Marcus Smart’s new contract proves Celtics value his defense
By Cody Rivera
Some Celtics fans love Marcus Smart, and some don’t, but his vicious defensive play left Boston with no choice but to re-sign him.
Most Boston Celtics fans wanted to see Marcus Smart back with the team, although he’s been somewhat of a polarizing athlete over his last four seasons in Boston.
He’s been a big part of helping the Celtics get back to championship contender status, but that’s because he’s one of the toughest and grittiest defenders in the NBA. When it comes to tough-minded, nose-to-nose defensive basketball, the Celtics want Smart to be out there for every single game.
On the other hand, his offensive play is what has caused frustration for Celtics fans. Though he’s plenty capable of sinking 3-pointers in clutch moments, Smart has become notorious for his poor shot selection — in other words, getting the ball and immediately heaving it up from downtown — which often results in the ball clanking off the rim or the backboard.
Nonetheless, Boston just locked Smart up with a four-year deal for $52 million. Why? His defensive play is a necessity for this Celtics team as they look to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.
“Boston wants me here, I want to be here,” Smart said, according to Yahoo Sports. “I am here, so we made it work.”
As the Celtics came just a few minutes away from reaching the Finals this past year, taking LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the East Finals, Smart averaged 9.8 points, 5.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds.
His biggest moment of the 2018 playoffs, however, came in the clinching Game 5 of the East semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers. With the Celtics up by two points with 2.4 seconds remaining, Ben Simmons inbounded by heaving the ball all the way down the court — only to have it snagged out of the air by Smart for a game-winning and series-clinching steal.
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Those are the kinds of big defensive plays that Smart makes look so routine, and that’s why the Celtics had no choice but to bring him back. Defense wins championships, as the old cliché goes, and the Celtics will need their best defender on the court if they hope to claim their 18th title next summer.