Importance of Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart Pairing

Marcus Smart and Isaiah Thomas have been bringing the clutch play they need to take down the Chicago Bulls

The Boston Celtics are experiencing a rediscovery of their identity in this series. After getting eviscerated by the size of the Chicago Bulls in game one, and putting together an utterly pathetic overall performance in game two, Brad Stevens gave the team the reminder they needed. Stevens reiterated his emphasis on small ball, and made it clear that this team was all about their guards as he inserted Gerald Green into the starting lineup.

Green has discussed his preparation this season. Green was been in and out of the rotation, and went into the playoffs looking like he was out of the rotation entirely, but that did nothing to change his approach. Green would have been ready any time Stevens called his name during the regular season, and he has proven that he was more than ready in the playoffs after his 18 points in 23 minute performance in game four.

Al Horford has also shut down those appealing to him being overpayed in the best way possible and that is because of his added responsibility in the smaller lineups. Horford has a lot more pressure on his shoulders because of the small ball approach, and he is having the best two way impact of the season. Horford is in control while being aggressive, and he is dishing out all kinds of punishment to a Bulls team that has been forced to adjust to Boston’s small ball approach.

For as strange as this series has been for the Celtics, it really has not taught us that much. The Celtics went into this series knowing they would have to win as a team, and that is exactly what is happening in game four. The Celtics have been at their best and go on their biggest runs when they are playing together as a unit, and getting those kind of contributions from the entire lineup on both ends of the court.

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The unfortunate reality, however, is that the Celtics are still blowing leads despite their elevated play, and that is where the importance of Marcus Smart and Isaiah Thomas reaches new heights, because they still need to close these games in the clutch with their leads disappearing. The two of them do not start together, but they always close the game together, and that is because they have continually excelled in the clutch all season long.

The Celtics need to find balance to be at their best. Thomas has found out the hard way that his scoring alone is not going to be enough to close out close games. When that scoring is paired with the relentless defensive playmaking of Smart, then the Celtics become one of the most feared teams in the clutch and reminds everyone how they won so many close games this season.

Thomas finally returned to his unstoppable form. He has Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg desperately trying to get help from the refs, because now that he has figured out how to finish over and through Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade, the Bulls are out of options when it comes to defending him. Thomas was nothing short of masterful in the game four victory, and it was his offense that saved what could have been a series losing collapse in the third quarter. It is not just that Thomas was scoring, it is that he contorlled everything. Thomas forced his way into the paint and opened everything up for the rest of the team. He accounted for 16 straight points, and stole all that momentum from right under a Bulls team that now feels as though there is no answer for the Little Guy.

Thomas was similar in the fourth. Simply put, he was doing everything on offense. Thomas has this way of not only making things look a lot easier on himself, but also a lot easier for his teammates. When Thomas is in control it is a marvel to watch, because he gets the offense to function at their peak.

As Thomas is going around and mesmerizing defenders while orchestrating a phenomenal offensive attack, there is another guard out there making everything easier for him, and that is the unparalleled clutch defense of Smart.

People go on about the contributions of Smart that do not show up on the stat sheet, and his performance in the clutch all season long has been the best example of that. Smart has managed to become the second most important play maker on this team, and it has nothing to do with his offensive output. Smart fights, claws and bullies his way to knocking the opponent as far from their comfort zone as possible, and then pounces on their mistakes before they can even realize where things went wrong.

It feels as though Smart is the one coming down with every significant rebound in the clutch, and he has this way of making the player he is guarding looking like a child, as he rips the ball away and gets Thomas in the position he needs to be at his best: in transition.

When the Celtics have Smart making the plays on the defensive end and Thomas making the plays on the offensive end, everything comes together for this team. Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder may still be better pure one on one defenders than Smart, but nobody gets the defense going like Smart. He is a leader with his energy and he causes the kind of disruption that impacts a lot more than just the player lying on the floor in front of him as he does what ever it takes to get that ball in the hands of his floor general.

The Celtics know that they have to win this series as a team, and they have to do it on both ends. It will never come down to just two individuals, but Smart and Thomas are the ones stepping up when the team needs it the most, and they are the ones getting everyone else going when the game is on the line.

Next: Isaiah Thomas Outlasts Bulls in Game 4

The Celtics now realize that they are only going as far as their guards will be capable of taking them in this series, and after the way Thomas and Smart have closed these last two games, they finally have the comfort and confidence that a number one seed should have.