Rondo's deal is extended

Point guard stays for at least a year

Rajon Rondo is more than willing to continue playing for the Celtics. But Rondo deflected suggestions that he might commit to the team beyond the terms of a contract extension announced yesterday.

"It's a business," Rondo said before the Celtics' 96-80 victory over the Bulls last night. "I love the organization and we're winning, and that's what it's all about. But you never know; the GM and coach can change."

Coach Doc Rivers hopes to count on Rondo.

"In this day and time, teams change so much," Rivers said. "We've done a good job of identifying what our nucleus is. Hopefully, he'll be a career Celtic. This is the start of it; the extension is the first step to being a career Celtic. I'm hoping that's his goal.

"He's exceeded expectations - I don't know if he's exceeded ours - but he's definitely exceeded the league's. On that day, they said he was a whatever pick. And he's only halfway there, he just has to keep improving in all aspects of the game, and he's going to do that."

Rondo was the 21st choice in the 2006 draft, acquired by the Celtics in a deal with Phoenix for a future first-rounder. His contract is worth $1.3 million this year and the extension pays $2.09 million next season. If the Celtics do not sign Rondo to a long-term contract next season, he would become a restricted free agent.

"He is a classic point guard," Rivers said.

Rondo (14 points, six assists) outdueled Chicago's Derrick Rose (18 points, one assist) as the Celtics virtually clinched the win early.

"He's more of a throwback," said Rivers. "He runs the team, tries to set players up, he makes winning plays.

"[Rose] is like that, Chris Paul is that way, Deron Williams. The league is changing back, in a good way, at the point guard spot. We went through that scoring point guard era. Now it looks like we're going back to that making the team better point guard era, and that's a good thing."

Said Rondo, "I'm an extension of the coach out there. Whatever he wants, speed it up or slow it down, who to give the ball to."

Grand feat

The Celtics' Kevin Garnett (32 years, 165 days) became the youngest player to participate in 1,000 NBA games. Shawn Kemp (33 years, 24 days) was the youngest.

"It feels crazy, to be honest," Garnett said. "You have some players come in here, we sit in the back of the bus and talk about the Nike camps and the people we grew up playing against or playing with, and unfortunately, they're not in the league. So to sit here and have a plateau with 1,000 games says a lot not only about my conditioning but taking care of my body and trying to be the best player that I can be."

Solid citizens

The Celtics are planning ahead in the civic duty department. The team was to depart for Indianapolis last night for a game against the Pacers tonight, then continue to Houston for a game against the Rockets Tuesday.

Guard Ray Allen said most of the Celtics have submitted absentee ballots because they'll be away for Election Day. Rondo said 14 of the 15 Celtics are pro-Barack Obama.

"This is something we've been talking about more this year, more than I've talked on any team," said Allen, who displayed an Obama T-shirt in his locker. "As players, this is an important election for this country."