Rajon Rondo and Celtics get signals crossed on absence

SB NATION

By Jeff Clark


Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Probably just a misunderstanding.

File this under "well that's odd."  Though I'm not sure it is a lot to worry about.

Notebook: Rajon Rondo under scrutiny | Boston Herald

The Celtics are not taking it as a major issue, but the team is still hoping to straighten things out with Rajon Rondo after his decision to stay in Los Angeles and not accompany the team to Sacramento for Saturday’s game. While some were displeased by the move, for which Rondo did not receive official permission, others pointed out he was not scheduled to play in the game anyway (on the second night of a back-to-back), and that he may have simply been making some assumptions based on precedent. Multiple sources say he remained in LA for a birthday celebration. He turned 28 on Saturday.
Rondo brushed off questions about it saying that it was taken care of already.  Ainge said that he would look into it and talk to Rondo when they got back to Boston.  Chances are that we'll never hear another update on it (Bulpett mentioned that it is possible he'd be fined).

To play devils' advocate, I suppose this could be some kind of minor blow-back from Rondo over seeing his name in trade rumors once again.  Or maybe some in the organization think this is an example of poor leadership and not showing support for his teammates.

Still, it kind of sounds like a miscommunication to me.  Rondo had a scheduled day off to rest his knee, the team had traveled without him (left him home) on another scheduled day off this month, you can see how he'd assume that this would be fine.  Sounds like they just need a clearer policy for asking for days off.

112288

Rajon Rondo did this and Rajon Rondo did that.

Much ado about nothing

Dboss

Maybe....and then again maybe not!

I would think he would have cleared it with Stevens.  Perhaps there is more to it then what meets the eye.  He sure was not himself in the Utah game.

112288

Rondo isn't playing back-to-backs at this point in time. He is still experiencing some knee-soreness and I see no reason to push him further than necessary. It's in both his and the Celtics' best interest that he doesn't overdo it.



KJ

We'll probably never know the full story, and it's probably not much of a story anyway. But, when it comes to interpreting protocol on something like this, it is consistent with what we know about Rondo's independent personality that he would interpret it in his own best interest.

Sam