Ahead of today’s first playoff game against Brooklyn, starting Celtics point guard Marcus Smart expressed his plan to defend Nets starting point guard (and Smart’s former Boston teammate for two years) Kyrie Irving, per Steve Popper of Newday.
“It’s just making every shot and every possession that he has the ball as hard as possible for him,” Smart said. “He’s one of the greatest to do it for a reason. We understand that we’re not going to shut his water off all the way completely. We understand we’re not going to stop him. He’s going to score. He’s going to make tough shots. But we’re going to make those shots as tough as possible.”
There’s more from Boston:
- As the Celtics saw improvement in their roster leading up to the February trade deadline, the front office decided to prioritize building for the present, not just the future, writes Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe. Himmelsbach takes a detailed look at Boston’s decision-making at the deadline. Team owner Wyc Grousbeck held a meeting with team management and head coach Ime Udoka. “Wyc came to us and said, ‘I think this team could be really good,'” vice president of basketball operations Mike Zarren said. “He said, ‘Let’s go for it. We’re not sellers. We’re buyers.'” The team finished the season as the second seed in the East with a 51-31 record, in part thanks to the bolstered bench depth it added via trade in reserves Derrick White and Daniel Theis.
- Udoka has his players buying in thanks to an excellent conclusion to the 2021/22 NBA season, per Marc J. Spears of Andscape. “One thing I’ve always admired about him, especially as a first-year head coach, was how hungry he was,” Celtics All-Star forward Jayson Tatum said of his first-year head coach in March. “You could tell how hard he was going to work. We always stuck with him, and he stuck with us and changed our history around.”
- Returning Celtics big man Al Horford is enjoying his second stint with Boston, and the growth he has witnessed in the teammates with whom he has reunited, per Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald. “They inspire me,” Horford said. “Everything has worked now because, not only did those guys grow, but [Robert Williams] came into his own, and there were other things that helped the group to get in the position we’re in today.”
It’s nice to read about real organizations like the Celtics and not the same regurgitated articles about the worse run organization is sports – the Knicks. Get it together and reduce that Knicks crud, Trade Rumors.
worst*
The troll of the board. Reminds me of all the writers who kill the Knicks just for hits and attention. Why is a non-playoff team in your head lol. Get a life ……
I’ve told you before, Albert. It’s good for the NBA if the Knicks are successful. It’s the largest market and the fans are desperate for relevance. That’s why I care. Now, go home and get your shine box.
Its not like local writers dont talk about the Celtics. Maybe less quotable wild talk.
There’s just less said about the Cavs for instance, and no cooperation from execs.
Celtics played D down the stretch. Nets didn’t. That was the difference. If KD knows where Tatum is. And follows him. He never gets that pass. This is a 2way sport. I hope all the non ballers here saw that today. Nice win by Celtics. Never gave up. This series is going 7.
For as good as Kyrie was this game. He went one on one at end. And killed the clock for KD to throw up a ball. Bad offense when you need a basket. Nets run a play there. The gm is over. Celtics D up KD this gm. Their D won this gm imo.
Who told this board about Al and the Celtics. You welcome
Al— 15 reb, 20 pts