Boston Celtics: What Marcus Smart’s return tonight versus Nets means

The Boston Celtics will get Marcus Smart back for tonight’s game versus Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center.

The news was first broken by Jared Weiss.

Marcus Smart is back.

The Boston Celtics have missed Smart, big time. He hasn’t suited up for a game since January 30th against the Lakers, and Boston has not fared well in his absence. The Cs started 5-9 without him, but the squad found a groove pre-All-Star break, and without Smart, they finished 9-9.

On the topic, Smart added:

"“I just want us to forget about that first half. We have an opportunity to come out and start fresh. We can reinvent ourselves on the defensive end. I just want guys to play with the same intensity I do on that end.”"

His defensive intensity was missed, as the Cs allowed 12 different 30+ point scorers in his 18-game leave. This is completely unacceptable speaking that 9 of the 18 games were won or lost by two possessions or less. By comparison, there were just five 30+ point scorers in the 18 games before Smart went down.

The All-Defensive first-team guard was having a career year before he went down with the calf strain. He posted a career-high in points, assists, steals, and blocks. He was showing real potential that he could control himself on offense, and not get caught up in heat-checks, and things of the sort.

The 7th-year pro had turned into the Cs best playmaker and was already their best defender. Jayson Tatum said what we all already know:

"“It’s no secret, Marcus Smart is the heart and soul of this team.”"

As often as that quote is said, it can truly never be said enough. Smart embodies what it means to be a Celtic. Night in and night out he shows the grit that not everyone else does. He is constantly at the top of the league in hustle stats; deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, etc.

Sadly, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens mentioned Smart is going to be on a low minutes restriction “for a while”. This was going to happen, as calf injuries are nothing to mess around with, but any minutes we can get are better than none. A month and a half off of basketball for Smart felt like best-case scenario when he went down, as many compared the look of his injury to when Kevin Durant tore his Achilles.

Even we here at Hardwood Houdini have dangled Smart’s name in trade proposals, but it is much easier to do when he is off the court. The team just did not play the same without him, and hardly looked like a playoff team.

However, Kemba has recently found his footing, the Jays left off on a good note, and the team went into the All-Star break riding a 4-game win streak. Adding the “heart and soul” of the team back into this mix is a recipe for success…especially regarding the opponent they face coming back.

Boston will be facing off against the red-hot Brooklyn Nets, who have won 10 of their last 11, Kevin Durant only playing one of those games. Thankfully, the Cs do not have to deal with that, as Durant has been listed out for his 11th straight game. Another late scratch was new acquisition, Blake Griffin, who was recently bought-out by Detroit before signing with Brooklyn. .

This Brooklyn team has been winning–and dominating–without both of those players, so it is no cakewalk. With Smart back, even on limited minutes, his impact will show. Hopefully, Boston can keep this win-streak going, and take down the scorching, Brooklyn Nets.