Smart has become the first guard since 1996-97 and Hall of Famer Gary Payton to receive this award. To make things even better, it was actually Payton who presented Smart with the DPOY trophy.

Smart was the heart and soul of the Celtics’ defense that finished the season ranked first in defensive rating and points allowed. The 28-year-old player did everything on the defensive side of the ball, getting 1.6 steals, 3.2 defensive rebounds, and 1.1 recovered lost balls per game. He also totaled 106 deflections and 16 charges drawn in 2021-22.

Smart received 37 first-place votes from the panel of 100 DPOY award voters. He finished with a total of 257 points, edging out Phoenix Suns’ Mikail Bridges (202) and Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert (136). Bridges had 22 first-place votes while Gobert had 12.

The list of players who also received first-place votes includes Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), and Robert Williams III (Celtics).

The post Marcus Smart Becomes First Guard to Win the DPOY Award Since 1996-97 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“It’s internal,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said of the matter. “We’ve handled it. He’s remorseful, and we hold Marcus to a high standard. We’ve made it clear from Day 1, so he’ll obviously be out tomorrow night. He’s with us here on the trip. Just look forward to moving on from this growing and obviously abiding by the team rules and principles.”

In addition to Smart’s absence, the Celtics will also be without Jaylen Brown and Al Horford, both of whom tested positive for COVID-19. Initially, the Celtics intended to give their regular starting players more minutes as they approach the start of the regular season.

Following the trade of Kemba Walker to the Brooklyn Nets, Smart will now step into the role of starting point guard for the Celtics. Smart was drafted by the Celtics as the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Since then, he has grown leaps and bounds setting career-high averages in points (13.1) and assists (5.7).

The post Marcus Smart Suspended From Celtics’ Preseason Finale appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens expressed his delight at the signing of Smart, providing the following feedback: “In his seven years in Boston, he has made a big impact, on and off the court. It is not a coincidence that every team he’s played on has been in the playoffs, with several series wins throughout the years. He adds to winning on both ends of the floor, and competes with a grit and toughness that few match.”

Smart expressed his mutual joy over the signing of the contract extension, revealing that the Celtics remain his NBA team of choice. All-Star teammate Jayson Tatum took to Twitter to congratulate Smart:

The 27-year-old guard was selected by the Celtics as the sixth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Since then, he has represented Boston for the entirety of his NBA career, making him the longest-serving player in the current Celtics roster.

The post Celtics Seal Marcus Smart Contract Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Smart was injured during the Celtics’ 96-95 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday and left in the fourth quarter after putting up 4 points and 7 assists. He collapsed in front of his team’s bench and did not put any weight on his left foot, sending off alarm bells in Boston.

Despite the grim appearance of the injury, it turns out that the injury is only a mild calf strain which will only force the guard out of action for around 15-20 days.

Smart, who is averaging 13.1 points and 6.1 assists per game this season for the 10-8 Celtics, assured fans with a post on social media on Sunday night.

Boston will hope that Smart will be able to return in quick fashion and not miss any time above the 2-3 week timeline he was given by team doctors, as they are also missing guard Payton Pritchard for the next couple of weeks with a right knee sprain.

Jeff Teague is expected to pick up the majority of Smart’s minutes on the court until he is able to return.

The post Celtics G Marcus Smart to Miss 2-3 Weeks with Calf Strain appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Smart got injured in the third quarter of the Knicks’ game when he took a charge from Kevin Knox and got hit in the abdomen. The 25-year-old was taken out of the game and didn’t return.

It was first assumed that Smart injured his hip, but the player himself revealed after the game that he suffered an oblique injury.

“No, just in my oblique,” said Smart according to Boston Herald. “Right in the same spot that I tore last season. It wasn’t as bad as the tear, but it’s still sore and pretty tender. We’re just going to take it slow and day by day re-evaluate it (Monday), and see what we have to do.”

Marcus Smart had an oblique injury last season as well, which forced him to miss almost a month of action. This time he might not face a long break like that, but Smart admitted that he will miss some games.

“I think so. I think that might be it. That might be my final straw. We’ll see how it goes,” he added when asked whether it’s time for him to have some rest.

Smart is reportedly also dealing with several other smaller injuries including hip, ankles and finger issues. He is currently averaging a career-high 11.9 points to go with 3.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart Suffers Oblique Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Guard Marcus Smart suffered an oblique injury in the Celtics’ Sunday night loss to the Orlando Magic. In addition, forward Jayson Tatum had to leave the game with a shin contusion.

The timing could hardly be worse for the Celtics as they prepare for the NBA playoffs to start on Saturday.

First, Jayson Tatum had to leave after six minutes after aggravating a shin injury. He had already picked up a shin contusion in a previous game, but had to leave on Sunday night after “feeling funny after jumping.”

Next, Smart left in the third quarter with what coach Brad Stevens described as an “oblique bruise.”

While no one considers any of the two injuries to be overly serious, it remains to be seen if the Celtics will miss either of the two players for any part of their playoff run.

They will face the Indiana Pacers in the first round.

Losing any of the two players would be a tough blow for Boston, as both figures are part of their starting lineup. Tatum is averaging 15.7 points per game and Smart is one of the team’s top defenders.

