DETROIT – There was assistant coach Jim Boylen, taking the basketball from a ball boy, firing a pass to Rajon Rondo, and then every few minutes walking up to the veteran guard for some instruction on the game plan or a critique of his shot.
There was even some laughing between the two.
It was an hour before Tuesday’s eventual 102-91 loss to the Detroit Pistons, and not one curse word was being exchanged, not one towel was being thrown in anyone’s face.
A much different scene from what took place in Dallas on Saturday, as the confrontation between player and assistant coach resulted in the organization suspending Rondo for the Monday night loss against Portland.
“Talked to him [Monday] night and then we obviously we had our walkthrough and a team meeting [Tuesday] morning,’’ coach Fred Hoiberg said about his interaction with Rondo.
Hoiberg was asked if Rondo addressed teammates or the coaching staff with an apology on the flight over to Detroit, and stayed with the company line of, “I’ll keep those details to Rajon, myself and the team.’’
Boylen also refused to discuss the incident.
All parties were ready to move forward, but more details were coming out of the past.
According to a source, Rondo was angry with Boylen for pulling him out of the game – Boylen often handles the rotation minutes during games – and started dressing the coach down on the bench. The guard talked his way back into the game with Hoiberg, and as he was going to check in, walked by Boylen and threw a towel in the coach’s face.
Rondo was finally made available to the media, and didn’t exactly deny that fact.
“You gotta look at the film,’’ Rondo said of the towel toss. “I don’t know. You gotta look at the film. What’s today? Tuesday, yeah, Tuesday. You guys can keep writing the story if you want.’’
Although Rondo didn’t exactly put an end to the story, either.
The towel throw led to further verbal jabs that carried on into the locker room immediately after the game.
Rondo said that he apologized to his teammates and to his coaching staff, but also couldn’t promise that he won’t speak his mind if he thinks it will better the team.
“Me as a player, as a point guard, I’ve got to handle the situation better, but when I feel a certain way I’m going to speak on it,’’ Rondo said. “My whole thing is always for the betterment of the team. If it comes off the wrong way and things in that nature, and I’m trying to work on that, but for the most part I’m not a selfish individual. I try and do what’s best for the team, I try and watch film with my teammates as well.’’
And while the cold war was short-lived, it also led to further questions about the make-up of Hoiberg’s coaching staff, and if their responsibilities – which are many – clouds the chain of command with the players.
“The staff that we have, we dole out responsibilities like all staffs do,’’ Hoiberg said of that dynamic. “We rotate game plans. Obviously Jim has a huge say in our defense, Pete Myers as well having been a part of some very good defensive teams out in Golden State. Everybody is a part of the offense and how we want to play and try to drill it home. I’m very comfortable with my staff.’’
Hoiberg was then asked if he felt members of the staff have tried to undermine his authority or had different agendas, and responded, “No, not at all.’’
