Doc Rivers believes flagrant foul by Rajon Rondo was not a “punk play” – NBA News
Ever since the Miami Heat played against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night in their respective season openers, the talk around the league has been the flagrant foul that Rajon Rondo committed on Dwyane Wade with 18 seconds left in the game. After the game, Wade called out Rondo and said that fouling him when the game was essentially over with Miami having a big lead and only 18 seconds left, was a “punk play”.
Boston Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers seems to disagree with the views and comments of Wade, saying that he did not feel that the foul was uncalled for and would not categorize it as a “punk play”. The incident happened with 18 seconds left in the game when Wade went for a drive and Rondo hooked him in the neck area while defending him. The two players exchanged words after the incident and Rondo was called for a flagrant 1 foul. Miami eventually won the game 120-107.
Rivers made an appearance on Boston sports radio WEEI on Thursday, where he said that Wade had made similar plays numerous times over the course of his career, and highlighted that Rondo’s elbow injury during the 2011 playoffs resulted from a play by Wade.
“I don't think (Rondo's flagrant) was a 'punk' move unless (Wade's foul) was, too,” said Rivers.
Rondo talked to reporters on Thursday while practising with the Celtics team and seemed to agree with the thoughts of his Head Coach, saying that he did not think it was a hard foul that he committed on Wade.
"I mean, I don't think it was a hard foul. (Wade) sold it a little bit, and that's basketball. They were up, he drove to the hole, I didn't want to give up a layup. Simple as that. I didn't yank him down, or dirty plays that you've seen him play in the past. So that's what it is,” said Rondo.
While attempting to settle down the hype around the foul, Rivers also added that he did not know the whole incident had become such a talking point in the league, and did not even think about the incident after the game had finished.
“I thought it was nondescript. I really did. (Rondo) grabbed him around the shoulders, it wasn't that hard. So I think it's much ado about nothing, personally,” said Rivers.
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