Smart’s absence continuing to loom large
Celtics slumping offensively in six games without guard
The Celtics are, understandably, in no rush to bring Marcus Smart back. The point guard, who has missed six games with an ankle injury, could remain out through the All-Star break, meaning he would miss six more games. But the C’s know they need him as healthy as possible for their championship push.
That notion has been magnified over the last two weeks. While the Celtics have been able to overcome the absence of Smart in previous games this season, this extended stretch without one of their top leaders, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and their offensive engine has exposed the C’s and has shown just how important he is to their title hopes.
In six games without Smart, the Celtics are 2-4. Their wins in that stretch have come over the Lakers, in which they needed a late missed call to prevail in overtime, and the Nets, who they bulldozed behind a hot shooting night that’s been rare lately. The Celtics have mostly looked stagnant offensively without Smart, who has averaged a careerbest 7.2 assists per game this season. Four of their eight lowest assist totals this season have come during this slump, and they’ve been held under 100 points three times in Smart’s six-game absence.
“Guys are put into a different role and expected to do things that they weren’t used to doing coming into the season or they were building up for something new,” Smart said earlier this week. “And with the absence of anybody, especially in your rotational guys,
other guys have to step up into roles and try to be the best they can. So no wonder these first couple of games without me have been a little shaky. We’re asking guys to do different things. But … I have faith in them. We’re going to figure it out.”
Smart’s absence was apparent in Friday’s loss to the Suns, a night when Jaylen Brown repeated that the Celtics brought “no energy.” Smart is not only an energy initiator on both ends of the court but his experience and understanding of how the Celtics offense operates is irreplaceable. They needed that on Friday, especially as Jayson Tatum struggled and the C’s offense was locked
down by a stingy Suns defense.
“Marcus brings energy to the game,” Brown said. “He brings pace to the game. He gets us easier shots, easier looks for our guys. And defensively, he adds that tenaciousness that gets us going, picks us up in some games like this that kind of helps us get over the hump and get wins.”
The Celtics have received great contributions this season from the rest of their backcourt, whether it’s Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon or Payton Pritchard in their own roles. They know they need to be even better without Smart, especially if he’s out a few
more weeks.
“We just gotta get back to what we were doing while he was in there,” White said. “Myself, Malcolm, Payton, we just have to step up. Obviously Smart is special and the things he does is only what Smart does, but we just have to step up and get the same looks, the same spacing, the same opportunities for everybody.”
Al Horford said it’s a team effort to make up for Smart’s absence.
“We definitely miss Smart,” Horford said. “He’s obviously a big part of what we do but I feel like our guys have done a good job. It’s getting to the spots quicker and being more conscious
about that. A lot of times, it doesn’t fall on the point guard per se, it’s us running to different places. We have to make sure we get to our spots.”
Shooting dip
Despite having an AllStar season, Brown — who shot 3-for-12 from long range in Friday’s loss — is shooting a career-worst 33.4% from 3-point territory this year. While that’s probably a product of his 3-point attempts going up to a career-high 7.7 per game, Brown said his focus on getting to his mid-range shot and to the basket more has caused his outside shooting numbers to fall.
“I think this is probably the worst I’ve shot the ball from the 3-point line in my whole career coming in from a rookie,” Brown said. “I just think the responsibility, the role is a little different. I’m the guy that’s driving to the paint and kind of creating those opportunities for everybody else. We’ve got a team that shoots a lot of 3s, so I’m kind of settled in on getting to the basket more this year. That kind of has thrown a little of my dexterity off on my 3-point shooting, but I’m still capable. So if I get hot or if I take shots I like, I can still fill it up. But for the most part this year, I’ve been trying to get to the rim.”