WALTHAM, Mass. -- Marcus Smart is indeed from the straight-no-chaser school of hard knocks when it comes to playing the game of basketball.
It only made sense for him to not mince words when it came to updating his status.
“I will be playing Wednesday,” a defiant Smart said following Monday’s practice.
The 6-foot-4 Smart, out the first three games due to a left ankle sprain, is set to make his regular season debut on Wednesday at the TD Garden against the Chicago Bulls.
Smart suffered the injury in the final preseason game for the Celtics on Oct. 19, and said afterwards that he would be two weeks away from returning to the floor.
His return comes at a time when the Celtics could use a boost from its second unit. Without him, head coach Brad Stevens has made a point of having at least one of his starting guards – Avery Bradley or Isaiah Thomas – on the floor with the second unit.
With Smart coming back, Stevens will likely ease up on doing that as often.
“He’s a big addition to our team,” Stevens said. “Every indication is he’ll be available (on Wednesday).”
Smart has been in Boston since the injury, having instead watched the first three games from the bench at the TD Garden or at home on television.
“I was screaming at my TV every game, hoping they could hear me,” Smart said.
Since the injury, Smart has been more vocal than ever in practice.
While his teammates love his words of encouragement, they too are eager for him to join them on the floor in the fight to win games.
“It looks like he hasn’t lost a step,” said Boston’s Terry Rozier. “He’s out there, playing hard, working hard so that’s good.”
Smart said since the injury, he was receiving treatments twice a day, seven days a week. One of the main reasons he did not travel with the team was because the medical staff on the road would have had to deal with his recovery in addition to making sure the players on the active roster were taken care of as well.
But by staying back in the Boston, he would the undivided attention of the medical staff which he believes is key to him coming back and feeling ready to play like he did before the injury.
And a healthy Smart bodes well for the Celtics (2-1) who are looking to exact some revenge on the Chicago Bulls who defeated them last week in the Windy City.