Celtics strength and conditioning coach Bryan Doo (right) puts point guard Rajon Rondo through some resistance band work before the start of the Celtics practice. (Jim Davis / Globe Staff)

LOS ANGELES -- Rajon Rondo wasn't coy about his ailments Saturday at the Celtics practice in El Segundo, Calif. He gave short, un-sexy answers when asked about the flare up in his back -- actually lower than his back -- which appeared to have hampered his play in Game 1 as well as the latter part of the Orland Magic series.

But his shortness was not because he was playing dumb. There's simply "no excuses" to make at this time of year, said Rondo.

"I'm fine," he said repeatedly.

But is it affecting your play?

"I won't know until contact with it," he said finally. "I'm fine though. No excuses. Nobody is 100 percent in the league right now. It's the finals so I don't have any excuses."

The concerns about Rondo's lower back started after he tweaked it against Orlando. Doc Rivers explained that the pain Rondo was experiencing was actually lower than his back, but his butt.

"His glutes are tight," Rivers said. "They've been tight. You see him do this stretch almost every chance he gets. He's been doing that throughout the playoffs, though."

Regardless, Rivers won't allow it to become an issue.

"Listen, everyone has something going on with their bodies right now," Rivers said. "The NBA playoffs are very difficult, and by the time you get to the Finals, there's a chance that every single guy on the floor has some kind of nick. We're no different than anybody else."

You have it from the horse's mouth. No excuses.