The Celtics have been burnt by opposing point guards in their last four games, a fact that hasn't been lost on coach Doc Rivers or Rajon Rondo.

Point guards are averaging 21.2 points, 8.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds and shooting 50 percent from the field in the last quartet of games.

"I'm concerned with any one position that gets that many points in a game," Rivers said Sunday. "And the assists as well. I can live with one or the other, but I can't live with both. We have to do a better job when there's bigger guys, just like when we play teams that have slower guards and Rondo takes advantage of that with his speed.

"It's up to the team to help that guy out. And I don't think we did a good enough job."

The coach added that Rondo needs to improve in defending bigger point guards.

"This will be a big game for Rondo," he said of Monday's game against Baron Davis and the Clippers. "It starts with the individual. You've got to take the responsibility of keeping them square, making them shoot over you. Don't gamble because if you gamble on a bigger guy, now his body won't let you back in front. And the team has to understand it's a tough spot for us and we have to help early and then have better weakside help."

RealGM Note: For the season, Boston has net PER production of +6.3 at the point guard position, which is their highest advantage.