Rajon Rondo adds fuel to Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics rivalry – NBA News Update
If there is one rivalry in the Eastern Conference that has as long a history as that of NBA itself, it has to be the one between Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics. The two elites of the East have a storied rivalry and although
the C’s have had the better of the last decade or so, the Bulls came back with a bang last season and with Derrick Rose around, they are set to dominate for some time to come.
The Celts know that and the man on whom they have pinned their future - point guard Rajon Rondo - recently re-kindled the fire with some stingy comments directed at the Chicago Bulls fans.
He made the comments speaking at the Red Bull King of Rock ceremony.
“The most obnoxious crowd? “I’d say Chicago. Ever since a couple years back in the playoffs, me and Kirk [Hinrich] got into it and they’ve been booing me and heckling me ever since.”
The incident Rondo referred to took place in 2009, when a tight series between the two powerhouses went till seven games. Kirk Hinrich, who has since moved on from Chicago, and Rondo got into each other a bit and the United Center
crowd haven’t forgotten it since.
The Bulls fans always give Boston a hard time, but ever since that particular incident, they make sure that Rondo gets an earful, every time he visits United Centre.
However, it is not that the player has too much of an issue with it. He knows that it is a part and parcel of the game, and believes the Celtics crowd would give any one a run for their money.
The TD Garden is one of the most revered arenas in basketball, with a long history of success that goes back to the days of the great Bill Russell. The crowd at the Garden is renowned for their enthusiasm and Rondo says he likes
playing in front of them.
“It’s very intense, even on Sunday games,” he said. “Sunday afternoon, it’s still alive in the Garden.”
However Rondo didn’t give the award for noisiest crowd to his beloved TD Garden, or to the Bulls. He considers the loudest crowd in the NBA to be that of the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors crowd has been faithful to the franchise since the days of “Run T.M.C.” and have continued with unmatched enthusiasm ever since. Rajon, for one, appreciates that energy in their arena,
“They got a pretty loud crowd,” he said referring to Golden State.
Rajon can for now just wait and see if he would be able to get on an NBA court and experience the thrill of performing in front of a packed house as the NBA lockout does not seem like ending any time soon. The league and the players
have still to agree on a new CBA, and their dispute has hit the arenas the hardest.
Many NBA arena staff have been laid off since the lockout began, and more franchises could follow suit if a principle agreement between the NBA and NBPA is nor reached by Monday, after which the first two weeks of NBA season will
be cancelled.
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