Mavericks’ Rondo ready to return after suspension
As Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle attempts to douse with a bucket of water his spat with point guard Rajon Rondo, the next phase of fence-mending commences Friday.
That’s when Rondo goes through his first practice since Tuesday night’s dust-up with Carlisle. If they can’t find a way to see eye-to-eye, that fracture probably won’t bode well for the Mavericks and their chances of making a big splash in the playoffs.
“We have high goals this season, obviously of making the playoffs and then making a long playoff run,” All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki said. “You can’t make that or can’t do that if guys are pulling in different directions.
“I think [Carlisle and Rondo are] both smart enough to know that. We’ve got to be on the same page going forward.”
Carlisle and Rondo weren’t on the same page when the incident occurred. In the third quarter of Tuesday’s win over Toronto, Carlisle was motioning to Rondo to run a certain play.
Rondo ignored the coach, who angrily rushed onto the court to call timeout. As Rondo was walking to the bench, Carlisle shouted something at him, Rondo cursed at Carlisle, and Carlisle hurled those same curse words back at Rondo.
The next day the Mavericks suspended Rondo from Wednesday’s game in Atlanta without pay. Carlisle then said Rondo will be back at practice Friday and in the starting lineup Saturday when the Mavericks (39-21) host the Brooklyn Nets (23-32).
“I think it should be over quick,” center Tyson Chandler said. “I think the communication between the two of them will be better because of this. No more walking on egg shells either way.”
The Mavericks apparently never saw this coming, even though Rondo had his share of run-ins with coach Doc Rivers when he was with the Boston Celtics.
“I think he’s faced this before in his career, if I can recall,” Chandler said. “I think he’s been there before, he’s played on a high stage before, and he’s played with a lot at stake before. He’s a professional. I expect him to bounce back.”
Chandler is anticipating a more focused Rondo during the final 23 games of the season. Kind of like the 29 points, six rebounds and five assists Rondo had in his first game back in Boston on Jan. 2 as a member of the Mavericks.
“Honestly I expect this to light a little fire up under him, to be honest,” Chandler said. “Because he’s a competitor. When you hear all this stuff, crap thrown around about your name, it makes you want to come back and prove everybody wrong. And he’s that type of guy, so I like it.”
Rondo is known for wearing his emotions on his sleeves.
“They’re not familiar with each other, so I think the first couple of whatevers, all parties are tiptoeing,” Chandler said. “And then two competitors that want to win.
“Sometimes it’s better when you have a little blowout because it lets you know that you’re on the same page.’’
No one knows if the “tiptoeing’’ will manifest itself again. Or if Rondo will be back with the Mavericks next season. He becomes a free agent on July 1.
Until then, that simmering friction between Carlisle and Rondo borne out of who should call the plays normally is a decision made by the coach.
“We need to work on the solution for making his stint as a Dallas Maverick the most successful one possible,” Carlisle said of Rondo. “We’re looking at 23 games here. “Right now this is a critical time for us.’’
Dwain Price, 817-390-7760
This story was originally published February 26, 2015 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Mavericks’ Rondo ready to return after suspension."