Rajon Rondo Playing His Alpha-Male Role in Dallas
One of the hardest things to do in sports period outside of being an MLB closer or a quarterback in the NFL is to be a starting point-guard and join a new team before the trade deadline. On paper, we expected the Dallas Mavericks to have legit championship aspirations with Rajon Rondo joining Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis, Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons. The team still managed 50 impressive wins in the overcrowded Western Conference but hasn’t looked elite in comparison to other teams. With Amar’e Stoudemire joining them two months ago after his infamous New York Knicks buyout, he’s been the only person vocally calling out the team.
At the seventh seed, the Mavericks face-off against James Harden and his Houston Rockets, without homecourt advantage. The Rockets, who play extremely well at home are the favorites to win this series convincingly, with James Harden looking to show why he deserved legit considerations over Steph Curry as MVP.
Since joining Dallas earlier this year, Rondo hasn’t fit into the system like they have, with obvious control issues playing a factor when he’s on the court with Monta Ellis. Luckily for the team, he’s gotten in the good graces with the teammates but management and coaching may have issues heading forward. For the doubters of Rondo’s capabilities since enduring tearing his ACL two years ago, the 29-year-old point guard is playing in a contract year and will have his chance to showcase what he still has in the take – even a losing effort.
The Mavericks have been asking him to take on the role of being an alpha-male of the franchise like he was during the big-four years in Boston; but has been reluctant to not overstep any boundaries. With everything on the line this season for his career heading forward, we expect no fucks to be given from the original Russell Westbrook.