Celtics move on without All-Star guard Rondo
BY HOWARD ULMAN Associated Press
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
1/29/13 at 5:39 AM
BOSTON - Rajon Rondo was having his best season for the struggling Boston Celtics.
He is averaging career highs in points and rebounds. He leads the NBA in assists and triple-doubles by big margins. He was voted the starting point guard for the Eastern Conference in next month's All-Star game.
"He's our guy that's orchestrating everything for us," guard Courtney Lee said. "He's our leader."
Not anymore.
Rondo is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that requires surgery. So coach Doc Rivers must find a replacement from a group short on point-guard experience amid a widespread feeling that the Celtics' already shaky playoff prospects are over.
He doesn't believe it.
"You can write the obituary," Rivers told reporters after Sunday's 100-98, double-overtime win over the Miami Heat. "I'm not. You can go ahead, but I'm not. We won (Sunday) and so the way I look at it is we're going to stay in there."
Lee could fill in at Rondo's position. Or Jason Terry. Or Leandro Barbosa. Or, less likely, the Celtics could sign a free agent or trade for a point guard. Their first practice without Rondo is Tuesday.
"When something like this happens, someone will find someone that's already in our locker room that's going to play terrific," Rivers said. "And I have no idea who it is."
Sunday's victory moved the Celtics (21-23) ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers by 2 1/2 games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
Original Print Headline: Celtics move on without Rondo
Associated Images:
The Celtics' Rajon Rondo is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee that requires surgery. TONY DEJAK / AP file
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