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Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart goes after ‘bully’ J.R. Smith in postgame press conference

By Sam Minton

BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics and JR Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers get into an altercation in the second half during Game Two of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 15, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics and JR Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers get into an altercation in the second half during Game Two of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 15, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics jumped out to a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Marcus Smart played a key role and made sure that the Cleveland Cavaliers knew not to mess with the C’s.

Marcus Smart is known for being a scrappy player, but on Tuesday night him and his fellow Boston Celtics teammates got into an actual scrap.

In the 4th quarter Al Horford was jumping up to catch a Smart lob and while he was in the air he was pushed by Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith. It was a dirty play no question about that.

Smart proceeded to get up in Smith’s grill and like all basketball fights it was just pushing and shoving, but it sent a message. Don’t mess with my team.

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I don’t know if I would call Smart an enforcer, but he kept the Cavs on their toes, and like he said after the game you can’t let someone just pick on you.

"“You just can’t allow that to keep happening. That’s not the first time J.R. has done some dirty stuff, especially playing against us. He’s known for it, especially playing against us,” Smart said. “We know that. So you know, it’s like a bully, you keep letting a bully keep picking on you, he’s going to pick on you until you finally stand up, and that’s what I tried to do. One of my guys was down and I took offense to it.”"

“Gooning it up”

It seems that Tyronn Lue continues to get in his own way. After the game, Lue said that the Celtics are gooning the game up.

Well you see Mr. Lue your team was the one to commit the flagrant and almost injure a guy. I don’t think I realized how bad a coach Lue is. Brad Stevens is coaching circles around this guy.

The Celtics have been the better team in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavs may have the best player in the NBA, but the Celtics are just dominating the Cavs so far. After Lebron, the Cavs are in desperate need of support.

Also, I think this situation shows a difference in the team culture. The Celtics will shed blood for their fellow man, but the Cavs will just sit back. Remember in Game 1 when Lebron wouldn’t even run back on a Celtics fast break. Then again on Tuesday night, there was a defining play that showed how much the Cavs don’t care.

Wow, it’s almost like Lebron could have tried to block the dunk.

Next: Team effort catalyzes wild Game 2 victory

The Celtics have just been better the entire series, and when his team needed him Marcus Smart answered the bell.

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