The news wasn’t good concerning the health and status of Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart entering the playoffs. Here are three players who must help fill the void.
The Boston Celtics just can’t catch a break this season when it comes to health. Actually, they haven’t been able to catch the break the last two seasons since the new big three of Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford were brought together.
Last season entering the playoffs, the Celtics were without Hayward and Irving. This season they will be without Marcus Smart.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday, Smart suffered a torn oblique on the left side in Sunday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic. While hope was optimistic following that game, it appears Marcus Smart could potentially miss the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Marcus Smart has suffered a torn oblique on left side and could be sidelined for the first two rounds of the playoffs, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 10, 2019
Obviously, this is not good news for a Boston Celtics team that was finally starting to get it together and look like the Eastern Conference favorites they were coming into the season. Averaging 8.9 points, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game, Smart doesn’t light it up offensively, but as every Celtics fan knows, his importance to the team goes beyond the stat line.
Not only has Smart improved his outside shot this season, he has become an effective passer and has the proven reputation of being the team’s best defender. Furthermore, he is an emotional leader who leaves his all on the court. From that stand point, he can’t be replaced.
As far as what he can do offensively and defensively, his absence will call on the following three players to step up in the playoffs and fill the void left by Marcus Smart.
Rozier needs to be scary good
The Boston Celtics depth will certainly be challenged going into the first-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers.
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With Marcus Smart out, it is time for Terry Rozier to redeem his regular-season woes and turn back into that player he was in last year’s playoffs. As far as offense goes, Rozier is a more talented scorer than Smart, but shot selection and being able to facilitate are areas where he must shine.
In other words, the Celtics need a streaky Rozier to be more consistent on the offensive end and not be as much of a liability defensively that he was during the regular season.
Scoring 21 points in the season finale against the Washington Wizards, the Louisville product looked more like the Terry Rozier fans clamored about to start the season.
Obviously, playing behind both Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart played a role in his dip in production and effectiveness this season, but now with Smart out, minutes should increase, and he will get an opportunity to play with Irving in some cases.
If he can become the good “Scary” Terry who helped lead the Boston Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago. Smart’s unavailability won’t be as much of a colossal loss. Still monumental, but the Celtics could still get past the second round with Rozier helping to fill that void.
Jaylen Brown’s time to shine
While Terry Rozier can fill the void from the point guard position, swing man Jaylen Brown is a player who can help give what Marcus Smart gave defensively.
He won’t be the Bulldog Smart was as far as being able to defend any position, but his perimeter defense is greatly needed now.
Like Rozier, Brown saw his minutes and production decline towards the early part of the season, but he certainly has turned it around.
Battling a couple of injuries himself, Jaylen Brown averaged 13.0 points per game in the regular season, primarily off the bench. Down from last season, but Brown has been more aggressive on the offensive end. He has used his athleticism to take the ball to the rim and has also found a consistent mid-range and three-point shot.
Defensively, he has turned up the intensity and is shining as the two-way player he was a season ago. He simply needs to continue that intensity into the playoffs.
A good Jaylen Brown whether in the starting lineup or off the bench will make the Boston Celtics a tough out in the playoffs even without Marcus Smart.
It’s all about Hayward
Gordon Hayward was already an X-factor going into the playoffs. Without Marcus Smart, he is even more of an X-factor.
Finally getting back close to the All-Star version of himself, Hayward won’t give the Boston Celtics what Smart did defensively, but as a facilitator who can handle the ball, his role becomes more vital.
Not only does he have the ability to become a secondary scorer for the Celtics in the playoffs, the aggressiveness he has shown taking the ball to the basket opens things up for both Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum when the three are on the court together.
Again, while not as intense as Marcus Smart, Gordon Hayward will still give something on the defensive end. Whether it is collecting rebounds or stepping into the line for steals, his size and length can also be a factor defensively.
In all, one of the questions going into the playoffs will be what Brad Stevens does to make up for the loss of Smart. The answer will more than likely be a combination of Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward. In ways, each player makes them better on the court with what they can do, especially offensively.
Collectively, they have to try to make up for what Marcus Smart gives the Boston Celtics on the defensive end. They won’t have their Bulldog, but they still have a Pitbull in Rozier, a Doberman Pinscher in Brown and a Golden Retriever in Hayward.
Ironically, each of those players have taken their turn in the doghouse through the regular season. Now they have an opportunity to bark loud in the 2018-19 NBA Playoffs.