Rondo says he hasn't played defense in 2 years, Mavs have 'upside' in keeping him
Rajon Rondo's much heralded return to Boston is Friday night, as his Dallas Mavericks pay a visit to the Celtics.
To no one's surprise, a horde of Boston media awaited the point guard Friday morning and aside from the usual niceties about returning to Beantown, Rondo offered some candid observations of his role quarterbacking an NBA title contender in contrast to his last couple of seasons with the declining/rebuilding Celtics.
Rondo said all the loving things about Boston. Also: "I haven't played defense in a couple years."
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) January 2, 2015
"I've been able to hide it a lot with Avery Bradley on the ball," Rondo said to expand on his lack of defense remark regarding his last days as a Celt. "In the West, if you don't play defense you'll get embarrassed every night at the point guard position."
On Thursday, Rondo told USA Today that his focus has been on basketball and not his impending free agency, but he alluded to the fact that the Mavericks may have an inside track in keeping him.
"I mean obviously I think (the Mavericks will) have the upside. I wouldn't say it's wide open (in terms of considering other teams), but I wouldn't say it's closed."
These comments come after his former boss, Celtics' president Danny Ainge, said that Rondo is extremely motivated to earn a max contract.
"This second half of the year is a very big one for Rajon," Ainge said, via ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. "Dallas is getting a player who is very motivated to prove he's a max guy."
Rondo's new-found commitment to D means the Mavericks have improved in defensive rating in the six games he has played for them – dropping from 113.6 points per 100 possessions in 28 games without Rondo to 100.6 with him.
Not surprisingly however, what was an NBA-best offensive rating in Dallas has regressed from 113.6 without to 106.3 in six games with the subpar-shooting point guard.