Boston Celtics News: Marcus Smart Update, More!

Good afternoon, Boston Celtics fans!

I hope you are excited for Thanksgiving, and are busy counting your blessings. Me?  I’ve got a wonderful wife, three amazing kids, and I have been able to juggle teaching high school kids with a few writing jobs on the site – not too shabby at all.

Make the most of this holiday season, everyone!

Now – the REAL reason you came here.

As I wrote yesterday, Boston Celtics rookie Marcus Smart is on track to participate in practice today, and COULD be in the lineup when the Celtics host the Chicago Bulls this Friday.  Yesterday, I was guilty of wishful thinking – today, I am guilty of being super-excited, because it sounds like Smart could see some limited action.

Get pumped, Celtics Nation!

Of course, one of our readers noted yesterday that, as nice as it would be for Smart to return, it would be even better to see Kelly Olynyk have a little bit of faith in himself and SHOOT THE BALL MORE.  From the sounds of it, Chris Forsberg over at ESPN agrees:

"Early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, with the Boston Celtics in desperate need of an offensive spark, second-year big man Kelly Olynyk received the ball beyond the 3-point arc with a fair amount of space between him and his defender. And he hesitated.So long, in fact, that by the time Olynyk finally elected to pump fake, Joel Freeland had parked himself in front of Olynyk with a hand in his face and didn’t even consider biting. Olynyk tried to drive, met resistance from Freeland in the paint and settled for an off-balance, one-footed fadeaway from the blocks that missed badly.It was Olynyk’s third and final shot attempt of the night. He missed all three and finished scoreless for the second time in four games.Let’s start with the positive: Going up against a tough opposing front line and forced to help against some very talented guards, Olynyk played some inspired defense. He was not without his missteps, but from this view it was one of his more encouraging defensive efforts of the season.What Sunday’s loss hammered home is that Olynyk is still a bit too shy at times with his offensive game, and it’s on both him and the Celtics to figure out ways to make sure he’s more involved."

Lose the pump-fakes, KO.

Jeff Green may be the Boston Celtics’ leading scorer, but don’t count on that lasting for long.  Even though Green was pretty clear about his desire to remain a part of the team, he is one of the few legitimate tradeable assets the Cs have – and here are four options Danny Ainge may want to consider.

Finally, here’s a look ahead to Boston’s 2015-2016 preseason, which will include a trip to Europe.   Jealous!

Enjoy, everyone.