Former Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo will make his playoff debut with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sep. 4 in Game 1 against the Rockets.
One of the initial nights of full on second round playoff action around the NBA will feature multiple former Chicago Bulls players in both conferences (and both games). In the Eastern Conference, the likes of former Bulls star shooting guard/small forward Jimmy Butler will be leading the five-seed Miami Heat to continue to push for their upset bid against sharpshooting guard/wing Kyle Korver and the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
The Heat own a two-games to none lead over the Bucks entering Game 3 of that second round series.
On the Western Conference side, former Bulls veteran point guard Rajon Rondo and the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers take on a team that would include former Bulls standout defender Thabo Sefolosha and the four-seed Houston Rockets (if he hadn’t opted out of playing in the bubble). The Rockets just knocked off the Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling seven game series in the first round of the playoffs.
But this will be the first game back for the veteran floor general Rondo, since he’s returning from a long-term injury with the Lakers. Rondo is reportedly available with no minutes restriction for the Lakers in this Game 1 against the Rockets on Sep. 4.
Rajon Rondo is available off the bench tonight, with no minutes restriction, but since he hasn’t played in a game in a long time, they’ll be mindful of how much to use him.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) September 4, 2020
Moreover, Rondo was dealing with back spasms and hasn’t played in a single game since the pause was instilled for the Lakers after their March 10 loss to the Brookly Nets.
What former Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo brings for the Lakers
If there was any part of the lineup in which the Lakers were struggling with matching up with their opposition since the restart in the bubble, it was with their guard rotation. Getting Rondo back will be big on both ends of the floor with the way he commands the court when he’s in the game.
In 48 games played during the regular season for Rondo with the Lakers (three of which he started in), he averaged 7.1 points per game, 3.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 0.8 steals. He shot 41.8 percent from the field, 32.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 65.9 percent from the free-throw line.
The facilitating ability of Rondo combined with his awareness off ball on both ends of the floor will add a lot for the Lakers guard rotation. His return will take some of the pressure off the likes of veteran guard JR Smith, point guard Alex Caruso, and sharpshooting combo guard Quinn Cook.
The Lakers ousted the eight-seed Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs, in a five game series win. They won the last four games of the series in commanding fashion. Meanwhile, the Rockets won’t be as well rested as Rondo, LeBron James, and the Lakers as they played later this week in Game 7 against the Thunder.