The LA Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon, winning the season series and tiebreaker in the standings. Sunday's game also marked the first game of Rajon Rondo‘s career with the Clippers.

Rondo was acquired via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks on trade deadline day in a deal for Lou Williams. After dealing with an adductor injury over the last week, Rondo finally made his debut Sunday against the team he won an NBA Championship with last season.

“Just trying to fit in, and getting his timing,” Tyronn Lue said of his first impressions of Rajon Rondo with the Clippers. “A little rusty, had a couple of turnovers early on, but you can just tell, his pace brings a different something to our team. And offensively, when he gets an outlet, close to half-court, before the first pass is made, that generates pace for us, and we need that. It is going to be good for us in the long run, just good to see him out there just trying to get acclimated to what we are trying to do.”

He only played 13 minutes, but his role during those minutes was clear: push the pace and help create opportunities for others.

“[My job is] just trying to get our two main guys the ball in a lot easier spots as far as them having to work so hard to get the ball against a set defense,” Rajon Rondo said after his firsst game. “If we are able to create stops and get out on the break, my job is to advance, pass the ball and let those guys attack one on one defense before the defense is set.”

Rajon Rondo brings mental toughness and playmaking to a Clippers team that didn't really have that before the deal. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George had been the main playmakers, but the front office wanted to get them more opportunities to finish plays rather than always starting them.

It's only been a week for Rondo with his new team, so it's still unclear to him what they lacked last season that he can bring in.

“I can’t dissect it that quickly,” Rondo explained. “Obviously, I want to be around and continue to learn my teammates, learn what the coach asks of us as players. I can’t really say exactly, pinpoint one thing that needs to be done here. Like I said, I want to come here, help this team out as much as possible. Lead in every way that’s possible, and obviously we have one common goal.”

One person Rajon Rondo does not need to get re-acclimated to is head coach Tyronn Lue. Lue and Rondo were together in Boston for a few years, and Doc Rivers even said the new Clippers head coach earned the nickname ‘Rondo Whisperer' because of how close he grew to Rondo.

The 14-year NBA veteran doesn't expect it'll be hard to get back into the swing of things with Ty Lue.

“Playing for Lue has been easy,” Rondo smiled. “It’s been fun. He hasn’t yelled at me too much obviously, we won the game today. But like I said, we’ve had a relationship a long time ago, over a decade of friendship coming into this season, the half part of the season. But coming back playing in L.A.,  I think the last time I played was in L.A. for the Hawks. So it wasn’t too much of a big deal.

“Like I said, playing against former teammates. Wanted to help the coaches out yesterday as much as far as the scouting report and understanding game plan. But at the end of the day, it’s basketball, and it’s a different season. Different locker room I’m in now, and just looking forward to jelling as much as possible, as quickly as possible with my new team.”

As far as learning the playbook and getting acclimated with the Clippers' system mid-season, Rondo says it's a work in progress.

“It hasn’t been too epic. You know, I’ve spent a lot of hours on the court, going through plays with Chauncey. With Coach Lue as well, Coach Drew, just trying to catch me up to speed with the playbook. But for the most part, I’ve been in the training room a lot. Training room, weight room. So it’s been a balance. Spending as much time in the gym as possible. We test seven times a day, so we have no choice but to be in the gym. So like I said, just trying to slice it up a lot of different ways: body, core and mental focus as well.”

The Clippers have four more games remaining on this nine-game homestand, and they hope that'll help Rondo build chemistry and consistently with his new team.