Monday Practice Report: Communication Breakdown, Rondo in All-Star Horse Competition

Posted by Brian Robb on Feb 8, 2010 58948 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F02%2F08%2Fmonday-practice-report-communication-breakdown-rondo-in-all-star-horse-competition%2FMonday+Practice+Report%3A+Communication+Breakdown%2C+Rondo+in+All-Star+Horse+Competition2010-02-08+22%3A23%3A31Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D5894

I was able to make the jaunt down to Waltham today for the C’s practice, which I figured would be an active practice session after Sunday’s massacre. A few notes from the session in which Doc Rivers and Rajon Rondo were the only two prominent members of the C’s to speak:

Notes from Doc’s session:

• The team had a very good practice overall tonight and responded well to the criticism Doc laid on them yesterday

• Paul Pierce was not moving around very well and was pulled early from the session. He is questionable for Wednesday night against New Orleans but Doc thinks he will play

• Tuesday, the team had planned to practice, but will have to fly down to New Orleans in the morning in order to make it into the city before the parade. Had they left at the time they planned on at 3 after a practice, they wouldn’t have been able to get into New Orleans until 10, 11 or midnight, city officials told them.

• It was the “little things” that killed in the C’s in the 3^rd quarter yesterday, on both ends of the floor. They couldn’t get stops when they needed to and it wasn’t just one guy who was the problem.

• Team needs to reclaim their position as best defensive team in the NBA and need to stop relying on missing guys as an excuse for their play.

• The main problem Doc emphasized was the team changing its execution on the fly without consulting its coach and lacking communication. For example, Doc said the team was making switches on pick and rolls when the team shouldn’t be switching. Little problems like that.

• It’s a veteran team that is relying too much on its past success right now, instead of doing what they need to be doing.

• On the agenda talk, still thinks everyone is on the same page, “no bad guys” on this team. There was a conga line outside his office today but it’s been all talk from everyone thus far, not getting done on the floor.

• Team needs to get back to playing simple basketball offensively. They had pounded the ball in the post in the 1^st half and got plenty of layups but there was minimal posting up in the 2^nd half. Team needs to stay true to that kind of simple play. More from Doc, and Rajon Rondo after the jump

• Finally, Doc thought the road trip would be good for the team, to get together, spend more time together and find a rhythm.

Rondo Highlights

• Will participate in the HORSE competition All Star Weekend, has a few trick shots, he knows no one else can do, it’s just a matter if he can.

• Was nice for team to have full squad back, but didn’t get results and that’s what matters to him.
• When asked about the team spending time together on a road trip being a good thing, thought it doesn’t matter, it comes down to the team working together on the court. That’s what they need to work on.

• Focus, discipline and a lack of communication are the main culprits on this team right now.

• Rondo says he is going to try to sneak on a float in the parade with some friends tomorrow.

A couple closing thoughts on the practice session. KG, Ray and Paul did not speak to the media. Marquis Daniels was also unavailable for comment due to a doctor’s appointment. However I thought it spoke volumes that Rondo was the only starter that spoke to the media today.

There are lots of ways to interpret Rondo being the only one to speak. Was this calculated move by the rest of the team to let Rondo step up and assume more of a leadership role? A lack of accountability by the rest of the starters to speak about their subpar effort yesterday? We may be seeing a change of the guard right now on this team with Rondo following up his MVP of the team performance on the floor right now, to become the team spokesman. Again, just one practice so might be reading too much into it, but was interesting to see today to say the least.

Other quick bullets:

• TA working hard on his pull up free throw jumper after practice. His form looked subpar as always but he was making quite a few
• Scal last one out, working on his long distance game
• Rest of the bench stayed late too, Giddens, Shelden Williams, etc. all working late on their shooting
• Rasheed spent a lot of time on his mid range and low post game with Clifford Ray. Hopefully this translates to Wednesday night because I don’t think Celtic nation will put up with his inefficient long distance launching for much longer.