1:27pm: Smart is now expected to miss two to three weeks with his left calf strain, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe tweets.
10:31am: Smart is expected to miss one to two weeks, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
8:56am: The Celtics are relieved this morning after finding out that guard Marcus Smart‘s injury is just a Grade 1 strain to his left calf, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. Smart is expected to be sidelined for a while, sources tell Charania, but there were concerns that the injury was far worse.
Smart underwent an MRI this morning after hurting his leg in Saturday’s loss to the Lakers, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Smart landed awkwardly while pursuing a rebound in the fourth quarter and had to be helped off the court.
Smart didn’t appear to land on anyone’s foot, Bontemps adds, but he grabbed the back of his leg and fell to the ground in pain. He didn’t put any weight on the leg as he was taken to Boston’s locker room. The Celtics announced that he had a strained calf and wouldn’t return to the game.
“Yeah, everybody was concerned with his health,” Jaylen Brown said following the game. “And he just, trying to do our best to redirect that energy, because when one guy goes down, we’ve got to step up. Marcus is essential to our team, man — he’s been great. Whether the numbers show it or not, Marcus has been a leader on this team; he’s been somebody that has been looking to get guys the ball in the right spots, including me. So to have him go down in the middle of the game like that, definitely had everybody concerned. Hopefully, the MRI is negative and we get him and we can get some wins on the road.”
Smart, a first-team All-Defensive selection last season, has stepped up his offensive game this year. He came into Saturday’s game averaging 13.2 points and 6.0 assists, which are career-best marks in both categories.
An extended injury for Smart would have been difficult for the Celtics, who have played extended stretches without Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum. The team is already short-handed in the backcourt with rookie Payton Pritchard sidelined with an MCL sprain and Walker remaining on a minutes limit.
One of the team’s deepest at PG is short handed at point guard. That hardly ever happens. Next, the Cavs will be short at C.
They still have Walker and Teague but Walker is still rounding into shape and Teague has been pretty brutal.
it’s hard to get a handle on the Celtics this year. Tatum and Brown are playing incredibly well, the rest of the team, 3 through 17 has been “meh”
Their has played very well. Robert Williams looked great last night. Teague and Thompson have not played like we hoped they would.
I would say Theis has played pretty well, as has Williams and Pritchard, but none of those guys are going to move the needle much.
Yeah, Theis playing well is table stakes, not a cause for celebration. Williams and Pritchard get a little more leeway.
Calf strains are pain full, they really SMART !!
If nothing else this should increase the Celtics shooting percentage.
Celtics would have won if marcus mart shot that jumper instead of kemba! Lakers escaped with a win, tough luck for the celts!
Celtics need a bench
Tough going for Celtics. This is an opportunity for Langford n Nesmith. Seems like it should be time for Langford. R Williams looked good against Lakers. Lost weight and looks quicker. Always saw him as old school 4. Not really a center to me. Kemba has to get healthy. They are not contending without him 100%. I like Celts they are a 2way team, play as team. But they need a rim protector. If Taco can’t do that, then why is he on team. He should at least he that by now. Thompson is still a 10 n 10 guy. He should start with Theis, Tatum, Jalen, Kemba. Smart should be sixth man. What matters is winning and Smart can still be a closer. If they are not going to play Langford. Then let him go n play for Cavs, still young. And go get your rim protector McGee. You welcome Boston !!!!
Good news, looked scary, they prolly beat Late show with no inj
– Agree with AL on Lang and Nesmith, there gonna need 1 of those guys to potentially step up later, these reps have value in an unfortunate situation.
I know Ainge gets heat by some but Id be damn happy with what they got cookin over there in bean town past, present, and future