Rajon Rondo Needs a Hug

After an impressive 23-5 start to the 2009-2010 NBA season, PG Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics currently find themselves going in the opposite direction on the court, as well as in the locker room.

On the court, the Celtics have gone 7-11 since their hot start, struggling to find the same rhythm that led them to the best record in the NBA at the beginning of the season.

In the locker room, Rajon Rondo has publicly criticized the team chemistry.

“We gotta make a change and do something about it quick,” Rondo said after the Celtics loss to the Hawks on Friday. “Not a trade or anything, but just making some changes in the locker room, amongst ourselves. Every guy has to look in the mirror and hold themselves accountable.”

While the Celtics’ record would indicate something is not right with the chemistry team, it appears Rondo might be the only one that feels this way according to C Kendrick Perkins.

“We’re cool, we real cool. There’s no beef. Guys still talk, laugh, joke — we’ve all got each other’s back. That’s one thing you don’t have to worry about in this locker room, especially with [Kevin Garnett], Paul [Pierce], Ray [Allen], and [Rasheed Wallace] in here. Guys will stick together.”

Notice how he didn’t say Rondo’s name in there?

However, Perkins did continue by adding, “We just gotta keep believing. Everybody’s got to be accountable for their actions … Don’t point the finger, everybody look at themselves in the mirror and go from there.”

Well at least Rondo and Perkins both agree that the team needs to look in the mirror more often. Other than that, it sounds to me like Rondo just hasn’t been invited to eat lunch at the cool kids table. If everyone else on the team feels as though the camaraderie is still there,  maybe it’s time someone lets Rondo in on the secret.

The team’s issues with Rondo were evident at the end of last season when rumors were going around that some Celtics’ players did not like playing with him.

So unless something changes soon with the Celtics on the court, Rondo is correct in thinking there may be some changes made in the locker room. Hopefully for his sake, it won’t be a popularity vote.