The Celtics are, understandably, in no rush to deliver Marcus Smart again. The level guard, who has missed six video games with an ankle harm, might stay out by way of the All-Star break, that means he would miss six extra video games. But the C’s know they want him as wholesome as doable for his or her championship push.
That notion has been magnified over the past two weeks. While the Celtics have been capable of overcome the absence of Smart in earlier video games this season, this prolonged stretch with out certainly one of their high leaders, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and their offensive engine has uncovered the C’s and has proven simply how necessary he’s to their title hopes.
In six video games with out Smart, the Celtics are 2-4. Their wins in that stretch have come over the Lakers, during which they wanted a late missed name to prevail in additional time, and the Nets, who they bulldozed behind a sizzling capturing evening that’s been uncommon currently. The Celtics have principally appeared stagnant offensively with out Smart, who has averaged a career-best 7.2 assists per recreation this season. Four of their eight lowest help totals this season have come throughout this stoop, and so they’ve been held beneath 100 factors thrice in Smart’s six-game absence.
“Guys are put into a different role and expected to do things that they weren’t used to doing coming into the season or they were building up for something new,” Smart mentioned earlier this week. “And with the absence of anybody, especially in your rotational guys, other guys have to step up into roles and try to be the best they can. So no wonder these first couple of games without me have been a little shaky. We’re asking guys to do different things. But … I have faith in them. We’re going to figure it out.”
Smart’s absence was obvious in Friday’s loss to the Suns, an evening when Jaylen Brown repeated that the Celtics introduced “no energy.” Smart isn’t solely an power initiator on each ends of the court docket however his expertise and understanding of how the Celtics offense operates is irreplaceable. They wanted that on Friday, particularly as Jayson Tatum struggled and the C’s offense was locked down by a stingy Suns protection.
“Marcus brings energy to the game,” Brown mentioned. “He brings pace to the game. He gets us easier shots, easier looks for our guys. And defensively, he adds that tenaciousness that gets us going, picks us up in some games like this that kind of helps us get over the hump and get wins.”
The Celtics have obtained nice contributions this season from the remainder of their backcourt, whether or not it’s Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon or Payton Pritchard in their very own roles. They know they have to be even higher with out Smart, particularly if he’s out a number of extra weeks.
“We just gotta get back to what we were doing while he was in there,” White mentioned. “Myself, Malcolm, Payton, we just have to step up. Obviously Smart is special and the things he does is only what Smart does, but we just have to step up and get the same looks, the same spacing, the same opportunities for everybody.”
Al Horford mentioned it’s a staff effort to make up for Smart’s absence.
“We definitely miss Smart,” Horford mentioned. “He’s obviously a big part of what we do but I feel like our guys have done a good job. It’s getting to the spots quicker and being more conscious about that. A lot of times, it doesn’t fall on the point guard per se, it’s us running to different places. We have to make sure we get to our spots.”
Shooting dip
Despite having an All-Star season, Brown – who shot 3-for-12 from lengthy vary in Friday’s loss – is capturing a career-worst 33.4% from 3-point territory this 12 months. While that’s most likely a product of his 3-point makes an attempt going as much as a career-high 7.7 per recreation, Brown mentioned his give attention to attending to his mid-range shot and to the basket extra has triggered his exterior capturing numbers to fall.
“I think this is probably the worst I’ve shot the ball from the 3-point line in my whole career coming in from a rookie,” Brown mentioned. “I just think the responsibility, the role is a little different. I’m the guy that’s driving to the paint and kind of creating those opportunities for everybody else. We’ve got a team that shoots a lot of 3s, so I’m kind of settled in on getting to the basket more this year. That kind of has thrown a little of my dexterity off on my 3-point shooting, but I’m still capable. So if I get hot or if I take shots I like, I can still fill it up. But for the most part this year, I’ve been trying to get to the rim.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com