If someone were to ask you who is the best player on the Boston Celtics, superstar point guard Kyrie Irving is probably the first name that comes to your mind. If someone asked you who is the most important player on the Celtics, backup guard Marcus Smart would easily be the name you think of.

Friday night against the Atlanta Hawks, Marcus Smart showed yet again why he is regarded as one of the best defenders in the NBA by diving for a ball while Hawks point guard Jeremy Lin tried to roll the ball up the court.

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Marcus Smart underwent surgery last season in March for a torn ligament in his right thumb. The first game he played after the injury, Smart was diving all over the floor for loose balls, putting his body and hand on the line as he has done throughout his basketball career.

The guy is always going to play at 100 percent and give it his all. It's how Smart is built. He's not the most talented player among the Celtics, so he has to use his toughness and hustle to stand out.

Marcus Smart signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the Celtics in July. He's been averaging 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game prior to the Hawks matchup Friday night.