Clippers’ Rajon Rondo likes this Mavericks matchup

LOS ANGELES — Rajon Rondo heard it from the MFFLs – those “Mavs Fans For Life” – in Games 3 and 4, and, in turn, he let them have it, proving instrumental in the Clippers’ series-shifting success.

The Clippers’ veteran point guard, so cerebral and headstrong, was booed mercilessly in Dallas, where fans, having been pent up for so many months, expressed seasons-old pent-up animus aimed at the two-time NBA champion.

For the Clippers’ two season-saving victories – which evened the best-of-seven first-round playoff series, 2-2, entering Game 5 on Wednesday night at Staples Center – Rondo was a team-best plus-36 in his 47 minutes on the court.

He had 13 points, nine rebounds, 12 assists and just four turnovers, helping settle the Clippers – including when Game 3 seemed to be unspooling early in the first quarter.

And judging by all accounts from the scene, the 17,700-plus fans at American Airlines Center both nights were most displeased, as they have been since the first time he first came back as an opponent in 2016.

For his part, Rondo said he quite enjoyed the fan reaction: “That’s what I thrive on. I love playing against all odds. I love playing against people that have doubted me my entire career. Didn’t go well when I was here but at the end of the day, I’m still in the game and I’m able to rebound from my position here and still win another championship.”

Dallas fans’ ire stems from Rondo’s 2014-15 stint in Dallas, remembered by Mavericks fans for locker room tension and his first-round playoff back injury that sidelined the guard indefinitely –prompting an unfiltered response from Rick Carlisle when the coach was asked whether he thought Rondo would play for Dallas again: “No, I don’t.”

Six years later, Carlisle has spoken only in glowing terms every time he’s been asked about his former player this series, tipping his proverbial cap to the savvy playmaker.

“He’s been terrific,” Carlisle said Tuesday. “It’s very evident that he’s impacted the series in many ways, from his leadership presence, his experience, he just has great knowledge of the game.

“Their run in Game 3, he was very, very good during that stretch and, look, he’s turned into a very good 3-point shooter, he’s a plus-40% shooter … coming into the playoffs he was shooting the heck out of the ball.

“He’s been a major factor and not surprising in the least.”

Rondo’s current coach concurs, noting that his behind-the-scenes work also is benefiting the Clippers.

“Having him on the team now has been great,” Lue said. “It’s been great for Kawhi (Leonard) and PG (Paul George) and Marcus (Morris) and our older guys to just (have) a guy who comes in every day with the team, watches film together. Rondo is kind of constructing that. So he’s been great for our team, his leadership, and then we know how he plays and what he does in the playoffs.”

MORE LINEUP MACHINATIONS

A game after Lue super-shrunk his lineup by inserting 6-foot-8 wing Nicolas Batum in place of 7-foot center Ivica Zubac, the Mavericks countered by supersizing their starting five.

Carlisle started 7-4 Boban Marjanovic – who had 12 points and six rebounds in 15 minutes and was the only member of the Mavericks to finish positive (plus-3) in the box score in their 25-point loss – for the fourth time all season Wednesday. It’s the 26th career start and first playoff start for Marjanovic, a former Clipper. He replaced Maxi Kleber in the Mavs’ starting unit.

In his pregame address, Lue ventured an educated guess that it might happen, and a few minutes later, Carlisle didn’t blink, insisting that the Clippers’ prognostications wouldn’t affect his lineup choices.

“No, not in the least,” Carlisle said. “And you know I don’t talk about lineup stuff until it’s released …”