Marcus Smart is among one of the key pieces recovering from injury through this latter stretch of the NBA season, initially expected to be sidelined from 6-8 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament on his injured right thumb.
The timeline suggest he'd be able to return by the second round of the playoffs, the Eastern Conference Semifinals if the Boston Celtics can get past the first round.
“Definitely right now, that’s what we’re shooting for,” said Smart, according to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. “The way it’s going now, we’re on the right path. Hopefully nothing happens where it gets delayed.”
The Celtics have more concerns than just Smart, with starting point guard Kyrie Irving out from 3-6 weeks after undergoing a “minimally invasive” knee procedure to alleviate discomfort in his sore knee.
Smart has been encouraged by his progress, as slow as it might come — having had his cast replaced by a smaller, less-intrusive splint, which allows for him to move his thumb a little more freely.
Yet the 24-year-old guard warned this injury won't change his aggressive approach to his style of play, intending to be every bit of the hounding defender, as well as the hustling, scrappy player he's proved to be for this Celtics team.
“This injury is not going to change me at all,” he said. “All that stuff, that’s what makes me who I am. That’s what separates me from other guys. I’m not going to change that for the world. Things like this happen. You deal with it how you need to, and pray and hope it’s nothing that can’t be fixed, and then you keep going. I’m going to keep going.”
The Celtics are locked into the second seed, already having clinched a playoff spot and boasting a seven-game advantage over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who sit in third place.
Follow Us
Subscribe