Based on their responses, Rivers and Rondo both believe the Miami Heat guard should think about that oft-used phrase regarding a pot, a kettle and the color black.
Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers and guard Rajon Rondo did not agree with Dwyane Wade's remark that a flagrant foul committed by Rondo near the end of Tuesday's Celtics loss was a "punk play."
And based on their responses, Rivers and Rondo both believe the Miami Heat guard should think about that oft-used phrase regarding a pot, a kettle and the color black.
Said Rivers during an interview with WEEI Thursday, "I didn’t think it was that hard, honestly. I argued against the flagrant (foul). Look, Wade has committed a lot of hard fouls on Rondo. We forget about the elbow injury that Rondo had (during the 2011 playoffs). That was created by Dwyane Wade. I don’t think (Rondo's foul) was a punk move unless that one was, too."
Wade and Rondo were tangled up on the play in the 2011 playoffs during which Rondo dislocated his elbow. Perhaps the Celtics point guard was remembering that when he referenced Wade's "dirty" past.
"I mean, I don't think it was a hard foul," said Rondo, according to ESPN Boston. "(Wade) sold it a little bit. That's basketball. They were up, he drove to the hole, I didn't want to give up a layup. Simple as that. I didn't yank him down, or dirty plays that you've seen him play in the past. So that's what it is."
Rivers only added to the feud after practice Thursday, saying, "My thought was Wade, I know where he grew up. I thought he was tougher than that."
After spending the offseason trying to get the Celtics to hate the Heat, Rivers -- not normally one to get involved in a petty spat between players -- might be using this as a calculated chance to foster more dislike between the two teams. Or maybe he just really didn't like Wade calling Rondo's foul a punk play.