Rondo Hopes To Return By Season Opener
BOSTON (CBS) -- When news broke last Friday that Rajon Rondo underwent surgery for a broken finger, it was figured the Celtics point guard would miss a good chunk of time early in the 2014-15 season.
But Rondo sounds rather confident that the injury won't keep him out of many games -- if any.
"Hopefully I won't miss any games this year," Rondo told CSNNE's Mike Gorman. "Lord willing I heal correctly and I'll be back in no time."
Rondo said the 6-8 week timetable that doctors gave him "means nothing" to him, and even said there's a possibility he's back for opening night on October 29 against the Brooklyn Nets.
"I'll be back in no time," Rondo confidently told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Rich Shertenlieb at the team's media day. "I'm aiming pretty close right at November and hopefully October."
It should come as no surprise that Rondo wants to get back on the court as soon as possible, given his free agency at the end of the season.
But should the injury to his left hand -- which Rondo said happened while he was in the shower -- cause him to miss any time, the Celtics do have options at point guard. Sixth overall pick Marcus Smart and second-year guard Phil Pressey are the most obvious options, but head coach Brad Stevens said that newcomer Evan Turner could see some action at the point as well.
Rondo missed 95 games over the last two seasons while recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in January 2013. Pressey started 11 of his 75 games as a rookie for Boston last season, averaging 3.2 assists per game. Smart was one of the best point guards on the NCAA over the last two year, averaging 16.6 points and 4.5 assists per game while playing some phenomenal defense.
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