Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 10, 2009 6:51:49 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1164734&format=text
Rajon Rondo, Celtics roll tape
Review pain plan
By Mark Murphy | Friday, April 10, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics
Photo by Matthew West
Rajon Rondo has taped both ankles since the first day of his rookie season, but the Celtics [team stats] point guard now goes with additional layers to protect the gimpy joints.
During practice Rondo wears a sleeve on his left elbow, the sort favored by Ray Allen for use on both arms - to cover some aches. Rondo scraps the sleeve come gametime; no sense in giving an opponent something extra to take a swipe at.
Though the Celtics point guard has never been this banged up in his young career, he grimaces at the thought of not playing through pain.
Including tonight’s game at the Garden against the Miami Heat, there are only four regular-season games left. Though the Celtics are one of the most injured teams in the playoff field, they also have an especially high standard for playing through pain.
Rondo, who routinely pulls up hobbling - including a moment that forced him off the floor during last Monday’s practice, has taken that standard as a badge of honor.
“I hate being out,” Rondo said following yesterday’s practice session. “Those two games I missed this year, I just hated. I wanted to go the entire season without missing a game. (Kevin Garnett) is going through it right now, and Leon (Powe) and (Brian Scalabrine) are going through it, so the rest of us have to pick it up. I guess (it’s a matter of willpower). But nobody is playing at 100 percent at this time of year.
“I’ve always played through pain and injury. I just don’t want to settle for less.”
That’s a good thing, considering Rondo could very well emerge as the C’s minutes leader in the postseason.
Garnett will be eased back into his allotment of minutes after a prolonged knee-induced absence.
Though coach Doc Rivers has done a good job in limiting the minutes of Paul Pierce [stats] and Ray Allen, considering the circumstances, both players still have to be preserved.
At the age of 23, Rondo, as important as anyone in the mix right now, is a lot younger than Pierce (31) and Allen (33).
“It’s always good to have your best decision-maker on the floor as much as possible,” Rivers said. “I’ve always thought he was pretty tough. But I think it’s as much just a love of the game as anything. I don’t know if it comes down to toughness as much as it’s just a love of the game, which all of our guys have.
“It’s been an unbelievable year - the grind goes for all 82 games - especially when you’re one of the top four or five teams. And you can double that when you’re the world champs.”
Celtics notes
Rivers said that like last season, he will welcome inquiries from teams interested in interviewing assistants Tom Thibodeau and Armond Hill for head coaching jobs. Though both were in the market during last year’s playoffs, the Celtics didn’t receive any calls from general managers seeking permission to speak with either one.
“I’m open,” Rivers said. “I told GMs to call. Just (conduct interviews) on off days. I told Thibs and Armond to just get their work done. But they both work so damn hard anyway, that’s not going to be a problem. I thought they both should have been considered last year. I think Thibs and Armond are both head coaches. . . .
Although Garnett, Scalabrine and Powe aren’t expected to practice with the team on Saturday, Rivers said all three could run through a more intense slate of drills. . . .
Allen and Stephon Marbury, both suffering from a stomach flu, were sent home.
