Boston Celtics Playoff Headlines: Marcus Smart is in the Head of Jimmy Butler

The Boston Celtics have tied the series with the Chicago Bulls, but there are some other on court battles to watch as the series moves forward.

Marcus Smart is quickly becoming the modern era version of Dennis Rodman.  During Game 4 on Monday, the Boston Celtics guard got into a first-half altercation with Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler.

The face-to-face tussle occurred after Smart was stripped, leading to a Butler layup.  The third-year guard then shoved Butler.  The two exchanged heated words before being separated and both handed technical fouls.

While the altercation seemed to simmer down as the game went on, Butler took some time after the game to call Smart out as “a great actor.”  Whatever that means, it is proof that the 6-foot-3, 255-pound guard has gotten into the head of the Bulls All-Star.

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"“As far as the Marcus Smart situation goes, he’s a great actor, acting tough,” Butler said after the game, via MassLive.  “That’s what he does.  But I don’t think he’s about that.  I’m the wrong guy to get in my face.  He needs to take it somewhere else, because I’m not the one for that.”"

Jimmy Butler finished the game with 33 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Boston Celtics from evening the series at 2-2.  And while Smart wasn’t as great of an impact on the offensive end, his toughness and aggression on the defensive end was a factor in the game.

There was a play in the second half in which Smart blocked Butler’s layup.  There wasn’t much talk about that particular play, but the Jimmy Butler and Marcus Smart situation will get even more intense as the series moves back to Boston.

Next: An In Depth Look at the Newest Member of the Backfield Mike Gillislee

Both players are intense competitors and want to do whatever it takes to lead their teams to victory.  Should be quite interesting.