The Dallas Mavericks look likely to lose their opening round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, which has to irk owner Mark Cuban, who considers Houston to be the team's biggest rival. The Rockets have won the first two games of the series, and it looks like the Mavs will be hard-pressed to come up with any answers, even as the series shifts back to Dallas.
Rondo Tanking Effort During Playoffs?
After game two, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle openly questioned Rondo's effort, and it is just the latest in a long line of episodes that bring into question Rondo's relationship with the coach and fit with the team in general. It also makes it look pretty certain that Rondo will be leaving town as a free agent this summer, according to Yahoo! Sports.
As Adrian Wojnarowski puts it, "When Rondo realized his run with the Celtics was over this year, he planned to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer, league sources told Yahoo Sports. He expected a maximum contract. Once Dallas made the trade, he was open to re-signing with the Mavericks - only there are no max contract offers for Rondo on the market. Not in Dallas, nor Los Angeles. He's played his way out of that payday - not just this year, but since that terrible ACL injury two years ago."
Erin Andrews, Jarrett Stoll Engagement Or Breakup Looming?
Wojnarowski also calls the atmosphere around Rondo "toxic" as far as Dallas is concerned, and he adds that it looks increasingly like either the coach or point guard has to leave town.
"Everything's pushing Rondo closer to his inevitable free-agent fleeing to the Lakers this summer," writes Wojnarowski. "As long as the coach is back, Rondo's gone, sources told Yahoo Sports. The parting could be mutual."
See the Game 2 highlights below.
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