Rajon Rondo being traded to Dallas was supposed to make the Mavs instant title contenders. However, the move has done anything but as he has looked disengaged for most of his tenure in Dallas. And his recent spat with Rick Carlisle, that landed him a 1-game suspension, didn’t help the perception either.
Then there was last night, where in a crucial game 2 vs. Houston, Rondo played only 10 minutes was benched for practically the entire second half.
Rondo’s benching came just seconds into the second half and followed a quick pair of fouls on James Harden. After jostling with Harden in the first half, Rondo was called for his third foul of the game just 11 seconds into the third quarter when he ran into Harden. The two exchanged words, with Rondo shoving Harden with both arms after the play and drawing a technical foul.
On Houston’s next possession, Rondo drew his fourth foul of the game by hacking Harden while he was shooting a three-pointer. Carlisle immediately pulled Rondo from the game, using a backcourt rotation of Monta Ellis, Barea and Felton the rest of the way.
“You can ask [Rondo] that,” Carlisle told reporters, when asked whether Rondo wanted to play. “All I know is right now we need everyone at their competitive best.”
The Mavs just announced that Chandler is out for the season with his Knee, and Rondo is out ‘indefinitely’ with a back issue. Is there any truth to this ‘back issue’ or has Rondo simply given up on the season and on the Mavs? What does this mean for his future? Will teams work to get a player that has issues with taking authority from a Coach?
H/T: SI.com