It remains to be seen how long their two players will be out.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum Suffer Injuries appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Smart has become the first guard since 1996-97 and Hall of Famer Gary Payton to receive this award. To make things even better, it was actually Payton who presented Smart with the DPOY trophy.

Smart was the heart and soul of the Celtics’ defense that finished the season ranked first in defensive rating and points allowed. The 28-year-old player did everything on the defensive side of the ball, getting 1.6 steals, 3.2 defensive rebounds, and 1.1 recovered lost balls per game. He also totaled 106 deflections and 16 charges drawn in 2021-22.

Smart received 37 first-place votes from the panel of 100 DPOY award voters. He finished with a total of 257 points, edging out Phoenix Suns’ Mikail Bridges (202) and Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert (136). Bridges had 22 first-place votes while Gobert had 12.

The list of players who also received first-place votes includes Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), and Robert Williams III (Celtics).

The post Marcus Smart Becomes First Guard to Win the DPOY Award Since 1996-97 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“It’s internal,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said of the matter. “We’ve handled it. He’s remorseful, and we hold Marcus to a high standard. We’ve made it clear from Day 1, so he’ll obviously be out tomorrow night. He’s with us here on the trip. Just look forward to moving on from this growing and obviously abiding by the team rules and principles.”

In addition to Smart’s absence, the Celtics will also be without Jaylen Brown and Al Horford, both of whom tested positive for COVID-19. Initially, the Celtics intended to give their regular starting players more minutes as they approach the start of the regular season.

Following the trade of Kemba Walker to the Brooklyn Nets, Smart will now step into the role of starting point guard for the Celtics. Smart was drafted by the Celtics as the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Since then, he has grown leaps and bounds setting career-high averages in points (13.1) and assists (5.7).

The post Marcus Smart Suspended From Celtics’ Preseason Finale appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens expressed his delight at the signing of Smart, providing the following feedback: “In his seven years in Boston, he has made a big impact, on and off the court. It is not a coincidence that every team he’s played on has been in the playoffs, with several series wins throughout the years. He adds to winning on both ends of the floor, and competes with a grit and toughness that few match.”

Smart expressed his mutual joy over the signing of the contract extension, revealing that the Celtics remain his NBA team of choice. All-Star teammate Jayson Tatum took to Twitter to congratulate Smart:

The 27-year-old guard was selected by the Celtics as the sixth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Since then, he has represented Boston for the entirety of his NBA career, making him the longest-serving player in the current Celtics roster.

The post Celtics Seal Marcus Smart Contract Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Smart was injured during the Celtics’ 96-95 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday and left in the fourth quarter after putting up 4 points and 7 assists. He collapsed in front of his team’s bench and did not put any weight on his left foot, sending off alarm bells in Boston.

Despite the grim appearance of the injury, it turns out that the injury is only a mild calf strain which will only force the guard out of action for around 15-20 days.

Smart, who is averaging 13.1 points and 6.1 assists per game this season for the 10-8 Celtics, assured fans with a post on social media on Sunday night.

Boston will hope that Smart will be able to return in quick fashion and not miss any time above the 2-3 week timeline he was given by team doctors, as they are also missing guard Payton Pritchard for the next couple of weeks with a right knee sprain.

Jeff Teague is expected to pick up the majority of Smart’s minutes on the court until he is able to return.

The post Celtics G Marcus Smart to Miss 2-3 Weeks with Calf Strain appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Smart got injured in the third quarter of the Knicks’ game when he took a charge from Kevin Knox and got hit in the abdomen. The 25-year-old was taken out of the game and didn’t return.

It was first assumed that Smart injured his hip, but the player himself revealed after the game that he suffered an oblique injury.

“No, just in my oblique,” said Smart according to Boston Herald. “Right in the same spot that I tore last season. It wasn’t as bad as the tear, but it’s still sore and pretty tender. We’re just going to take it slow and day by day re-evaluate it (Monday), and see what we have to do.”

Marcus Smart had an oblique injury last season as well, which forced him to miss almost a month of action. This time he might not face a long break like that, but Smart admitted that he will miss some games.

“I think so. I think that might be it. That might be my final straw. We’ll see how it goes,” he added when asked whether it’s time for him to have some rest.

Smart is reportedly also dealing with several other smaller injuries including hip, ankles and finger issues. He is currently averaging a career-high 11.9 points to go with 3.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart Suffers Oblique Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Guard Marcus Smart suffered an oblique injury in the Celtics’ Sunday night loss to the Orlando Magic. In addition, forward Jayson Tatum had to leave the game with a shin contusion.

The timing could hardly be worse for the Celtics as they prepare for the NBA playoffs to start on Saturday.

First, Jayson Tatum had to leave after six minutes after aggravating a shin injury. He had already picked up a shin contusion in a previous game, but had to leave on Sunday night after “feeling funny after jumping.”

Next, Smart left in the third quarter with what coach Brad Stevens described as an “oblique bruise.”

While no one considers any of the two injuries to be overly serious, it remains to be seen if the Celtics will miss either of the two players for any part of their playoff run.

They will face the Indiana Pacers in the first round.

Losing any of the two players would be a tough blow for Boston, as both figures are part of their starting lineup. Tatum is averaging 15.7 points per game and Smart is one of the team’s top defenders.

It remains to be seen how long their two players will be out.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum Suffer Injuries appeared first on yoursportspot.com.