Rondo, Celtics Refuse To Sweat Heat5

The defining characteristic of the Boston Celtics is their defense. Their second defining characteristic is arrogance. This isn’t a bad thing. The Celtics, like all great teams, pride themselves on being the team they consider the best. All season long they kept the same mantra: the only team that can beat them is themselves. This was entirely accurate until they faced the Lakers, where that list became two teams. Themselves, and the Lakers.

So naturally, with the Heat being considered instant contenders for the title, someone decided to ask Rajon Rondo, the brashest of the brash, what he thought of the Heat while he’s out in Vegas practicing for Team USA.

Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports caught up with Rondo and here’s what he had to say:

“They should be good, but they ain’t done nothing yet,” Rondo said after a recent practice during Team USA’s minicamp. “They ain’t done nothing.”

This is a true statement. The Heat in its current incarnation has literally never done anything, having not practiced or even been in the same room with each other yet.

But there’s more!

“What is there to be nervous for?” he said. “I’m worried about L.A. That’s the team we need to beat. Miami looks really good on paper, and I’m sure they’re going to be really good. But they still have to come together as a team. I’m not saying they won’t, but who knows if those guys can jell?
“Our biggest opponent each night is ourselves – that’s how I look at it. Not to be cocky or anything, but that’s how we honestly feel. We are the defending Eastern champs. Once the first game of the regular season starts, that’s irrelevant. But we are going to go into training camp looking to get back to the Finals and win it.”

Besides the fact that I would assume the verb would be ‘gel’ there, it’s pretty clear Rondo’s not a fan of the idea that a team that is made up of three superstars can just come together, use their talents, and win a championship based on talent and desire of elite players. You know, the exact same thing the Celtics did in 2008.
One more, for the road:

“Things aren’t going to go each guy’s particular way. It’s going to be about how they handle it as gentlemen.”

You know, gentlemen. Like punching players in the face and throwing them into tables. That kind of gentleman. Rondo’s a great competitor and a terrific player. I just found it funny that a player often considered as brash as he is, by both opposing players and even his own coaching staff would talk about being a gentleman.

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