Rajon Rondo and Dallas; The Perfect Pair?
After years of unsettled basketball, Rajon Rondo was eventually traded to the Dallas Mavericks, in what was a blockbuster trade that meant four players were switching teams, plus some draft picks and a trade exception. Rondo went from a rebuilding, eyes on a championship in five years team, to a #5 seed Dallas who are aspiring to bring another championship home (remember how strong the WC is, their 29-13 would place them #2 in the EC). Since acquiring Rondo, Dallas have won 10 games and lost five. Dallas have managed without depth players, Jameer Nelson, Jae Crowder and Brandan Wright with the emergence of veterans Richard Jefferson and Devin Harris, the Mavs have had great bench production. It looks as if Rondo has settled in nicely with the team, cheering when he’s on the bench, giving high-fives and joking around with Chandler Parsons. Things are looking bright for Dallas and Rajon Rondo.
Rondo’s impact on offense:
We obviously know that Rondo has struggled to score throughout his entire career, but this year especially has been his worst in a long time. Rondo is shooting 40.5% from the field, to go along with 25% from downtown. The most alarming statistic for Rondo has been his free throw shooting. From the charity strike, Rondo has suffered a huge decline in numbers, where he is shooting only 30%. When your FG% is higher than your one from the free throw line, that’s when you should be really concerned. Another concern for Rondo is his ability to shoot from the mid-range. Throughout his career, Rajon has worked tirelessly to develop a jump shot that he can rely on when given space. Up to this point in career, you could say that his shot was consistent, but definitely nowhere near as good as what you would want.
Rondo has been hitting the free throw line jumper, the mid-range and corner three (to the left) consistently enough. The rest of his areas are a cause for concern. Defenders tend to sag off Rondo when he’s with the ball, giving him that space to pull and for a jumper. At times he hits the shot, but definitely not as consistent as what it should be.
Rajon Rondo has impacted others players offenses well. Rondo is a natural Point Guard, which has helped his teammates get open looks. Rondo has been finding Ellis and Parsons well on the fast break, he has been hitting Dirk in the post with accurate and beneficiary passes. Rondo has even learnt how to play off the ball a little, with Ellis and occasionally Parsons taking control and bringing the ball down the court. It seems as if Rondo has learnt his role and has adapted to it. His assists are down to 9.5 (a drop of 1.3 since the trade), but its only early times. Rondo has still had great games in the assist column, even though he hasn’t had the ball in his hands as much as what he is used too.
Rondo and Tyson Chandler have developed a great relationship on offense, the use of the Pick and Roll is so simple, but deadly in the NBA nowadays. Rondo and Chandler seem to have the play under control, with Rondo finding Chandler. In the video below, we can see Rondo and Chandler connect on three alley oops. One coming from a nice Pick and Roll, and two coming from a faked Pick and Roll. With Rondo’s elite passing skills and Chandler’s pure strength and athleticism, there’s no stopping either of them together. Dallas have used this play nicely and it’s been a great way for the team to find easy and consistent buckets.
Rondo on defense:
Rondo has been labelled as a defensive specialist throughout his entire career, he has always been a great defender out on the perimeter and also when defending the Pick and Roll. Rondo has already had an impact on Dallas’ defense, before Rondo was acquired, Dallas were sitting in 20th in defensive efficiency, they now sit in 16th. Defense is still a weakness for the Mavs and it definitely needs to improve, but this will come with time. Dallas don’t quite have the personnel to be known as a defensive team, but they definitely had made up for that lack on offense, where they rank first in the league. Rondo is definitely nowhere near the defender he once was, but at 28 and still coming back from injuries, this will definitely improve into the coming future. The picture below shows Rondo’s opposing field goal percentages when he has defended the player shooting. His statistics are solid.
Going into the future:
Rondo and Dallas will continue to build a positive and productive relationship. Once this has happened, Dallas will be an even more dangerous team then what they are now. Expect big things from the Mavs going into the future, and lets pray that Rondo makes a wise choice by signing a contract extension over the free agency period.