Rajon Rondo Won’t Blame His Back

Bill Doyle of the Telegram has a full report: “President of basketball operations Danny Ainge told WEEI-AM that he thought Rondo tweaked his back in Game 1against the Lakers when he finished with 13 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds—respectable numbers, but below his playoff averages of 16.5, 9.9 and 5.3, and well below his 20.7, 11.8 and 6.3 figures in the conference semifinals against Cleveland. Coach Doc Rivers said before practice here yesterday at the Toyota Sports Center that it’s not Rondo’s back that hurts, but his rear end. ‘His glutes are tight,’ Rivers said. ‘It’s fine,’ Rondo insisted as he prepared for Game 2 at 8 tonight at the Staples Center. ‘I mean, I won’t know until contact, really. I’m fine, though — no excuses. Nobody’s 100 percent in the league right now. It’s the finals, so I don’t have any issues. I’m fine.’ Does the soreness affect him? ‘I don’t know,’ Rondo said. ‘I’ll let you guys tell me. I don’t think it’s affected me.'”