CHARLOTTE – Much of the talk about the Boston Celtics potentially making a lineup change centered around Marcus Smart.
Of the five-man crew Brad Stevens had trotted out there 19 times heading into Monday’s game at Charlotte, Smart’s struggles stood out like a DeAndre Jordan made free throw.
In the five games prior to Monday’s matchup with Charlotte, Smart was shooting just 24.1 percent from the field and averaging 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
But even in his struggles, Smart remained confident that he would break out of his shooting funk and even more important, help Boston win a game.
The 6-foot-4 rookie accomplished all that and then some as Boston defeated Charlotte 116-104.
Smart had 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field along with four assists, three steals and a highlight reel-quality blocked shot.
“He was really good,” said Celtics head coach Brad Stevens who added that Smart had some late-game turnovers that “hopefully he won’t have in the future.”
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But overall, Stevens was pleased with Smart’s play.
While the shot-making was certainly needed for both Smart and the Celtics, the true barometer for how well he plays has to be viewed through a defense-centric lense.
“Defensively, just helping my teammates, stopping my man here and there,” Smart said. “But what am I dong when my teammate’s guy has the ball. Am I in the right spot to help those guys?”
He certainly was most of Monday night, but there was one play in particular that stood out.
In the third quarter, former UConn star Kemba Walker was leading a Charlotte fast-break. He was able to get into the lane and went up for a lay-up only for Smart to come out of seemingly nowhere and swat it away.
The loose ball soon wound up in the hands of Avery Bradley who calmly sank one of his three, 3-pointers which put Boston ahead 77-59 with less than four minutes to play in the third.
“He’s very physical. He works on his defense all the time,” Bradley said of Smart. “I’m happy for him. I’m happy it’s translating to the game because it’s helping our team out.”
Defensive highlights aside, Bradley was also pleased with Smart’s offensive game as well.
“He was calm. He didn’t rush anything,” Bradley said. “He was just playing his game. He let the game come to him. That’s one thing the coaches tell him and we tell him as teammates. But he’s learning every single game. I’m happy how he played and I’m happy for him.”