Grumpy Gregg Popovich not impressed with Rondo’s toughness

Via the Boston Globe/San Antonio Express:

“It’s really been hard to watch the playoffs and have them make Rondo out like Willis Reed,” Popovich said Thursday, in wide-ranging interview with the Express-News. “It’s like, Manu couldn’t even play the first game (against Memphis), and we probably shouldn’t have played him again. He went out there and worked through it, and you didn’t hear any of that kind of crap.”

“It’s like Rondo is the next coming of Willis Reed, the thing he did and the character he showed,” Popovich said. “Maybe he did show character and he was tough and all that, but it is no different than what Manu did. That just kind of angers me on a selfish level, so to speak.”

C'mon Pop, you're better than this. I understand that you are still frustrated because your #1 seeded Spurs embarrassed themselves in the first round of the playoffs. But there's no need to take a shot at Rajon Rondo.

Manu Ginobili hyperextended his elbow in the Spurs season finale on April 13. He was unable to play Game 1 of the playoffs on April 17, but did return for Game 2 three days later.

Rajon Rondo dislocated his elbow with 7 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter of Game 3 vs Miami. He returned to play at the start of the 4th quarter.

Not only was Rondo's injury more severe, but he returned to play in the same game and did not miss a game. Despite what Popovich thinks, what Ginobili did was not the same.

Also see:  Spurs fans respond

Arrow to top