Things got a little tense between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers last Wednesday, as Marcus Smart and Joel Embiid got involved in an altercation that fortunately did not end in an exchange of blows. Still, Celtics coach Brad Stevens plans to talk to Smart regarding the incident.
It is unclear if Brad Stevens will side with Marcus Smart or not, but one thing is for sure. He will definitely tell his defensive-minded guard to keep his cool. Smart has the tendency to lose his temper when things get physical on the court, and this could hurt the Celtics' chances of making a deep run in the playoffs, especially if he gets suspended.
Boston's goal this season is to win a championship, and Smart is expected to play a key role in order for the team to achieve that. He is usually assigned to guard the opposing teams' best offensive players.
It is possible that the Celtics will meet the Sixers in the first or second round of the playoffs, and Smart will have to guard Embiid on multiple occasions throughout the game. Stevens would like to make sure that Smart will be able to contain his emotions by then.
But then again, Boston is playing for something bigger, and they do not want little things jeopardizing their quest to winning a title. That includes getting involved in unnecessary confrontations against other players.