The Mavericks and Rondo are stuck together, so they'll have to get past whatever led to a public sideline argument Tuesday night.
Whether it was an angry argument, a heated exchange or a "difference of opinion," as coach Rick Carlisle put it, something clearly went awry with point guard Rajon Rondo before his benching Tuesday night against the Toronto Raptors. Neither side would detail what happened when the two were seen quarreling near the sideline after a timeout, but it's the latest misstep in what's been a bumpy few months for Rondo in Dallas.
When the Mavericks acquired Rondo from the Celtics in December, it was considered a move to potentially put the team over the top. Rondo has championship experience, after all, and is only a couple years removed from making four consecutive All-Star appearances.
So it was easy to get excited about the possibilities as Rondo teamed up with Dirk Nowitzki and company, even as we knew his poor shooting might throw a wrench into the team's offense. That's pretty much happened as expected, but what's more concerning is that Carlisle, one of the game's great coaches, is seemingly butting heads with his star point guard.
There's still time before the end of the season for Rondo and Carlisle to get this thing figured out -- coaches and players argue sometimes -- but it's hard not to wonder whether this partnership is doomed to fall short of getting Dallas another title. The honeymoon is over.
The argument
Here's the scene: in the middle of the third quarter, Rondo was dribbling up court after the Mavericks gave up an second-chance bucket when Carlisle started signalling for a timeout. It appeared that the point guard wasn't responding to his coach's request, which led to Carlisle going out onto the court to yell at Rondo after the whistle.
Carlisle could clearly be seen telling Rondo to sit down, and he would remain on the bench for the remainder of the second half as the Mavericks rallied for a 99-92 win.
After the game, neither side would talk much about the situation. "It’s an emotional game and we had a difference of opinion," Carlisle told reporters afterwards. "There was an exchange, and then, in my mind, it was over ... Once it was over, it was over."
Rondo had even less to say.
"We won. Discuss it with Rick," the guard said.
This isn't the first time Rondo has been benched this season by Carlisle, but it's easily the most high profile given the shouting match that came afterwards. While players and coaches often argue during practices and games without earning much attention, those instances usually aren't as heated or public. If those two aren't on the same page with the postseason just a few weeks away, that's a bad sign for the Mavericks.
The numbers
The other big issue with Rondo and the Mavericks is that he hasn't really helped them yet. Yes, the team is better defensively with Rondo's length replacing the likes of Jameer Nelson, but offensively his poor shooting has translated into less spacing and less scoring.
The team's numbers before and after acquiring Rondo do a pretty good job of summing things up:
| Mavericks | Off. Rating | Def. Rating | Net Rating |
| Pre-Rondo deal | 113.6 (1st) | 105.1 (20th) | +8.5 (2nd) |
| Post-Rondo deal | 104.3 (11th) | 99.7 (5th) | +4.6 (5th) |
While the team's defensive improvement is exciting given the rarity of a below-average defensive squads reaching the Finals, it's hard not to notice losing nearly 10 points per 100 possessions on offense. Rondo is supposed to be one of the game's premier playmakers, but he's mostly stifled the team's offensive chemistry with his ball-dominating ways.
Dallas was 19-8 before adding Rondo in late December. Since then, the team is 20-12, and that's while riding a current three-game winning streak. The team's record has also been reflective of a minor step back on the court for the team since the big trade.
That's not to say the Mavericks are better with Rondo on the bench, however. The team outscores opponents by 5.3 points per 100 possessions with Rondo in and by 4.0 points per 100 possessions when he's out. It's possible Dallas would've been better off not acquiring him in the first place, but that ship has long sailed and now it's clear they have to figure out how to be their best with him. Devin Harris as the primary point guard isn't exactly a better plan.
Where to go from here
Maybe Carlisle is sitting around wishing he had point guards who could efficiently rain threes like many other contenders, but for now he's stuck with Rondo and Harris as his only options. That means the two sides will need to get past this recent kerfuffle and figure out how to coax a little more out of the offense.
The situation may not be ideal, but it's far from dire. The Mavericks are a more balanced team now than earlier in the season, when they were gunning to blowout wins and looking like one of the best offenses in the league. That's a great way to rack up regular season victories, but defense is key over a seven-game series and the Mavericks are significantly better in that respect with Rondo.
It's also not a particularly big deal when a player and coach go through some trials. Those are high-pressure, high-profile jobs that demand a lot of passion. Sometimes it's going to boil over without necessarily being a signal of underlying issues.
The frustration from Rondo deserves some concern, though, particularly given the tough reputation he earned in Boston. There was hope that a move to a contender like the Mavericks would get him on his best behavior, but it seems he's grown frustrated with the role he's been given in Carlisle's offense. While a sideline argument isn't a huge deal, it's has to be reflective of something.
Still, we're talking about Carlisle and Rondo, two brilliant basketball minds who should be able to work together and get this thing figured out. Maybe the sideline shouting was just a turning point to get things back on track now that the honeymoon is over.
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