Rondo earning his money at the stripe

Rajon Rondo just got a fat new contract. And he’s rewarded the Celtics by making good on all the easy points that are presented to him.

We’re joking. While he may be one of the best young point guards in the game (if not one of the best young players period), Rondo has been stinking up the joint at the line. Through 11 games, he is 3-for-12.

Yikes.

That’s 25%. He’s a career 63% shooter, so there probably isn’t cause for alarm, but wow that’s awful. And from someone not named Shaq?

“Rondo has not yet understood or developed a pattern for himself,” teammate Ray Allen said. “He asked me the other day what I think about when I shoot and I told him: my routine, my preparation. I think about my preparation. When I’m shooting free throws in practice, I’m thinking the same thing every time. The first free throw of the year and the 100th of the year, you put the same importance on it.”

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers was a very good free throw shooter himself, and he’s not worried.

“I went through this one year where I broke my wrist and I had a horrible year. I think I was 57, 61 percent,” Rivers said. “And then I went to a shooting guy. The beginning of the season I struggled. It’s like your golf swing. You struggle a little bit and you start going back to your old swing and you do your new swing at the same time, and I think that’s what he’s doing.

“He’ll get through it. I want him to get there more so he can get through it. The limited shots he’s had hasn’t helped either. . . .”