Analyst’s strong message on potential Boston Celtics Game 2 injury scratch: ‘Especially daunting news’

NESN’s Gio Rivera sees the possible injury absence of Marcus Smart due to a chest contusion as “daunting news” for the Boston Celtics — making the case that his fourth-quarter performance from Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers makes him one of the team’s primary clutch time players.

“This comes as especially daunting news, not just because the Celtics are trailing the 76ers 0-1, but because Smart came up big in crunch time, after being anchored by Jaylen Brown’s lack of offensive production — three field goal attempts in the second half with two turnovers — and Jayson Tatum’s inability to shine on the big stage,” Rivera wrote.

Rivera believes that the Celtics only had a chance to win Game 1 because of Smart.

“While the Celtics fell short of the finish line, crumbling the crucial seconds of the fourth quarter in gut-wrenching fashion in Game 1, Smart had a big hand in Boston’s push toward a win,” Rivera wrote.

The Boston Celtics could lean on Malcolm Brogdon in Game 2

According to Rivera, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla could turn to 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon to step up in Smart’s absence in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals’ No. 2-No. 3 matchup.

“In the event that Smart is sidelined, it’ll open up the opportunity for head coach Joe Mazzulla to lean on reserve unit leader Malcolm Brogdon, who certainly has redemption on his mind after committing a costly blunder in Game 1 and noting the C’s need to ‘send a message’ come Game 2,” Rivera wrote.

Brogdon infamously threw an errant pass directly to Tyrese Maxey that led to the Sixers going up 114-113 with 28.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter. If he gets extended minutes, and possibly a start for Boston in Game 2, Brogdon could have a defining Celtics moment — and hopefully, a momentum shift for the team as the series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 and Game 4.