The Boston Celtics could be getting Marcus Smart back for the playoffs
The injuries have piled up in a spectacular way for the Boston Celtics, and the time tables for returns really are all over the place. They know Kyrie Irving is going to return from his knee soreness, but they also know that Daniel Theis‘ season is over.
The hardest one to gauge was Marcus Smart, who had to go out and get a second opinion. He made the decision to get surgery, effectively ending his regular season. With the way Smart was playing since returning from his hand laceration, he was well on his way to making a lot of money.
Smart forced his way into the defensive player of the year competition, and made it clear how valuable he is to this team. Now he is back at square one, because he will not have done enough to convince the doubers, and he cannot prove anything more in the regular season.
That being said, Smart is not out completely, because the 6-8 week recovery timetable leaves open the possibility that he will return for the playoffs, and that really is all the Celtics can hope for right now.
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With the way the Toronto Raptors are playing, there is no legitimate chance at the number one seed. With the way the Cleveland Cavaliers are playing, and with the cushion they already have, the Celtics also have very little to lose in the regular season.
The Celtics are firmly in that two seed spot, so the Celtics can live with Smart missing the regular season, and returning for the playoffs. The biggest worry is how the chemistry of this team is going to look with so many players missing time before the playoffs.
Fortunately, we have seen how quickly Smart can be reintegrated. He wasted no time after his last injury, and the intensity and energy he plays with allows him to jump right on and have a great impact.
You also know that with Smart, there is no way he will be held out longer than is necessary. He is in a much different position than someone like Jaylen Brown, who is still so young and clearly an integral part of what they want to do in the future. There is no sense in risking anything with Brown, whereas Smart has a lot more to lose.
Smart is a free agent, so he needs to prove how important he is to this team and he needs to get the pre injury momentum back. Smart is also thinking about if the Celtics want to move on, because teams will look for any excuse to low ball him. Right now, and inconsistent season riddled with injuries is not going to earn him the kind of money he wants. But, if he returns for the playoffs and is a real difference maker, then he is going to be making a ton of money, with or without the Celtics.
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It is devastating that Smart is not going to return this regular season, but it will just make the playoffs that more exciting. It would be a shocker to see Smart completely shut down because of his situation, and we could see something really special form him, if he is looking to make up for the time lost in the playoffs.