Celtics will learn to deal with defensive pressure without Rondo

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WALTHAM, Mass.For most teams, it is the starters that take the lead. The second unit follows.

But when it comes to managing the game in this Rajon Rondo-less era, it is the backups' style of play that has to now be adopted by the starters.

With Rondo (torn right ACL) out for the season, Celtics coach Doc Rivers has little choice but to implement the point guard-less system he has used with his bench players.

And the second unit's play -- especially the guards -- has been one of the few highlights of late for the Celtics as they snapped a six-game losing skid with a 100-98 double overtime win against Miami.

"That unit was becoming very successful," Rivers said of his backups. "Now it's just the entire team does that. We did it once against Miami. Now we just have to get better at it."

Without a true point guard, Rivers will have to be more hands-on with the play-calling.

"You simplify, you let them play through space," Rivers said. "And just read it from there."

The Celtics will also rely on several ball-handlers to bring the ball up court and initiate the offense.

Who fills that role will depend on the opponent and matchup, Rivers said.

"It's going to go game-to-game in that way," Rivers said. "And that's the adjustment, if anything. If LB (Leandro Barbosa) has a guy that's pressuring him, I don't want him to bring the ball up. If we're playing a team that has two guards that can pressure both guys, I don't want either one of them to bring the ball up. You don't know that until the game starts."

And there lies one of the biggest downsides to not having Rondo for the remainder of the season.

"Before it didn't matter. You gave that no thought," Rivers said. "Rondo was bringing the ball up. Now, we have to really be focused on where the pressure is coming from."

Celtics guard Jason Terry doesn't believe it will be that big an issue considering the C's are likely to have at least three ball-handlers on the floor most of the game.

"With the multiple ball-handlers, it's going to be tough to pressure us," Terry said. "That will be a lot of teams' tactics: 'They don't have a true point guard so let's put pressure on them.' But I think it works in our favor."

Still, Rivers sees this as an area that the C's have to improve as the season progresses.

"There will be games where I anticipate, someone will pressure us and someone else will have to bring the ball up," Rivers said. "Those are the things we have to work on more, bring the ball up the floor in a quick manner."

The C's will indeed miss Rondo's leadership and ability to run the team while he's out.

But Terry believes one of the few positives that can come about with Rondo's season being over, is it creates a greater sense of accountability for players to do their jobs.

"There's going to be more emphasis on, 'Hey, be paying attention in the huddle!' " Terry said. "Be mindful that we have to execute. There is no, 'Oh, I didn't know where I was supposed to be.' There's no excuse. We all have to be on the same page.

Terry added, "It's a whole different ball game. You don't have a guy that can bail you out."

Accountability and an underdog's edge are a couple of the positives that the C's are looking to take away from Rondo's season-ending injury.

"But I'd rather have Rondo," said Rivers.

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