The Boston Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of their playoff series on Tuesday night, and the gut-punch was made worse by having to watch Marcus Smart make a two-way impact for the rival Lakers. The former heart and soul of the Celtics was discarded in 2023, when it appeared he was on the decline. Smart keeps proving that wrong as the Celtics search for role players to make key plays alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Smart never wanted to leave Boston (subscription required). He will always be a Celtic and continues to support his former teammates. It was the franchise that chose to trade him to acquire Kristaps Porzingis. It was a bold move, but Boston justified it by winning a championship. Smart showed the first sign of decline, and the Celtics moved on.
Smart passed through Memphis and Washington before signing with the Lakers after a buyout. It was painful seeing him go to LA. The rival Lakers were on the short list of teams Boston fans never wanted to see him on. That pain got worse as Smart went off on the same night the Celtics dropped a Game 2 to the Sixers.
Marcus Smart’s two-way impact has the Lakers up 2-0
Smart went off for 25 points, seven assists, five steals, two rebounds, and one block in the Lakers’ Game 2 win over the Rockets. The 6’3 guard made eight of his 13 field goal attempts, including five 3-pointers, on Tuesday night. It was the elite two-way impact Celtics fans remember from his time in Boston.
This was painful on a night when the Cs scored just 97 points and shot 26 percent from 3-point range. Smart’s long-range shooting was always a weakness in Boston. He shot just 32.3 percent from beyond the arc during his nine years with the team that drafted him. Smart is six of 12 so far this postseason, and it has helped LA take a commanding lead over the Rockets without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
The Celtics would have loved to have Smart sinking shots, making plays, and creating havoc for them in Game 2. Smart would be the perfect defender to throw on Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecome, or Paul George. He could get physical and create problems.
Sadly, Boston dumped their heart and soul years ago. Now, all they can do is watch with regret as he helps a rival take a commanding lead in their opening round playoff series.
The Boston Celtics must shoot better and give Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown more help if they are going to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers. This regret will get worse if Boston continues to struggle. The Lakers have a commanding lead, and Marcus Smart has been fantastic. Fans will certainly be wondering what could have been if the Celtics had kept the former spiritual leader in Beantown.
Sadly, all they can do now is watch him succeed on a bitter rival, and the team has nobody to blame but themselves.
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