Rajon Rondo was one of the more intriguing free agents this offseason in the NBA and it took some time for him to find a contract. Finally, the New Orleans Pelicans decided to give him an offer and he was happy to accept. Now, he will pair with Jrue Holiday in the Pelicans’ back-court and hope to revitalize his career.
It will be interesting, to say the least, to see how the Pelicans’ starting back-court plays. Neither guard is known as a good three-point shooter, which makes one wonder if New Orleans will have the necessary floor spacing to utilize both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins in the paint.
No matter how it works out, the Pelicans’ back-court will be entertaining to watch. Rondo showcased his skills in the playoffs last season with the Bulls before going down with injury. He was able to average 11.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game in two games against the Boston Celtics.
During the regular season, however, Rondo was not quite as dominant. He averaged 7.8 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. Those numbers will still help improve the Pelicans’ back-court, which is saying something about how rough they’ve had it in recent years.
All of that being said, what three goals can be set for Rondo heading into the 2017-18 season?
Average at Least Nine Assists Per Game
Rondo will be asked to create plays for his teammates at every opportunity. He will be looking to create open looks for Holiday, Davis, and Cousins, which should give him a good chance to boost his assist numbers. Throughout his career, Rondo has been a top-notch passer, and that should continue this year.
Keep His Attitude in Check and Lead
One of the biggest knocks on Rondo has been a bad attitude problem that he has shown. He has quit on teammates and divided locker rooms, although that hasn’t been the case the last couple years. Having a great relationship with DeMarcus Cousins should help him keep his head on straight.
Get Back to Being an Elite Perimeter Defender
Back at the start of his career, Rondo was known for being an elite perimeter defender. He has lost that a bit in recent years, but the Pelicans need him to get back to focusing on defense. Rondo is still more than capable of locking down on the defensive end and he needs to show it this season.
Do you think Rajon Rondo will live up to these three goals? What other goals would you add to the list? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!