Boston Celtics: Draymond Green credits Marcus Smart for Game 1 win

In what was possibly the most poetic play possible–a textbook spin move from Jayson Tatum around Kyrie Irving to hit a buzzer-beating layup to win 115-114–the Boston Celtics were able to win the first game of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Brooklyn Nets.

Though Kyrie Irving’s classic ‘classy’ behavior will be the headlines the Stephen A. Smiths of the world will chew on in the Game 1 aftermath, luckily, those that play the game at the highest level are talking about the real story.

That being Marcus Smart’s pass that set up the Tatum last-second lay-in. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green gave props to who should be the rightful owner of the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year.

Green gave Smart props for ‘looking like a true point guard’ and buying into Boston Celtics HC Ime Udoka’s game-plan:

Boston Celtics HC Ime Udoka could prove to be the difference this postseason

Game 1 was a dream. Between the determination shown in weathering the fourth quarter comeback led by Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, to the clutch-time execution that saw Marcus Smart break his old habits and be 1/2 of the direct reason the Cs now own a 1-0 series lead, Boston couldn’t have proven themselves across the board anymore than they did.

Obviously, as the home team, Game 2 is just as important. But to avoid a deficit against two of the modern game’s great scorers, that took a mental fortitude that teams of years’ past simply didn’t possess.

Ime Udoka has the best players buying in, and Banner 18 seems much closer now than just one postseason win would indicate.