‘Oh, that guy': Rondo brushes off question on Allen

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Rajon Rondo's offseason tour has brought him from Asia with Red Bull to New York City Fashion Week with GQ. On Tuesday, he stopped by BET's "106 & Park". He talked the upcoming season, but didn't have much to say about Ray Allen.

BET: Have you talked to Jesus? Have you talked to Ray Allen, man?
Rondo: Oh, that guy.
BET: Ohh.
Rondo: I talk to the Lord.
BET: You say you what?
Rondo: To the Lord.

Allen, nicknamed "Jesus Shuttlesworth" for the character he played in the movie "He Got Game," signed with the Miami Heat in July as an unrestricted free agent. Following his departure from the Boston Celtics, reports buzzed of a soured relationship between the two guards.

Their roles changed significantly during the five seasons they played together. Over the years, Rondo, 26, transformed from a pass-first point guard who took a backseat to his Hall of Fame-bound veteran teammates to the Celtics floor general that looked for his shot more and more frequently as he developed. Allen, on the other hand, got less touches as time went on. Just over a year after becoming the NBAs all-time leading three-point shooter, the 16-year veteran was moved to the Celtics bench as their back up shooting guard behind 21-year-old Avery Bradley following injury setbacks.

When it came time to determine the next step in his career, Allen, 37, turned down more money with the Celtics and inked a deal with the defending NBA champions. Last month Celtics head coach Doc Rivers spoke on the two star players, insisting the finger should be pointed at him for Allen's departure, not Rondo.

"People can use all the Rondo stuffand it was there, no doubt about thatbut it was me more than Rondo," Rivers told Yahoo! Sports. "I'm the guy who gave Rondo the ball.Think about everything Allen said when he left, 'I want to be more of a part of the offense.' Everything was back at Rondo. And I look at that, and say, 'That's not Rondo's fault.' That's what I wanted Rondo to do, and that's what Rondo should've done."

Rondo is looking ahead to the upcoming season rather than focusing on the players who left. He has high expectations for the 2012-13 team and looks forward to competing alongside the new faces in the Celtics backcourt.

I think we'll be a lot better than last year, so I look forward to a great season, he said. I'm excited about the addition of players Jason Terry, Courtney Lee, so we'll be pretty good.

As for teams around the NBA who are compiling powerhouse lineups, Rondo isnt phased.

We're one of those teams, so I'm fine with it (laughs), he said. I think we have a good shot at winning this, so teams can do whatever.

The Celtics and Heat will face off on Opening Night in Miami on October 30.

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