Cavs consider moves to counter Rondo

By Brian Windhorst

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND

The line on the Cavaliers’ practice plan Monday was labeled as a film session, but that wasn’t totally accurate. It was a Rajon Rondo highlight package.

As the Cavs prepared for the conference semifinal series against the Celtics, which they are tied, 2-2 heading into tonight’s Game 5, they were certainly aware of Rondo’s abilities. But as Boston’s fourth-leading scorer, he was only a part of their game planning, as they focused on three potential Hall of Famers on the roster.

Until now, that is. Those 29-point, 18-rebound, 13-assist performances will do that to opponents.

Now Rondo has the Cavs’ full attention.

“We always knew he was a heck of a player,” Zydrunas Ilgauskas said Monday. “We were so worried about the ‘big three’ that to some degree we underestimated him. That was our biggest mistake.”

The Cavs are going to try to rectify that tonight. Key word there being “try.”

Rondo is leading the Celtics in scoring (21.8), rebounding (8.3) and assists (13.0) through the first four games. During the regular season, Rondo averaged 14 points and 10 assists against the Cavs. Clearly what was tried over the first four games hasn’t been working too well.

“I think we imagined Rondo would [match his regular-season numbers] against us ... [but] we thought the team defensively would do a better job on him and we haven’t,” Cavs coach Mike Brown said. “You have to give him credit. He’s a heck of a player and he’s gone out and earned what he’s gotten.”

The Cavs’ planned countermeasures are secret, for the moment. But there certain adjustments that may be able to slow Rondo down.

Following Sunday’s Game 4 loss in Boston, LeBron James expressed an interest in guarding Rondo. As a first team All-NBA defender, it certainly would be strength-on-strength — even if it would still be a mismatch because James is a small forward and Rondo is a point guard.

“It’s something that maybe we should explore, because Rondo has definitely dominated the series,” James said Sunday. He didn’t talk to the media on Monday.

It sounds like James wants to do it and Brown said Monday that it would likely be part of the game plan. But it not be the extent of it.

In Game 4, Anthony Parker played for 42 minutes and spent almost all of them guarding Rondo, who played 47 minutes. By the end of the game, Parker was clearly gassed and it contributed to Rondo’s strong finish. The Cavs will likely give Parker some support to reduce his minutes on Rondo.