Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
But on this first day of Training Camp, Rondo did more than just stretch with the Celtics – he was an actual participant during the team’s morning practice which was 50 minutes of non-contact, offensive skill work.”He went through the morning workout, and he’s probably going to do one workout a day,” Stevens said. “And then he took the afternoon off, but he was very active in the afternoon.”
The C’s did more work defensively in the afternoon as well as some three-minute scrimmaging, all under the watchful eye of Stevens and the always-attentive Rondo.
“He was in the huddles,” Stevens said. “He’s in the drills as far as communicating. You saw him leading our stretching at the end. He was really active today.”
The early training camp game plan for Rajon Rondo is to participate physically in half of the workouts and participate mentally in all of the workouts.
We’re going to hear a lot about Rajon Rondo’s leadership this season – his first one without Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers. Most of the talk will focus (negatively) on Rondo’s demeanor, but I’m truly excited to watch this guy lead this team. While he couldn’t give a crap about the media, I guarantee you he’s savoring the opportunity to prove everyone wrong. He’s also in obscene shape. He could have very easily said, “Screw it, I’ll hit the weights in September.”
There is so much motivation. He has the entire spotlight of a prestigious organization focused solely on him. He has a legion of naysayers. And last but not least, he’s leveraging himself for a max contract extension.
The Herald’s Steve Bulpett gives us some insight into Vitor Faverani’s first day:
“Vitor’s a player,” we were advised. “Fab’s a project.”
“I thought Vitor was pretty good today,” said new coach Brad Stevens. “He’s obviously a guy with great size. I think he’s our truest center and a guy that can shoot the basketball. He made a 3, although he did it off the glass.”
Off the glass on purpose?
“He might have called it, but I couldn’t understand him if he called it,” said Stevens.
Let’s drop the Fab Melo comparisons right now. I think we should set the bar a bit higher. Maybe Joe Kleine or Dwayne Schintzius.
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Rondo’s leadership heavy half day | Brad Stevens keeping it cool | CSNNE – Postcard from camp: Day 1 | Why Rondo should take all the time he needs | WEEI – Top Media Day moments (video) | MassLive – Stevens on building team identity | MWDN – Stevens gets strong early reviews | Herald – Stevens sizes up team | Quick practices part of the process | CSNNW – Delonte West to play in China
(Image courtesy: Boston Herald/Christopher Evans)
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