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Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart Cleared to Play Friday

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 04: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics and the at Boston Celtics bench reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden on February 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 04: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics and the at Boston Celtics bench reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden on February 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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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.

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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.

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