Rajon Rondo assuming blame for loss against New Orleans
After the Celtics OT loss to the Pelicans on Sunday, Rajon Rondo was quick to assume the blame. Whether you agree with him or not, I guess assuming responsibility is what a captain needs to do among other things.
Forcing your team to perform better and upping the level of play- in a perfect world- is closer to what you want to see out of a leader, and that is what Boston has been getting more often than not from their recently returned captain. The 2013-14 campaign has been a challenging one, but hey, we all knew it would be.
Not even Larry Bird led the Celtics to a perfect record, so ease up on yourself, Rondo. We know it's all part of a greater good.
In responses that Celtics fans are largely unaccustomed to reading and hearing this year, Rondo was super crtical of his own performance as opposed to what the team should or could be doing. Below are the highlights, or snippets rather, of Rondo's post-game interview with the media.
RAJON RONDO:
“We keep coming up short,” Rondo told reporters following Sunday’s loss, which extended their road losing streak against Western Conference teams to 19. “I have to do a better job of finishing plays. I pretty much blame this on myself again.”
“My floaters aren’t there,” Rondo said. “My touches around the rim aren’t there. But I’ll keep shooting them. I’ll continue to be aggressive.”
“I don’t know,” Rondo said when asked about possibly not having his usual explosiveness back just yet. “I don’t try to make an excuse. I wasn’t always explosive when I was playing (before the injury). I still had a lot of trick shots around the rim. It’s just my touch. I have to continue to work on my touch and my timing.”
Since returning from injury in January, here is a look at his numbers:
JANUARY: averaged 6.7 points, 5.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 27.9 percent from the field in 24.3 minutes per game.
FEBRUARY: averaged 15.3 points, 9.9 assists and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 48.5 percent from the field in in 33.1 minutes per game.
MARCH: averaged 12.2 points, 9.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 34.1 percent from the field in 36.5 minutes per game.
The Celtics play the Mavericks in Dallas. Fifteen games to go.
Follow Padraic O'Connor on Twitter @padraic_oconnor
Source: A. Sherrod Blakely; CSNNE.com
Photo: Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
