The Boston Celtics have officially announced that Marcus Smart will be back with the team on Friday
The Boston Celtics were always confident that Marcus Smart would return after the All Star break, but now it is official. Smart has been cleared to play against the Detroit Pistons (Via CBS Sports). The Celtics needed that break as much as anyone, and getting Smart back will be the biggest difference.
On top of the fact that he is the tone setter on defense, and enables all of their best lineups, getting him back means Brad Stevens can finally settle down the rotation a bit. The Celtics embrace versatility and will always be using it, but without Smart it never seemed to work quite as well.
More from Hardwood Houdini
- Boston Celtics’ two-way contract decision will be made after training camp
- Proposed trade sends Boston Celtics playoff killer to the Cs from rival
- ‘Face of Germany’s stunning run’ in FIBA World Cup not the only ex-Boston Celtics player to win gold
- Proposed Boston Celtics trade target pitched for reunion with fired coach
- Battle For Banner 18: Will Boston Celtics battle historical foe in 2024 Finals?
All the young bigs looked worse without Smart out there, and it was a lot more difficult for Stevens to know when they could be used. Smart makes such drastic difference to their lineups with his versatility, and the Celtics are at risk of running out of time before getting a proper rotation for the playoffs.
The Celtics have been riddled with injuries all year, but now that they are healthy they need some of the stability that will help them play consistent. The Celtics cannot expect to win as many crazy comebacks and miraculous finishes as they did before the break, and that means they have to get back to playing consistent defense.
Smart cannot be the only difference, but he makes things so much easier for everyone else, and makes sure that everyone is constantly in the right position. Smart will always be a difference maker on defense, and if they brings things together the way we know they can, they still have a very real shot at the top seed in the East.
Next: 5 Games to Watch After the Break
If, however, things do not change with getting Smart back after the break, and the defense continues to struggle, then this team will only fall further down the standings. The way the Celtics struggled was a great testament to how good Smart is, but what happens when he return and how their defense responds is going to make of break his contract year.