MythBusting “The Rondo Effect”

5. Rajon Rondo makes DeMarcus Cousins a better three-point shooter.

Outside of Moore, another player’s three-point percentage has gone up substantially since Rondo’s return, with Boogie’s three-point percentage going from 33.7% to 38.7%.

However, unlike Moore, Cousins has not had the same kind of success of Rondo’s passes, hitting 33.3% of those threes. Furthermore, Boogie’s three-point percentage has actually dropped from 41.5%, with Rondo off of the court, to 36.5% with him on it.

Taking the whole season into account, both Boogie’s three-point percentage with Rondo on and off the court are virtually identical.

Even in Rondo’s recent hot streak, Cousins is hitting 50% with Rondo on the floor, compared to 44% with him off of it. Being that both of these numbers are terrific for Cousins and that Cousins does take seven threes per 36 minutes with Rondo off of the floor, compared to 4.9 with Rondo on the floor, this definitely could be a case of small sample size.

Verdict: Myth Busted

6. Jrue Holiday owes his hot streak to Rajon Rondo

With a simple look at Jrue Holiday’s numbers pre and post-Rondo’s return, it would be fair to assume that playing Holiday with Rondo, and sliding him to the two has benefitted his game substantially:

Pre-Rondo: 14.2/5.1/6.6, 45% FG%, 22% 3P%, 51% TS%

Post-Rondo: 21.1/3.9/4.8, 50.5% FG%, 39% 3P%, 60% TS%

However, looking at the on/off numbers, Holiday has actually played better with Rondo off of the floor than on it.

With Rondo on the floor, Holiday has put up 19.8 points and 4.2 assists per 36 minutes, on 56.6% true shooting. Off the floor since Rondo’s return, Holiday has put up 21.5 points and 5.5 assists per 36 on 65.2% true shooting.

Even during Rondo’s hot streak, Holiday has put up better point, assist and true shooting marks with Rondo off of the floor.

Perhaps Holiday is just more comfortable as the main ball handler in a lineup.

Verdict: Myth Busted