Rajon Rondo still doubtful for Boston Celtics on Wednesday
Rajon Rondo could be sidelined for the third-straight game with a strained left hamstring when the Boston Celtics go up against the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday 24 November at the TD Garden
in Boston.
Rondo, who is leading the league in assists with 14.3 dimes per game, said after their game against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday 22 November that there’s no enough time for him to recover
from his nagging injury and return against the Nets, but he is still not discounting the possibility of playing limited minutes.
“I might try to do something Wednesday,” said Rondo, who is also averaging 11.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 12 games this season. “We'll see. I was saying Friday, but I don't know yet.”
Doc Rivers, on the other hand, said that he would take a cautious approach on Rondo, and he would rather sit him out for few for games instead of aggravating his injury that could sideline
him for a longer stretch this season.
“There’s just no benefit of playing one of your key guys, or any guy, getting them injured,” Rivers said. “I would rather take the approach of doing without him early right now, and in a
lot of ways it could help your team in the long run.”
Rivers also clarified that neither him nor Rondo could decide about his availability, saying that they are just waiting for team trainer Eddie Lacerte’s decision. Rivers added that Rondo
could have played against the Hawks, but Lacerte decided to keep him out of the lineup for the second-straight game.
“If it’s an ankle, you always push the envelope,” Rivers said. “If they say they can play, you usually let them play. However, if it is a hamstring, I do not even consult with Rondo on a
hamstring. It is straight what Eddie says. The player has very little input with hamstring injuries because they all think they can play.”
Without Rondo, who sustained the injury in their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on 19 November, the Celtics absorbed an 89-84 loss against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday 21 November,
but they bounced back and hammered out a huge 99-76 win over the Hawks on Monday 22 November.
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