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Through the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics hold a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers as it shifts over to Quickens Loans Arena for the next two games.
A big part of that collective push for the Celtics has been the steady play off the bench that has helped set the tone. However, Smart stated following Game 2 that he was feeling a bit more soreness than what he has typically dealt with his surgically-repaired right thumb, according to Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports.
Marcus Smart tells @YahooSportsNBA he experienced more soreness than usual in his injured thumb tonight, due to the positioning of the splint protecting it. Says he will adjust it before the next game. "I'm not worried about it," Smart tells Y!
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) May 16, 2018
Since returning to the mix from his injury, Smart has become a more valuable piece off the bench for the Celtics beyond more than being a stout individual defender. He has continued to struggle to be an effective scorer from the outside, but he has shown that he can get to the rim and finish through contact.
In the first two games of the series against the Cavaliers has been a thorn in the side of the opponent with his all-around play averaging 10.0 points, 7.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per contest. Smart was a major factor in Game 2 on both ends of the floor finishing with a near double-double with 11 points and nine assists along with four steals in the win on Tuesday night. In the 10 games that Smart has played in the playoffs, the Celtics hold an 8-2 record that speaks to a bit of the stability that he brings off the bench.
There doesn't appear to be any concern on his end that it could force him to miss any action, which shouldn't come into play with the extended break until Game 3 on Saturday night. With there being no real concern on his end, Smart will continue to be a prominent factor in the backcourt for the Celtics for the rest of their postseason run.
