John Calipari Held Serve at Peach Jam while Rajon Rondo and Eric Bledsoe Embrace Change

Apr 30, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe (12) walks into Staples Center through the loading dock for game five of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Switching gears a bit to the NBA, a couple former Kentucky Wildcat guards are experiencing some huge transitions.  I begin with Rajon Rondo who just recently lost his head coach Doc Rivers along with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, while simultaneously coming to grips with his new head coach Brad Stevens.  When Stevens was hired, most people thought this would be a disaster because he’s the down home, gullible looking guy who coached some small school named Butler.  He’s too soft spoken, to this or that and Rondo will eat his lunch.  Whatever.  People have made so much about this that it’s laughable and Brad Stevens is doing all he can to make sure Rondo understands that this partnership will work.

"ORLANDO — The Celtics didn’t play or practice Thursday at the Orlando Summer League, and new coach Brad Stevensmade wise use of the offday by making a short trip to Louisville, Ky., the hometown of All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo. Stevens spoke at Rondo’s basketball camp and chatted with Rondo, marking an astute move by Stevens with regards to the Celtics’ mercurial floor general. Much has been made about whether Stevens and Rondo will get along. Rondo is, of course, notoriously strong-headed, and Stevens is 36 with no NBA experience. But from the day Stevens was introduced as the 17th head coach in franchise history, the former Butler University coach has tried to make it clear that he likes Rondo — a lot. “There is no bigger fan of Rajon Rondo than me,” Stevens said. “I’m looking forward to sitting down and learning from him.” Rondo’s agent, Bill Duffy, told the Globe earlier this week Rondo is approaching their relationship with an open mind and that Rondo is excited about next season. “Brad Stevens has been very complimentary of [Rondo] and said he wants to learn from him because [Rondo] knows more about the league than [Stevens] does,” Duffy said. “But he’s a smart guy with a great pedigree thus far, and you’re one of the top players in the game, so it could be really special and unique.”"

Last Thursday new Phoenix Sun, Eric Bledsoe, arrived at US Airways Arena for a joint presser with Caron Butler.  Apparently Butler loooooves him some Eric Bledsoe because he knows what the rest of us know…Bledsoe will be a star in the NBA now that he’s out of Chris Paul’s shadow.

"The two newest Suns showed up at US Airways Center, and Caron Butler began gushing over Eric Bledsoe. “Explosive, dynamic guard who has superstar written all over him. … I think he’s going to come here and just put everyone on notice,” Butler said. “I think he’s going to put the sports world on notice.” Butler is a nice addition. He wore an orange tie and fashionable glasses. He said he was flattered by General Manager Ryan McDonough’s dogged pursuit over the years, likening it to a “man crush.” Everyone laughed. But Bledsoe is the sizzling import, and a big win for basketball operations, which received mixed reviews after drafting of Alex Len over Ben McLemore. Bledsoe is a blessed athletic specimen, a great defensive player and one of the better shot-blocking guards in the NBA. He prepped under Chris Paul. He is stepping out for the first time in his career, just like Goran Dragic did when he left for Houston. “I think he’s going to be great this year, and for years to come,” Butler said. Bledsoe is also a steal. To acquire him and Butler, the Suns merely traded Jared Dudley, who is useless on a rebuilding team, and a second-round draft pick they received from the Sebastian Telfair trade. In return, they received the type of player the Suns need most: a potential star. “I hope he can be,” McDonough said. “He’s not yet. But I’d say all of us, myself included, are very excited to see what he’ll become.” More than anything, Bledsoe represents a higher plane for the Suns’ revamped front office, a group that created this deal out of thin air, shaping it and selling it until it worked for everyone involved."