This is the news that ever Boston Celtics fan has been waiting for. According to NESN Brad Stevens has deemed Marcus Smart healthy and his return is imminent. The Celtics initially struggled with Marcus Smart out of the lineup but they figured things out and Smart will be joining a team that is much better than the one he left.
One of the biggest areas Smart will improve is going to be the second unit. It is still uncertain as to who is going to be demoted to the bench (and it very well could be Smart if he is eased back into the rotation). In any case, the second unit is going to be getting their top player back and the Celtics should once again have the best second unit in the NBA.
The Celtics have found a way to maintain high intensity defense without Smart but there is no doubt that he will bring improvement. Unfortunately, the Celtics have lost multiple games because of lacklustre defensive performances and they are getting their best defensive player back. Smart plays with the kind of intensity that the team feeds off of and he will make them better in every phase.
The Celtics have been a top defensive team without Smart and things are going to get a lot tougher for the rest of the NBA when Smart is back. On the ball and off the ball, Smart is already one of the most disruptive players in the NBA. The Celtics will be reuniting what may become the best defensive back court in the NBA in Smart and Bradley and with how improved the Celtics have been on the offensive end, the team will be playing their most complete basketball of the year.
Mar 4, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) and guard Avery Bradley (0) celebrate against the Utah Jazz during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Before Smart got hurt the Celtics struggled tremendously shooting the three ball. Now they are continually shooting over 40% from three and Smart gives them yet another threat. Smart still has a lot of improving to do on the offensive end but if all he brings is defense then that alone will make the Celtics much improved.
There may be no other team that feeds off of energy and hustle like the Celtics. Jae Crowder has taken over as that emotional leader but nobody is able to match the relentless effort of Smart. Smart plays harder than his opponent on each play and then the rest of the team feeds off that and steps their game up too.
The return of Smart will also allow the Celtics to settle into a consistent rotation. Brad Stevens has been forced to play around with the lineups because of injuries but with Smart back in he will finally be able to get the best rotation and establish better continuity for the rest of the season. The Celtics have been getting solid contributions from multiple bench players and the return of Smart will ensure that Stevens will only have to play the top contributors.
A little bit of patience may also be needed. Stevens knows the kind of intensity that Smart plays with and he may opt to ease him into the rotation. Smart is building a bit of a reputation of being injury prone and Stevens needs to make sure that he does not reaggravate anything. Last time he returned from an injury Smart was eased into the rotation and you can expect that again.
The Celtics have been playing great offensive basketball lately and Stevens will not want to threaten that. Easing Smart back in will be an issue of protecting Smart as well as an issue of discovering exactly what his offensive role needs to be.
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The return of Smart can only lead to better times for the Celtics and if they can get a victory against the Detroit Pistons tonight then Smart could be returning to a team looking to build on a three game winning streak.