It actually has not been the smoothest season for Marcus Smart. The Celtics guard, by his personal admission, has not performed as much as his normal on protection. He’s been hampered by accidents, which included an 11-game absence earlier this yr as a result of a proper ankle damage.
But because the playoffs start, Smart could also be returning to kind on the excellent time.
Smart declared earlier this week that he’s feeling near 100% bodily, which is one thing he hasn’t been in a position to say in years. In Saturday’s Game 1 victory over the Hawks, that meant the Celtics obtained their reigning Defensive Player of the Year’s finest in one in every of their strongest defensive performances of the season.
“It allows me to be able to box out the bigs,” Smart stated of being near full well being. “To be able to go get rebounds. To be able to help Al (Horford) and Rob (Williams). To be able to help D-White, Jaylen (Brown) and Jayson (Tatum) on that end. To be able to run the show defensively and get the guys where they’re supposed to be.”
Williams is a defensive X-factor for the Celtics, which he confirmed in one in every of his finest performances of the yr on Saturday. Derrick White has emerged as a powerful All-Defensive staff this season. But nobody is extra necessary to the success of the Celtics’ protection than Smart, as he confirmed Saturday.
“He was physical,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stated. “His pick-up points were great. He has the presence to be the quarterback on the defensive end where it puts us, we’re able to change coverages, change matchups, and when he’s doing that, our defense is special, and it starts with him. I think he brought it both physically and mentally on the defensive end tonight. I thought that was a huge key for us.”
In addition to organizing the Celtics’ protection, Smart was flying round on the defensive finish all through the evening. In the primary half, he made a fantastic learn to interrupt up an alley-oop. As the sport winded down, he had his finest defensive sequence of the sport. Brown threw away a cross – one of many Celtics’ 17 turnovers – that put DeAndre Hunter on a quick break, however Smart hustled again and made a well-timed block. On the following play, he picked off Bogdan Bogdanovic to pressure a turnover.
“He kind of just does things randomly that seems crazy but work,” White stated. “He made two — the transition block, the steal — some big plays for us. And he seems to just be in the right place at the right time his whole career and probably his whole life.”
It was classic Smart, and a model of him that hasn’t been seen constantly this season. The Celtics will definitely welcome that again as they pursue a championship.
“I guess sometimes you take it for granted,” Tatum stated. “But one of the best, if not the best defender that we have in this league. Just extremely special on that side of the ball and he shows it night in and night out.”
Brown fights by way of ache
In his first sport again after slicing his proper finger, Brown pushed by way of discomfort to attain a game-high 29 factors in Game 1. But it wasn’t with out some further administration. Brown stated that the lower – which initially required 5 stitches – reopened in the course of the sport.
“I think it’s going to be alright,” Brown stated. “They’ll take a look at it (Sunday).”
Brown wore safety on his finger. It didn’t appear to have an effect on his aggressiveness – he set the tone with a steal and rating on the primary play of the sport – or his scoring potential, however he additionally dedicated six turnovers.
“It’s a constant adjustment,” Brown stated. “Making certain I get a very good grip on the ball. I had six turnovers tonight so I’ve undoubtedly gotta clear that up. That’s actually it. …
“It’s fine. Especially with the adrenaline of the game, you kind of just get it going. At times throughout the game I had to readjust it and stuff like that. Had a lot of padding on it so it’s a different feel shooting the ball. Just adjusting and adapting to the game, that’s it.”
Constant emphasis
The Celtics are nicely conscious that one of many Hawks’ largest strengths is rebounding. Atlanta had 21 offensive rebounds in its play-in victory over the Heat, and Mazzulla was harping on that space all week.
“Rebounding is the key to this series so that’s been a point of emphasis for us in every practice, try to keep those guys off the glass,” Brown stated. “They are young, they are athletic and they crash hard and that’s going to continue to be our challenge in this series, keeping those guys off the glass which is tough. They’ve got some great rebounders on their team.”
The Celtics outrebounded the Hawks, 61-52, in Game 1 and gave up 14 offensive rebounds. The Hawks solely transformed these into 12 second-chance factors, however the C’s perceive that should keep a spotlight as a collective unit or it might hang-out them.
“It’s a point of emphasis,” Tatum stated. “They crash the glass, they’re active, they got some long, athletic guys. So it’s something we talk about all the time. Everybody – bigs boxing out so the guards can come in and grab the ball. Find somebody, hit him. And everybody – no leak outs. Everybody has to rebound and you try to limit them to one shot per possession.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com