.JeffZillgitt on Marcus Smart, whose defense and toughness will be key for the Celtics in Monday's Game 5.
At his size , he can defend guards and forwards which allows more versatility for Boston’s defense, which was the top-rated defense in the league this season.
As executives around the league search for elite defenders, Smart said, “It’s not easy. You’re exhausted. You’re stressed out, whether it’s basketball or non-basketball. You’re injured and then you have to be able to get out there and keep going. Not a lot of people want to do the hard things. That’s what separates certain guys."
After a loss to Chicago earlier this season, Smart criticized teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for not passing as much as he thought they should. Boston was struggling at the time, part of an 18-21 start that made a Finals appearance five months later seem unlikely. The Celtics avoided a major fallout but players privately needed to clear the air and they did.
Now, he doesn’t always play the role of traditional point guard because Tatum and Brown handle the ball so much, but Udoka said, “I'm not the type of coach that wants to call a play every time down. I leave it his hands and he usually makes the right decision, understands who to get going and who's hot, who the hot guys are.”
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