It was deja vu for Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James once again when Rajon Rondo passed up on a very open lay-up to cut the San Antonio Spurs' lead to one with eleven seconds left on the clock. Still, head coach Luke Walton stands by Rondo amid the criticism on the point guard's late-game decision versus the Spurs.

ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk wrote about the Lakers' close loss, including Walton's statement on Rondo's decision to pass up the open shot.

“We were down three,” Walton said. “I think he was figuring, let's try to tie this thing up. So obviously, he knows what he's doing out there, but that was his call.”

“[Rondo] knows what he's doing out there, I trust his opinion,” Walton added. “A lot of time when a defense breaks down like that, somebody does get open. It didn't work out for us this time, but it was fine.”

In a statement made by Rondo, the 32-year old playmaker reiterated that the Lakers didn't have any timeouts left at that point of the game, prompting him to attract the offense inside then kick out the ball to an open three.

“We didn't have any more timeouts,” Rondo said. “You know, I thought I could probably suck somebody in [on the Spurs' defense off the Lakers' 3-point shooters], but they did a great job of staying home.”

Rondo has made a name for being always one step ahead in offensive schemes. He has a valid point right there, but it was really unconventional for a player to pass up on that kind of opportunity.

Rondo finished with 12 points and 5 assists last night. The Lakers will play the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road for their next game.