Marcus Smart, Boston’s resident hothead, has been off the court for almost a month. He’s expected back on the court soon after the All-Star break. His absence has been felt night in and night out by his teammates.
Not So Smart Move
Yes, punching a picture frame in a hotel sounds like plenty of fun to me too, Marcus. Though he did apologize publicly for the incident, a better apology will be helping the Celtics regain this season’s winning ways. Smart made an angry mistake, and his teammates have suffered for it just as much as he has.
Impact of Smart Out
With Marcus Smart out, his teammates have had to pick up the slack on the defensive end. Smart hasn’t played since January 23 against the Lakers. It will have been roughly a full month without Smart upon his return. In that month, the Celtics have gone 6-5 while riding a three-game losing streak into the break. Smart’s toughness and ability to make defensive plays were notably missed in close losses against both Golden State and Indiana.
His teammates have had to pick up the slack defensively, and that wears on them more than the regular wear and tear of a season. Smart’s hard work on the defensive end and moderately improved offense has been missed by his teammates, as they struggle to outshoot an offensive league in his absence. His hustle to get after loose balls and ability to wear on whoever he’s guarding has made Marcus Smart a very valuable part of this Celtics team.
The Result
Smart should be well rested upon his return. An immediate contribution and defensive bump shouldn’t be too much to ask for one of Boston’s best defenders. However, Smart has made himself quite a bit of money either from the Celtics or another suitor this offseason. He’s certainly proven what he’s worth without even being on the court.
Hopefully, a rested Marcus Smart and a long break for the rest of the team will be just what the Celtics need down the back half of the season.