Marcus Smart loves seeing Celtics defy doubters; has one big wish for Jayson Tatum

Before the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Boston Celtics in the latest edition of the NBA's most storied rivalry, Marcus Smart acknowledged it's weird being on the other side of this matchup.

"For sure," said a smiling Smart while meeting with a handful of Boston-based reporters in the Lakers' lockerroom before the Celtics' 111-89 win. "This is really my first real time, actually playing against these guys. I got to Memphis, I was hurt every time we play. And then in DC, [I was] hurt there as well. And then the first game that we played in Boston here, [I] didn't play that game as well. So, you know, this is my first real game. But yeah, it definitely feels weird [after] just being over there for so long."

While the former floor general and heart and soul of the C's now dons purple and gold, his nine years in Boston will forever hold a special place in his heart. The 20-year-old they drafted sixth overall in 2014 matured into a man during that time. Smart built unbreakable bonds within the city, and he forged relationships with his teammates and those within the organization that extend far beyond basketball.

Those deep-rooted ties to the franchise made it clear to Smart that those projecting the Celtics were in for a gap year would be off the mark. It's a defiance of external expectations that he's enjoying watching from afar.

"For me personally, you know, I'm not surprised," stated Smart. "They got a lot of great players over there. Those guys been playing together for a while, so I think it has surprised a lot of everybody else, just for the simple fact, you know, they're missing one of their key guys. [But] because they are so talented, people forget that they still got other key guys over there, but I definitely think they're doing what I expected them to do, but it is fun to watch."

It's a sentiment his head coach, JJ Redick, echoed shortly before Smart met with the media.

"Not surprised," voiced the Lakers' bench boss when asked about the Celtics being second in the East. Redick didn't just praise Boston's personnel, including saying Jaylen Brown has "no holes in his game," but he also declared, "I think Joe [Mazzulla] is, there's a handful of coaches that I think are doing a tier-one job this year, and Joe's in that group of coaches. He's really done a phenomenal job."

Marcus Smart's wish for Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star forward is continuing to ramp up his rehab. Shortly after participating in portions of a practice at the Auerbach Center with the Maine Celtics, he did some five-on-five work with teammates at a shootaround in San Francisco the morning of Boston's 121-110 victory vs. the Golden State Warriors.

Still, speaking at Saint Monica Prep a day before watching Boston beat LA in an iconic rivalry clash, Tatum conveyed that there is no return date set. He also wanted it known that it is not a foregone conclusion that he will play this season.

What the soon-to-be 28-year-old is most proud of is that it's even a conversation and that he has put himself in a position where his hard work could lead to him rejoining his teammates to help with this year's championship chase.

"I think it's just important that I've worked this hard to just kind of get myself in a position where it could be a conversation," expressed Tatum.

Like Al Horford, the latest one of his former teammates that Boston's schedule allowed him to cross paths with, feels the same way.

"I mean, it's crazy," said Smart. "Just the world of basketball, world of sports and medicine, has evolved so much to a point where, you know, you [have] got a guy with a torn Achilles, they're talking about coming back, and it hasn't even been a full year. So from that standpoint, that's ridiculous, but you know, I just hope that he takes his time and listens to his body. If that means he's ready to come back, and that's what his body's telling him, and he's 100 percent, sure, then go for it. But if not, you know they're cooking right now. You're still young, and you [have] got time, so you know, as much as possible, let that body heal up."