Celtics starting point guard Marcus Smart and big man Al Horford will miss the first game of their Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Heat tonight, Boston has announced (via Twitter).
Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, had previously been considered questionable with a right mid-foot sprain. Reserve guard Derrick White could get the starting nod in Smart’s absence.
The absence of Horford is a surprise. The Celtics have revealed that the 35-year-old veteran, a former five-time All-Star, has entered the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Horford was a crucial part of the Celtics’ interior attack against the Bucks during the Eastern Semifinals. Sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link) that the Celtics are anticipating they will be without Horford at least through Game 2 of the series on Thursday.
Starting center Robert Williams, who has not played since Game 3 of the Conference Semifinals for Boston with a knee injury, will be available to play. Reserve forward Grant Williams turned in a stellar Game 7 in the place of Robert Williams, and could get the starting nod as Horford’s replacement tonight. Daniel Theis may also receive additional minutes. Wojnarowski tweets that Robert Williams underwent some encouraging team practices and will be able to log major minutes against the Heat.
Miami is not without its own injury issues heading into the series. The Heat will also be missing their starting point guard, former six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry, as he continues to deal with a hamstring injury. Guards Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin have all been listed as questionable ahead of tonight’s contest, as has starting power forward P.J. Tucker.
I think it’s a blessing in disguise. Al Horford can use the extra rest after a grueling seven game series. Moreover, I still believe that the Celtics are better without Smart.
Better without Smart? How?
White takes less shots, which helps Brown and Tatum. Game 2 vs Bucks was an example. Brown was struggling with his shooting in the playoffs prior to that game. Smart tends to be an anchor to the offense. Moreover, White can distribute the ball and plays excellent defense.
Umm, Smart and White both get minutes regardless dude. This isn’t whether you think White is better than Smart, it’s whether you think Pritchard and Nesmith are better than Smart.
I wonder what bright side was thinking after Jimmy Butler went for 27 in the second half.
Marcus Smart is more valuable than Derrick White and it’s not even close.
They are 4-7 this year without him.
Small sample noise.
That’s 13% of the season. Facts are important. Noise isn’t.
The Celtics are worse with Marcus Smart? That’s probably the wildest take I’ve heard all season.
Yeah no
Let’s see if Udoka finally uses some of his shooters off the bench in certain lineups
Hauser is injured. Nesmith can’t shoot.
That’s it. Stauskus never plays.
Pritchard could always go off with more minutes though.
Nesmith and Pritchard have been misused for 2 years the same way they misused multiple others. Stauskas looked like Duncan Robinson in his small sample size with the Heat earlier this season when everyone had covid. Theis shouldn’t be playing, especially when Horford is back, and if both Williams are healthy.
Theis has been excellent. You have a weird go-to criticism of coaches ‘not knowing who they have’ and not using ‘pieces’ correctly. Everyone who got minutes played well and did what was expected. Stauskas might hit the odd open shot if given minutes but he’d be a negative everywhere else.
I only refer to coaches not knowing who they have in reference to Doc Rivers saying it multiple times over the years
Rotations matter in matchups, and also effects how certain guys play. It matters who else is on the floor with you, and how they complement each other. There is a reason GS is where they are, as 1 example
I’m not saying anything against Theis individually. I like him as a player, but in this matchup, at least the way the Heat are playing, I think its either him or Rob Williams, as they have Horford when he comes back, Rob Williams, and Grant Williams as a small ball 5 option which works in this matchup…I do think they can get away with certain multibig lineups at times when Horford is back though
…I should also add at the end that I did say previously that I think these are somewhat similar teams, and it may ultimately just come down to make or miss. The Heat themselves got away with not using Duncan Robinson in game 1 b/c Boston didnt balance the floor as much themselves, and mainly, they got good shooting nights out of Vincent and Strus around Butler’s amazing game
Small sample how? Thats 11 games. I could be wrong but a playoff series is 7 games
He spouted a narrative without facts to back out up. Typical BS these days.
Gm1 to Heat …..