Comparing Their Offensive Production
Neither player shoots the three-ball reliably, but let’s dive deeper into this conundrum.
Payton shot 32.6 percent from deep this past season on only 1.5 attempts per game. Rondo shot marginally better at 33.3 percent at a slightly higher volume of 2.3.
While neither demonstrated an overall proficiency at this shot, Rondo seems to show a little more confidence in it. And his small increase in attempts can be the difference in how far defenders are willing to sag off them at the top of the key.
The lack of respect opponents show Payton from beyond the arc allows them to better counter against his crafty dribbling inside the paint, rendering the best part of his game less effective.
However, Payton may find more success inside with the Pelicans than he did in Orlando or Phoenix. This, for the simple reason that New Orleans has a better three-point shooting team around him.
Orlando and Phoenix were some of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league last year, ranking 22nd and 30th in three-point percentage. New Orleans ranked much more respectably at 14th.
Defenders will need to stick closer to the Pelicans’ shooters like Nikola Mirotic and Et’wuan Moore as well as their catch-and-dribble threats like Holiday and Anthony Davis than they did with Payton’s past teammates.
These players should open up the lane for him and allow for an even better field goal percentage at the rim.
Rondo shot 59.9 percent on these types of shots with New Orleans; Payton shot 67.4 percent even with his less spacey teams.
Of course, defenders who sag off their man can also better clog up passing lanes, making even the best passers’ and ball-handlers’ lives more difficult. Even if a more spaced floor around Payton makes shots around the basket a little easier, he may still find himself just as turnover-prone.
While averaging 6.2 assists, Payton also coughed the ball up 2.8 times per game. Of his 168 turnovers last season, 93 came off what Basketball Reference calls a “bad pass,” 38 came from “lost ball,” and 37 came from “other.”
Rondo averaged both a higher assist number, 8.2, and fewer turnovers, 2.3. While some of his game has deteriorated, Rondo has remained an elite passer in the league. Of his 151 turnovers last season, 114 came off bad passes, only 16 came from losing the ball, and 20 came from other missteps.
Rondo’s higher number of bad passes likely shows that he was more aggressive in moving the ball and suffered a less congested paint area where he could better protect the ball than Payton.
To be effective in New Orleans, Payton should continue developing a tight handle to limit defenders stripping him so he can have more freedom to pass aggressively to his better teammates.
Next Up: Comparing Their Defensive Production
