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Celtics Expect In-Season Return for Rondo
by bobheckler Tue Sep 24, 2013 11:16 am
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4706906/cs-expect-in-season-return-for-rondo
C's expect in-season return for Rondo
September, 24, 2013
SEP 24 10:45AM ET
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com
MILTON, Mass. -- Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said he'd be "shocked" if Rajon Rondo was ready for the start of the regular season in late October and hinted that an early December return is more likely for the All-Star point guard.
Rondo underwent surgery in mid-February to repair a partially torn ACL. While the team initially set an aggressive timeline in hopes of having him ready for opening night, Ainge hesitated to offer any firm return date and said the team will now take it slow with Rondo.
"We’ve just seen examples of why we shouldn’t give dates of expected return," said Ainge, likely with a nod toward two recent high-profile ACL rehabs in Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and Derrick Rose. "We’ll just take it week by week and he’ll continue to get evaluated, but he’s working extremely hard, and he wants to play. He’s excited for the new team. I think there was a time when all of [Boston's offeseason moves were] happening that he was sort of wondering, ‘Where do I fit in here?’ ‘What’s our team?’ But I think Rajon is in a very good place right now."
During an appearance on Boston sports radio 98.5 the SportsHub before the Shamrock Foundation's sixth annual Teeing up For Kids Golf Tournament at Wollaston Golf Club, Ainge guessed an early December return for Rondo, but stressed later that there is no firm timeline.
"I don’t think we would ever succumb to the pressure of bringing back a player from an ACL too soon," said Ainge. "We’ve got to do what’s right for him. He’s young -- maybe if he was 37 and it was his last year, but he’s still so young. And he’s our best player. We can’t afford to make any mistakes and judgment on when to bring him back."
Pressed on if Rondo could be back for opening night, Ainge offered, "I would be shocked."
That sentiment was backed up by new head coach Brad Stevens.
"My understanding, and the last time that we’ve had discussions about it, was that [Rondo's return is] very indeterminate still," said Stevens. "But it sounds like that it would be unlikely that he would be playing at the very start of the regular season. What that means beyond that, I think that’s going to be on his doctors, his training staff, him, making the call on when he’s ready. I’ve told him from Day 1, come back when you’re ready. I think it’s really important that he feels good when he’s back and ready to play."
Ainge said he expects Rondo to be with the team in Newport, R.I. for the start of training camp next Tuesday.
"Rajon will be in Newport, he’ll be watching and helping our young players and learning our system," said Ainge. "At the same time, he’ll be spending a lot of time on rehab."
The Celtics must find options to fill Rondo's minutes at the start of the season and the only pure ball-handler currently on the roster is undrafted free-agent point guard Phil Pressey. Ainge said that the current depth chart would feature Avery Bradley, Jordan Crawford, and Pressey. Stevens later hinted that Bradley has the ability to be the team's top point guard option without Rondo.
Earlier this summer, Bradley -- a natural shooting guard -- offered to shoulder some of the point guard duties if Rondo wasn't ready, but has struggled with pressure at times at that position, most notably during Boston's first-round playoff exit to the New York Knicks last season without Rondo.
"Avery is a guy I really believe in," said Stevens. "I think Avery has a lot of opportunity to be a very, very good player on both ends of the floor. I don’t know exactly how we’ll progress from here, as far as that goes with regard to if Rajon is in, who’s in what role, but I know Avery will be on the court. I think he’s a guy that, when you look at him on both ends of the floor, he’s a guy that I think we can fit in well offensively at the point guard spot. I think he’s really excited about playing it. And then, defensively, he can be elite. And so you’ve got one whole end of the floor where you’ve got an elite guy at the position and you’ve got to best figure out how to put him in a position to be successful."
bob
Seven days, seven days...
.
C's expect in-season return for Rondo
September, 24, 2013
SEP 24 10:45AM ET
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com
MILTON, Mass. -- Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said he'd be "shocked" if Rajon Rondo was ready for the start of the regular season in late October and hinted that an early December return is more likely for the All-Star point guard.
Rondo underwent surgery in mid-February to repair a partially torn ACL. While the team initially set an aggressive timeline in hopes of having him ready for opening night, Ainge hesitated to offer any firm return date and said the team will now take it slow with Rondo.
