can't get to the rim in transition - he uses the retreat dribble to keep passing options alive.
Rondo is looking to pass first when he puts the ball on the floor. I thought this caused him to miss some shots last night because he picks up the rim late in his shot.
The final possession:
I've watched the final possession at least 10 times. I think the key to that whole play was Josh Smith stepping in front of Rondo on the sideline right after the steal. It obviously slowed him down, but I think it caught Rondo off guard. He had to go backwards, and faced a bigger defender all the way down the court. The second part was a very good job by Horford to take away the baseline. His flat hedge stopped Rondo from turning the corner and Smith was waiting in the middle of the floor if he came back that way. Overall, I think that play was a result of heads up defense rather than a bad play by Rondo to go to the sideline.
1. Rondo gets to the middle of the floor on almost every shot the opponent takes.
It was pretty obvious that the Celtics were not worried about Jeff Teague going to the offensive glass. I don't think I saw Rondo make a conscious effort to box him out around the perimeter during the game. What I like about Rondo getting to the middle of the floor is that it allows him to read rebounds and get to his outlet areas quickly. He's able to get to either sideline in equal time (minimal for him anyway because of his quickness) and begin the Celtics transition attack.
2. Rondo is moving forward as he receives the outlet pass whenever possible.
He is not waiting for the outlet pass to get to him with his feet planted. He gets to the outlet area along the sideline, and starts moving forward. His momentum is headed down the court already, and that allows him to throw ahead with pace on his passes when the opportunity to do so presents itself. In the game last night, the Hawks didn't try to pick him up early - instead opting to meet Rondo between half court and the top of the key. This allowed him not only time to get moving forward on outlets and get some shots of his own, but also to set up the next point -
3. Rondo knows where teammates who are trailing are going to be.
I've heard a lot of people say that the Celtics are too old for Rondo, and their age and tendency to not run limit his effectiveness offensively. What I saw last night was that Rondo has actually taken this potentially frustrating trait and turned it into a dangerous advantage. He ALWAYS knows what is happening behind him. When he received outlet passes, his first look was up the floor. But if he didn't throw ahead, he would turn his head and look behind. If you're looking for it, you'll see him turning his head and picking up teammates as they trail him down the court. He knows where they're going to be, and it allows him to set them up for secondary transition opportunities.
4. Rondo moves defenders to open up passing lanes in transition.
Guys like Rondo and Steve Nash get a lot of credit for "probing" the lane and creating tight passing angles - and they should. It requires a confident handle, ability to get by defenders and draw help, and precise passing ability on the move. What I saw last night was Rondo doing the same thing in transition that he does when he "probes" the lane in set plays - moving the defense. One sequence in particular, Rondo came down the floor well ahead of his teammates. He pushed the ball below the free throw line, just outside the paint, and drew his own defender and a big who had been the first man back to that side of the floor. Once they engaged him, Rondo took a retreat dribble, pulling them further from the paint and opening a lane down the middle of the floor. Right on cue, Ryan Hollins trailed the play with a cut down the lane for an alley-oop. This was my favorite play of the night. Rondo knew Hollins was trailing the play from glancing back as he pushed the ball up the floor, then moved the defense to open a lane for the cut.
Three additional observations:
Rondo uses deliberate ball fakes very well, and defenders react to them.
Rondo rarely turns around if he can't get to the rim in transition - he uses the retreat dribble to keep passing options alive.
Rondo is looking to pass first when he puts the ball on the floor. I thought this caused him to miss some shots last night because he picks up the rim late in his shot.
The final possession:
I've watched the final possession at least 10 times. I think the key to that whole play was Josh Smith stepping in front of Rondo on the sideline right after the steal. It obviously slowed him down, but I think it caught Rondo off guard. He had to go backwards, and faced a bigger defender all the way down the court. The second part was a very good job by Horford to take away the baseline. His flat hedge stopped Rondo from turning the corner and Smith was waiting in the middle of the floor if he came back that way. Overall, I think that play was a result of heads up defense rather than a bad play by Rondo to go to the sideline.
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