Rajon Rondo is taking on the role of a de facto coach for the Boston Celtics as he is out for the season with a torn ACL.

"He probably coaches as much as anybody," said Doc Rivers. "I don't know if it helps, I think it does. As a player you tend to listen to the players in the uniforms over the suits and ties. So we'll see. He was great today in shootaround. He knew every set the Knicks were running. When we called out a set to talk through it, he was pointing where everybody should be."

"It's amazing. He's always been that way. He's not playing and yet he studied the book."

Rivers has always spoken highly of Rondo's basketball intelligence.

"He's always been on another level," said Rivers. "I always tell him that if he wasn't so crazy he'd be a great coach."