Rajon Rondo admitted that his defensive effort during his last few seasons with the Celtics was lacking, and that the trade to the Mavs has reinvigorated him, especially on the defensive end, Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com writes. “I haven’t played defense in a couple years,” Rondo said. “I’ve been able to hide a lot with Avery Bradley on the ball. He’s helped out, the young guy. But [in Dallas] they expect me to play defense and, in the West, if you don’t play defense you’ll get embarrassed every night at the point guard position.”
Here’s more on Rondo:
- Rondo said that he didn’t expect the trade that sent him from the Celtics to the Mavs, Brian Robb of Boston.com writes. “I was surprised,” Rondo said. “I was actually asleep around five o’clock and I woke up and saw [Celtics GM] Danny Ainge pop up on my cell phone and I was like ‘oh [expletive]’. That’s when it happened and he told me to come out to the [practice] facility.”
- The former Celtics star also said that all of the trade speculation when he was in Boston didn’t distract him, Robb notes. When asked if it felt good to finally have closure, Rondo said, “I mean it didn’t make a difference. I’ve gone through it for about seven or eight years. I came into the league traded. I’m not the only one who goes through trade rumors each year. Obviously dealing with Boston sports and the media is a lot bigger than a lot of other cities but it’s part of it. I think I handled it pretty well but I didn’t let it affect me as far as my game and play.”
- Rondo admits that he was fortunate to be dealt by the Celtics to a contending team like Dallas, Robb adds. “It’s a great situation,” Rondo said. “Danny [Ainge] and Wyc [Grousbeck] could have sent me anywhere, but I think it shows the type of class they have to send me to an organization [like Dallas]. I’ve done a lot for this organization and they didn’t just throw me on the backburner to any team. They put me in a situation where I could still excel and win a championship. I’m grateful for that situation as well.”