(The Sports Xchange) – It is looking more likely that Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo will miss the preseason and some regular season games, according to CSNNewEngland.com.
The Celtics have no timetable for when Rondo will return as he recovers from a torn ACL in his right knee, but he is making progress.
Rondo did some work on the court with new coach Brad Stevens last week.
“He’s obviously limited in what he can do on the court,” Stevens said. “But he’s a worker. That was one thing that was very noticeable.”
Rondo was injured at Atlanta on Jan. 25 and an MRI taken two days later revealed the tear. Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery on Feb. 15.
Danny Ainge, the Celtics’ president of basketball operations, said at the time Rondo would return by the start of the season.
Stevens acknowledged the team may be without Rondo when the Celtics open the preseason.
“That’s something that you have to balance,” Stevens said. “You are going to introduce some things that may be best for him Oct. 7 in our first exhibition game, and he may not be available. So you’re gonna have to figure out where you go from there and how to best fit pieces into those spots.”
Meanwhile, Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose repeated what he said in July by declaring he is fully healthy for the upcoming season.
Rose missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL.
“I think I am 100 percent,” Rose told CSNChicago.com. “I’m doing almost everything. I’m squatting, running, lifting almost every other day. Just being back on the court after you have an ACL injury, you’re kind of hesitant at first about how you step, what way you should step, learning how to run, accelerate, accelerate while you run and while you’re slowing down.
“For me, I’m reacting right now where all I have to think about is if I have to get to a spot I’m going to get there no matter what. It kind of feels good having that feeling again.”
Rose spent the past week in China as part of his Adidas Promotional tour in Asia. He will wrap up the tour in the Philippines before returning to the U.S.
