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Gorman On Toucher & Rich: Stamina Is The Big Concern With Rondo's Return

BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Celtics dropped their ninth straight on Monday night, falling to the Houston Rockets 104-92 at the TD Garden.

But they may get their star point guard back before the weekend. Rajon Rondo sent out a very cryptic Tweet Monday night, hinting he may return Friday night when Boston hosts the Los Angeles Lakers. Celtics play-by-play man Mike Gorman joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher and Rich on Tuesday, and said he wouldn't be surprised to see the C's star player back this week.

"I think there's a good chance he'll be back this weekend. I think he's real close," said Gorman. "I always thought it would be one of those things where he'd just show up and say he's ready to go. I think that's become more and more likely over the past weeks given the intensity he's worked."

"I just hope he gets some credit for what he's done," he said. "He could have disappeared; you hear about NBA players and football players who go and rehab in San Diego or Florida and they're not heard from until they're back. This kid has been to every game and traveled on every road trip. I think he's handled it the right way, and I think we're fast approaching the time for him to come back."

"My thought has always been that he'd come back at home, and Friday seems like a likely candidate," said Gorman.

Rondo underwent surgery last February to repair a torn ACL, and he stressed that he wouldn't return until he is 100 percent. It appears that health is no longer the issue, but instead now the concern is on his conditioning, more notably getting the point guard in game-shape. Rondo has struggling to find 5-on-5 action since being cleared for contact last month, so he hasn't been able to simulate NBA game action.

"Rondo's concerned about playing NBA minutes and playing a lot of them. He doesn't want to come back and play 15 minutes for a week and then 20-22 minutes the next week; he wants to come back and play as much as he always plays, about 30+ minutes," said Gorman. "Rondo's whole thing is it's no longer a physical thing or a mental thing anymore. It's a stamina thing.

"You can't simulate NBA minutes; the starting, the stopping and the pace of it all. You can't do that on a bike or treadmill," said Gorman. "I think that's Rondo's concern and why he's worked so hard on the 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 games."

Gorman also touched on how first-year head coach Brad Stevens is handling the team's recent struggles, and whether or not Jeff Green will be wearing green in the near future:

Mike Gorman:

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