Once again, the spotlight shined on Rajon Rondo and his contract situation prior to Sunday’s game against the Hornets. Rondo's contract has been a focal point of the 2009-10 season. The Celtics have until Monday to reach a contract extension or Rondo will become a restricted free agent next summer.
Rondo made clear his hope to remain in Boston for his career, but acknowledged that it is “unlikely” that he will be able to do so given the reality of player movement in the NBA.
JESSICA CAMERATO
Whenever the Celtics and Hornets meet, the most headlined match up is that of point guards Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul. On Sunday the battle was Paul vs. Paul, as in Paul Pierce vs. Chris Paul.
JESSICA CAMERATO
The other night the Celtics were lamenting how much further they had to go before they could say that they had played a complete game. The offense was a step or two behind the defense, they said, and not yet operating at peak efficiency.
PAUL FLANNERY
Having had 48 hours to digest the excerpts from the unpublished manuscript of jailed former ref Tim Donaghy that were leaked to Deadspin and the reaction to said leaks, a few patterns have emerged:
1. Nothing in the excerpt is really shocking to people who watch the NBA on a regular basis.
PAUL FLANNERY
While everyone (rightfully so) focused on Kevin Garnett and how his surgically repaired knee would hold up against LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the Celtics' season-opener, the most encouraging sight of the night was seeing Kendrick Perkins on the bench in crunch time.
If there has been one constant of the Big Three era in Boston, it has been a relative absence of crazy. Sure, little things have flared up from time to time, but unlike almost every other NBA locker room, there have been very few non-basketball items on the agenda.
PAUL FLANNERY
Last season there were banner dedications, ring ceremonies, and a hero’s welcome in front of a grateful home crowd. It was the most memorable opening night for the Celtics in years, capped off with the shot of a teary-eyed Paul Pierce overcome by emotion as he relished in what it meant to be a champion.
JESSICA CAMERATO