Marcus Smart’s contract numbers are adding up nicely

https://www.bostonherald.com/2018/12/13/bulpett-marcus-smarts-contract-numbers-are-adding-up-nicely/




Bulpett: Marcus Smart’s contract numbers are adding up nicely





Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) shoots in front of Washington Wizards forward Jeff Green (32) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, in Washington. The Celtics won 130-125 in overtime. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)



By STEVE BULPETT | stephen.bulpett@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald
PUBLISHED: December 13, 2018 at 3:46 pm | UPDATED: December 14, 2018 at 7:26 am




Marcus Smart will continue to drive Celtic fans to distraction when he pulls up and launches 3-pointers seemingly at will.


And if those fans are lucky, the acid reflux he induces will inflict them for a very long time, for said Greenhearts have come to acknowledge that, overall, he’s worth any measure of pain.

The value was on loud display Wednesday night in Washington when Kyrie Irving was all-worldly with 38 points and two overtime dagger treys that are horrible shots for just about everyone else on this planet and when Marcus Morris made himself more summer ’19 free agent money with a clutch 27.

That pair’s numbers don’t add up to a 130-125 victory over the Wizards without Smart. Anyone still shaking his or her head at the four-year, $52 million deal the Celts gave him as a restricted free agent last July wasn’t watching this game — or any number of other games in his career.

Twice in overtime, Smart had a nose for overtime rebounds that precipitated a Terry Rozier 3-pointer and his own putback.

That’s in addition to his three steals (of the Celtics’ six), 7-for-7 free throws, 18 points and the most aggressive defense of anyone in a green uniform.

“I’m so grateful he’s on our team,” said Irving afterward. “You know, really. I just watched some of his highlights in college as well as some of his playoff highlights defensively and offensively, and it’s just unmatched.

“So yeah, in my downtime I watch Marcus Smart highlights.”

Netflix be damned, for Irving it’s “Marcus Smart and don’t chill.”

Smart came into Wednesday’s game a 29.4 percent career 3-point shooter. He’d worked it up to 30.7 percent this season. It didn’t help that he made just one of five against the Wizards, and that was on the game’s first shot.

But he helped in just about every other way.

Morris was asked to describe what Smart does for the Celtics, and the generally loquacious forward struggled a bit at first.

“Can’t describe it,” he said. “You know, he’s a bulldog. He’s been doing that since he’s been in the NBA. Even when I was on a different team, he was doing the same thing. He continues to do it. He’s a guy that you love to have on your team.”

And no one has more affection than his coach.

“Well, today we played him at the 5,” said Brad Stevens in his post-game chat. “So Smart now has officially done it all, because he’s played every position for us but he’s never played the five and I think today, at the end of the game, Markieff [Morris] was guarding him and he was the one setting a lot of the screens. He is the kind of the guy that does a lot for us, and those two rebounds in overtime were huge I thought.”

The Celtics went small for a time after Daniel Theis fouled out with more than seven minutes left.

“Everybody had to rebound, block out,” said Morris. “Smarty did get two big offensive rebounds at the end, and it was very, very good for us. You know, Smarty type of things. We just pulled it out, man. There was five guys out there. We played hard. We competed. We played together, and we understood what it took to get the W.”

Smart was matter of fact in his self-assessment.

“I played an all-around game — on both ends,” he said. “I hit some shots. I got to the free throw line. I got a couple turnovers, stops, rebounds. Just made winning plays and gave my teammates and team a chance to win in the end.”

Wizards coach Scott Brooks was lamenting his club’s failure to secure the defensive glass when he added the seven words that go a long way toward explaining Danny Ainge’s decision to give Smart the money last summer and avoid losing him this offseason if he’d taken just the one-year qualifying offer.

“Marcus Smart always seemed to be around,” said Brooks.

Washington’s coach wasn’t happy about that fact. The Celtics’ coach is.



bob
MY NOTE: As I said in my post-game comments Smart played an amazing game. AND he shot well and got 7 ftas. When he plays like this he is an amazingly impactful player.


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Unlike for politicians whom we have come to detest, in Smart's case I am thrilled to exult, "Four more years! Four more years!"

He’s been a bit more efficient this year than in previous years. He complements good players, perfect guy to play with Kyrie and our wings.