Boston celtics player smart1/8/2024 ![]() ![]() But in the here and now, the Celtics weren’t about to cave to the pressure.Īccording to Basketball-Reference, Jayson Tatum's game-winning buzzer-beater on Sunday was the first by a Celtics player in a home playoff game in franchise history. A squandered lead, an opposing player going supernova in the 4th quarter, and the Celtics unraveling when the going got rough all of the benchmarks of a game that Boston would have lost five months ago. ![]() It wouldn’t have been unfamiliar territory, as Boston had come apart in clutch situations just like this earlier in the season. With mere seconds left, Brown drove to the basket, but the defense met him and for a split second, it looked like a disastrous turnover was about to put the game away. After the Celtics forced Kyrie Irving to dump the ball off to Kevin Durant for a heavily-contested three, Boston snagged the rebound and got out running in transition with Jaylen Brown bringing the ball up. ![]() In Boston’s exhilarating win over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 1 on Easter Sunday, it all came down to one crucial play. Gary Payton presented the award himself at the Celtics training facility, with Smart’s teammates showering him with water in celebration of his accomplishment.Īfter Marcus Smart tweeted only guards with the initials GP could win #KiaDPOY, Gary Payton showed up in person to present him with the award #NBAAwards /mafUsQOHNF- NBA on TNT April 18, 2022 Boston’s defensive stalwart becomes only the 2nd point guard in NBA history to win the award, and only the 2nd in Celtics franchise history since Kevin Garnett in their 2008 championship season. To top it all off, it was announced Monday night that Marcus Smart has won the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year Award. Smart is averaging the most assists of his career with 5.9 APG as well as shooting 41.8% from the field, his best percentage since 2018-19. The improved judgement, picking and choosing his shots, and the mutual trust between him and his teammates has allowed Boston’s offense to flow freely. Marcus Smart on how much playing with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown has helped chemistry: "When you don't think I see you that's when I see you most" /jhIbkIuugb- Celtics on NBC Sports Boston April 17, 2022Ī massive part of the Celtics otherworldly turnaround this season has been the growth and evolution of Marcus Smart as a point guard. ![]() Following a private discussion with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the team quickly put Smart’s comments in the rearview and sought to get the Celtics back on track.įast-forward to the end of the season, and Boston finished with a 51-31 record and second place in the Eastern Conference. Marcus Smart was making a valid point about the development of Tatum and Brown’s playmaking but following a zero-assist night from Marcus Smart in 33 minutes of play, his words were like pouring kerosene onto a grease fire. They don’t want to pass the ball and that’s something that they’re going to learn.” “I think everybody’s scouting report is to make those guys try to pass the ball. “Every team knows we are trying to go to Jayson and Jaylen and every team is programmed and studied to stop Jayson and Jaylen,” said Boston’s longest-tenured player. After an epic collapse and letting the Bulls outscore them 41-16 in the 4th quarter, the Celtics were staring at a 2-5 start to their season and searching for answers. “I would just like to play basketball,” said Marcus Smart of Boston’s late game execution following the Celtics 128-114 loss to the Chicago Bulls. ![]()
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