"We’ve just seen examples of why we shouldn’t give dates of expected return," said Ainge, likely with a nod toward two recent high-profile ACL rehabs in Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and Derrick Rose. "We’ll just take it week by week and he’ll continue to get evaluated, but he’s working extremely hard, and he wants to play. He’s excited for the new team. I think there was a time when all of [Boston's offeseason moves were] happening that he was sort of wondering, ‘Where do I fit in here?’ ‘What’s our team?’ But I think Rajon is in a very good place right now."
During an appearance on Boston sports radio 98.5 the SportsHub before the Shamrock Foundation's sixth annual Teeing up For Kids Golf Tournament at Wollaston Golf Club, Ainge guessed an early December return for Rondo, but stressed later that there is no firm timeline.
"I don’t think we would ever succumb to the pressure of bringing back a player from an ACL too soon," said Ainge. "We’ve got to do what’s right for him. He’s young -- maybe if he was 37 and it was his last year, but he’s still so young. And he’s our best player. We can’t afford to make any mistakes and judgment on when to bring him back."
Pressed on if Rondo could be back for opening night, Ainge offered, "I would be shocked."
That sentiment was backed up by new head coach Brad Stevens.
"My understanding, and the last time that we’ve had discussions about it, was that [Rondo's return is] very indeterminate still," said Stevens. "But it sounds like that it would be unlikely that he would be playing at the very start of the regular season. What that means beyond that, I think that’s going to be on his doctors, his training staff, him, making the call on when he’s ready. I’ve told him from Day 1, come back when you’re ready. I think it’s really important that he feels good when he’s back and ready to play."
Ainge said he expects Rondo to be with the team in Newport, R.I. for the start of training camp next Tuesday.
"Rajon will be in Newport, he’ll be watching and helping our young players and learning our system," said Ainge. "At the same time, he’ll be spending a lot of time on rehab."
The Celtics must find options to fill Rondo's minutes at the start of the season and the only pure ball-handler currently on the roster is undrafted free-agent point guard Phil Pressey. Ainge said that the current depth chart would feature Avery Bradley, Jordan Crawford, and Pressey. Stevens later hinted that Bradley has the ability to be the team's top point guard option without Rondo.
Earlier this summer, Bradley -- a natural shooting guard -- offered to shoulder some of the point guard duties if Rondo wasn't ready, but has struggled with pressure at times at that position, most notably during Boston's first-round playoff exit to the New York Knicks last season without Rondo.
"Avery is a guy I really believe in," said Stevens. "I think Avery has a lot of opportunity to be a very, very good player on both ends of the floor. I don’t know exactly how we’ll progress from here, as far as that goes with regard to if Rajon is in, who’s in what role, but I know Avery will be on the court. I think he’s a guy that, when you look at him on both ends of the floor, he’s a guy that I think we can fit in well offensively at the point guard spot. I think he’s really excited about playing it. And then, defensively, he can be elite. And so you’ve got one whole end of the floor where you’ve got an elite guy at the position and you’ve got to best figure out how to put him in a position to be successful."
bob
Seven days, seven days...
.
bobheckler- Posts : 61375
Join date : 2009-10-28
Re: Celtics Expect In-Season Return for Rondo
by Sam Tue Sep 24, 2013 1:02 pm
In the town where I live, we have huge sand dunes going down from our parking lots to our beaches. Severe storms (and there have been several in this calendar year) have caused huge erosion to the point that some of the dunes resemble cliffs more than hills.
So I'm about to go out and purchase a 3x3 space at the top of the highest cliiff. And I plan to listen to each game from a seat in my tiny space. And, at the first mention that Bradley is playing point guard, I'm going to push the ejector button on that chair. The only possible flaw in my plan is that I might live.
Sam
So I'm about to go out and purchase a 3x3 space at the top of the highest cliiff. And I plan to listen to each game from a seat in my tiny space. And, at the first mention that Bradley is playing point guard, I'm going to push the ejector button on that chair. The only possible flaw in my plan is that I might live.
Sam
Sam- Admin
- Posts : 22663
Join date : 2009-10-10 -
Re: Celtics Expect In-Season Return for Rondo
by k_j_88 Tue Sep 24, 2013 3:07 pm
He isn't Derrick Rose so I expect he's actually trying to get back onto the court as soon as physically possible.
KJ
KJ
k_j_88- Posts : 4747
Join date : 2013-01-06
Age : 35
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