The Boston Celtics recently announced that Gordon Hayward will need around a month to recover from a Grade III sprain he sustained in the C's Game 1 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Boston guard Marcus Smart is expected to take over the reigns as the starter in Hayward's absence, and Smart opened up about his recent promotion.
In his mind, Smart believes that his newfound role will allow him to focus more on the thing he does best: defense.
“Starting doesn’t require me to really be more of an offensive threat,” Smart said, per Celtics.com. “So I can spend my energy on the defensive end, whereas coming off the bench I’ll be a little more assertive on the offensive end as well.”
Smart is not exactly the stuff-the-stat-sheet kind of player, as proven by his Game 1 numbers: two points, one rebound, one assist, and two steals in 32 minutes of action. However, it is undeniable that Smart's contributions for the team go way beyond the box score. He is one of the league's best defenders in his position, and the tenacity he brings on the court is second-to-none.
Boston will be back in action on Wednesday, as they face off against the Sixers in Game 2 of this best-of-seven series. Philly is missing the services of their start point guard in Ben Simmons (knee surgery, out for the season), and there's no denying that the Celtics have the upper hand here. However, the recent loss of Hayward serves as a huge blow for this team, with guys like Smart needing to step up in his stead.
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