Celtics' point guard Rajon Rondo has been playing tremendously as of late, in the wake of comments made by former NBA point guard Gary Payton.

Payton compared Rondo to players who ride superstars to rings while doing little more than waving towels from the bench.

"I respect the man's game, I'm just saying, man, he got put into a situation," Payton said in November.

Rondo endured a horrific 5-for-24 shooting span over three games that started just before Payton's remarks.

"He's been playing well. Ever since Gary Payton been hating on him, he's been playing great," teammate Kendrick Perkins said. "But that's Rondo. We know what he could do. Now he's just really starting to show it."