Boston Celtics: 5 reasons why tonight’s Nets game is must-win
Reason tonight’s Boston Celtics game is must-win #2: Capitalizing on Marcus Smart’s return
Marcus Smart has been out for 18 games and in that span, the Cs struggled to find consistency and fell off their top-3 spot in the Eastern Conference hierarchy. If the east was even half-decent this season, Boston would have been sent tumbling down out of the top half of the conference.
Going 7-11 since Smart left the floor against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, Boston could use the natural morale boost that the gritty guard’s return to the floor brings the Cs. Anytime a player of his caliber returns, the team gets an on-court boost, but Smart’s contributions go beyond the floor.
Health-willing, the Cs won’t have another key Smart return to capitalize on. Hopefully, his presence won’t be squandered tonight in Brooklyn.
Reason tonight’s Boston Celtics game is must-win #3: Kevin Durant’s absence
Just as Smart’s return can’t be squandered, neither can the opportunity to prey on a Nets team that will be missing Kevin Durant.
Apparently, Durant will miss significant game-time down the stretch of the 2020-21 season:
Kevin Durant's hamstring injury will sideline him more than a month. The Nets will get another look at the injury next week and will also keep Blake Griffin out Thursday while they get him ready to play again.https://t.co/Z4SbhrTq2j
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) March 11, 2021
Brooklyn’s morale could be affected, and thus Boston has a chance to kick the Nets while they are down.