Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart went down with an ankle injury in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat. He exited the game and then triumphantly ran back out of the tunnel to return to the floor. The NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year continued to play through the injury throughout the remainder of Boston’s NBA Finals run, but he just wasn’t the same.
After he sprained his ankle, Smart’s impact defensively wasn’t as strong because of the mobility he lost with the sprain. Guys like Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry lit the Celtics up later in the playoffs and the team had no solution.
Granted, with the switch-everything defense the responsibility doesn’t necessarily fall on the 28-year-old, but had he been 100% things would’ve been easier for the C’s for sure.
Over the weekend, Smart gave an update on his ankle to CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning. He told Manning that he is nearing 100% as the new season approaches, saying,
"“Just giving it as much rest as I can, but definitely back on the court. I’m definitely back into the action. It feels like yesterday we just started playing, we haven’t really missed a beat, but I’m definitely doing everything I can to be ready for next season and to go deeper. I’m pretty close (to 100%), obviously it’s September, you don’t want to be in June, July, May shape right now so I’m trying not to go too crazy, but I’m really close and I’ve been doing this going into my ninth season. So for me, I know exactly what I need and what I need to get myself ready so I’ll so be there.”"
Smart is coming off of the best season of his career, starting 71 games, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, and playing a large part in an NBA Finals run. He averaged 12 points and six assists in those 71 starts and put up the second highest shooting percentage of his career at 41%.
This season he’ll be looking to build off of that, as the team’s goal continues to be winning a championship. Marcus will have more help as well. Boston brought in former NBA Rookie of the Year Malcom Brogdon to add some guard depth off of the bench.
The two have very similar play styles, which will benefit both Smart and the Boston Celtics. Brogdon’s presence (should he stay healthy) will enable Smart to rest periodically throughout the season, that way he’ll be more fresh in April, May, and June.