Rondo To Return Friday

by **bobheckler** Thu Jan 16, 2014 12:54 pm

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/10303037/rajon-rondo-boston-celtics-make-season-debut-friday

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:10303962

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge confirmed the worst-kept secret in the NBA: Barring any setback, Rajon Rondo will make his 2013-14 season debut on Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.

While the Celtics have been coy, all indications have been that Rondo would return Friday. Rondo hinted at Friday's return earlier this week on Twitter by offering the time (in seconds) between his surgery and Friday's tipoff. His teammates have been careful in what they say about his return, but have often hinted at the Friday return as well.

Making his weekly appearance on 98.5 FM in Boston, Ainge said that "unless there are any setbacks [Thursday], we're anticipating him playing [Friday]."

Ainge said Rondo, who is expected to be in the starting lineup, would initially be on a five-minute-per-quarter restriction, which would allow him to go full throttle during his limited floor time.

Rondo was briefly assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the D-League on Wednesday as the Celtics brought the team to their Waltham training facility to allow Rondo to go through a hard practice heavy on game-like situations.

Ainge said Rondo took the Red Claws, who had just returned home from a West Coast road trip, to dinner Wednesday night to thank them.

Rondo, who tore his ACL in late January last year, returned to the active roster during Wednesday's win over the Toronto Raptors as a dress rehearsal for Friday's game. His return will come 11 months since undergoing surgery.

bob

.