Marcus Smart clearly knew what was up when he walked onto the Auerbach Center follow ground Monday and noticed Gary Payton standing subsequent to an easel holding a blown up image of a tweet the Celtics guard had posted on March 8.
โSomewhere in the fine print for winning this isโฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐ฝ.๐ท๐ฐ ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐พ๐โ
โThatโs not true,โ stated the Hall of Famer, the final guard to win the award in 1996, as Smart seemed on with a giant smile whereas surrounded by teammates and coaches.
Payton then made the honour official, telling Smart he had simply gained the NBAโs Defensive Player of the Year Award. First Smart considered his late mom, Camellia, and his late oldest brother, Todd Westbrook.
โShe helped me continue to strive and actually win this award, because each and every day Iโm thinking of her and my brother, and I come in to work every day and leave it all on the line,โ he stated Monday evening after the award was introduced. โSo itโs a lot of emotions, but Iโm definitely excited right now to be able to share this with my family, my teammates, my friends, and all my loved ones. This definitely means a lot, and it definitely shows that as long as you stay the course, this will work out.โ
Smart, with 37 first place votes, completed forward of one other wing defender โ Phoenixโ Mikal Bridges (22) โ and the large man who has gained the award 3 times, Utahโs Rudy Gobert (12). Smart turned solely the second Celtic to win the honour, after Kevin Garnett.
And therein lies an indication of how the sport has modified, based on Smart, the truth that two wing gamers would lead the voting after 26 years of huge man dominance.
Smart, to the criticism of some, had overtly campaigned for the award on behalf of guards in addition to himself.
But as evidenced by Paytonโs excessive reward that Smart most reminds him of himself, Smart is now main that change. As the sportโs main scorers have swung extra to the perimeter, so have a very powerful defenders.
โFirst off itโs understandable why it was such a big man award,โ stated Smart. โThey do so much in helping their team on that end. We give so much credit to the big men. But those guards, theyโve been working, weโre the front line, you have to get past us first, and thatโs how us guards feel. To be able to be named the Defensive Player of the Year and be the first guard since Gary Payton in 1996 to win this, it just shows that it can be done. The way the game is changing, the guards have been more recognized for their ability to do certain things we shouldnโt be able to do at our size, and this award and me winning it opens the path for guards in the future.โ
It helps, after all, that the Celtics are the top-ranked protection within the NBA, anchored by Smart and Rob Williams, himself within the early DPOY dialog this season. But Williams, when requested about having his identify on the checklist earlier this season, directed all consideration to Smartโs communication and quarterbacking.
Smart needed to admit his teammate was proper.
โMy IQ is extraordinary, especially on that end. So for me, Iโm able to see things that most people arenโt able to see on that end, see things coming,โ stated Smart. โMy instincts go into that as nicely and I’ve actually nice instincts on that finish. So for me to have the ability to talk to guys, it makes their job loads simpler.
โThey donโt have to think too much. They can just do it and react and trust that Iโm actually telling them the right things to do,โ he stated. โI think it shows that trust is there because of the way that I do lead vocally and by example and guys follow that. Somebody like Rob, (he) was telling (me) that because of you, Iโm trying to be the best defensive player that I can be and itโs all because of me, the way Iโm constantly coaching them up, and things like that. It means a lot to hear that from Rob and I definitely, definitely do think that one day, Rob will be in this position.โ
โIt helps that our team is No. 1 in defense and net rating and everything like that. Iโm one of the guys to lead that charge, so itโs definitely a great feeling. Something different has hit in the way the game is being played, how itโs shifting, how guard-based and perimeter-based it is. From that standpoint guards can get even more recognition.โ
Bridges had paid tribute to Smart earlier within the day throughout a session with Phoenix media.
โVery ironic. We all over here and we watch Mikal as well,โ stated Smart. โWe love the way that he goes out there and he just shows it every night. Itโs tough between me and him; it was a tough decision. Thereโs no doubt in my mind that Bridges is going to continue to rise on that end of the floor and show everybody what we guards is all about. So big shoutout to him as well. But I definitely think itโs ironic and crazy how me and him, two guards thatโs leading this race of guards that ended up one and two.โ
Source: www.bostonherald.com