
The first two months of the 2021-22 NBA season may have proven to be rather tough for the Boston Celtics, but December is likely to be the most challenging battle yet.
Through this 31-day stretch, we’ll be seeing the Cs taking to the hardwood on 15 separate occasions and, of these games, 13 of their opponents currently find themselves in a playoff position while the two others are right on the outside looking in on one.
Because of this challenging schedule, should Boston wish to come out of month No. 3 with a winning record they must strive to perform up to their fullest potential which, while this may be an obvious statement it has proven to be rather difficult for them to do so on a consistent basis so far this year.
Now, in order for the Celtics to do this, they’ll need all of their personnel to be firing on all cylinders, and 3 players, in particular, need to truly step up their level of play and lead the charge:
Boston Celtics player No. 1) Marcus Smart
Marcus Smart‘s polarizing start to this year’s campaign has recently transitioned into a thing of the past, as he has managed to turn things up with his most recent performances, specifically his last 10.
During this stretch, the eighth-year pro has been displaying the heart and defensive fervor that fans have fallen in love with throughout his career while also showcasing the playmaking skillset that many predicted he would put forth on a nightly basis this season when it was announced that he would be serving as the C’s lead floor general.
Since their big win over the Milwaukee Bucks on November 12th, Smart has been posting per-game averages of 13.3 points, 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals and, in their most recent game/ victory, the veteran put forth arguably his best game of the year by dropping 21 points, eight rebounds, and six assists on 44 percent shooting from the floor and 40 percent shooting from deep.
Though perhaps not the best player found on the roster, it’s arguable that Marcus Smart is Boston’s biggest X-factor when considering just how much he is capable of doing on the floor and, when he’s locked in, just how dangerous this team is.
In order for the Celtics to have a truly successful December, the Swiss Army Man must have a big month.