Robb: Rondo Isn't Surprised By Success of Former Celtic Teammates

BOSTON (CBS) – Rajon Rondo played his second game as a visitor at the TD Garden on Sunday afternoon and this time around, there was a little less hype about his arrival. Instead of a tribute video on a Jumbotron like we saw last January, there was merely a nice ovation from Garden crowd during pregame intros for the long-time Celtic before the hosts dealt the reeling Kings 128-119 defeat.

Rondo posted a double-double with 14 points and 15 assists in the defeat but was routinely roasted with his Kings teammates on the defensive end of the floor as the Celtics scored a season-high 128 points for their fourth straight win.

"We turned the ball over and then on offensive rebounds," Rondo said of his team's struggles against Boston's offense. "They kicked it out for threes. So it's a little bit of both. We didn't protect the 3-ball again. They got off to a great start. 74 in a half is not going to cut it."

Rondo and the Kings made a late dent in Boston's 14-point fourth quarter lead with a flurry of 3-pointers, but Isaiah Thomas but an end to those rally hopes with nine points over the final two minutes.

"He played well against us last game," Rondo said of Thomas. "He had a big three that kind of pretty much sealed the game. It was a big, tough shot he made and I think that's what he's been doing all season with these guys. Then when he doesn't have it, playing unselfishly and finding his teammates like he did last game in Cleveland."

Rondo later added: "He's the All-Star on the team. I think they have a lot of glue guys to make a guy go. The plays he's able to make out there, especially at his height, is hard. He's been unstoppable this year."

While the 29-year-old point guard did not enjoy losing to his eventual replacement, he did appreciate the love from the Garden crowd.

"It was classic Boston fans. Since day one, since I've been here, it's always been that type of reception. I don't think they view me as the enemy," he said.

The 10-year veteran has exactly been surprised by Boston's success this season either as they have roared to a top three seed in the Eastern Conference with nine wins in their past 10 games.

"They play well as a team," Rondo noted. "They may be 13, 14 guys deep. You never know who's going to get it going for them each night. You look at the box score and someone is leading them in scoring different every night.  So they've been playing well as a team. Brad has these guys rolling, believing in the system and they're playing very unselfish."

With Rondo done facing the Celtics this season, he'll be keeping his eyes on his former mates from affair while hoping they transform into a potential factor in the Eastern Conference playoff picture this spring.

"I sent Avery a text after the big shot he made the other day," Rondo said. "My young guys Kelly, Jared. A lot of these guys are my rookies. So it's good to see these guys playing well I wish them health and happiness and to continue to play and try to take the East."

Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter@CelticsHub.