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.

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.

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.

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.