<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ime-Udoka_s-Marcus-Smart-comments-hint-at-trade-plans.jpg"></figure><h1>Celtics coach Ime Udoka’s Marcus Smart comments hint at trade plans</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-06-29T09:58:35-07:00">June 29th, 9:58am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-06-29T09:59:14-07:00">June 29th, 9:59am</time><address><a>Jason Patt</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Boston Celtics just hired Ime Udoka to be their new head coach, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-want-ime-udoka-to-be-on-their-ass/" rel="noopener">he’s making the media rounds</a> to talk about his new team. <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisForsberg_/status/1409898282726350853" rel="noopener">Tuesday on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak &amp; Bertrand</a>, Udoka talked extensively about Marcus Smart, a name that has recently been brought up as a possible trade candidate.</p><p>The way Udoka talked about Smart, it would be a shock if the guard is dealt:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ime Udoka on Marcus Smart: “What Marcus brings is invaluable, it’s the heart and soul of the team at times … He has that edge and toughness about him … He’s another foundational piece … What he does for Jaylen and Jayson is invaluable, in my eyes." <a href="https://t.co/02P0brXE41" target="_blank">https://t.co/02P0brXE41</a></p><p>— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisForsberg_/status/1409911242576351236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">June 29, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Indeed, Smart has been the “heart and soul” of the Celtics for a long time. However, this season’s failures and Smart’s shooting struggles have led some to wonder if Boston would think about trading him in an attempt to shake things up.</p><p>The Celtics did just trade Kemba Walker, though, so perhaps that will indeed be the last significant deal made by them before next offseason. Udoka clearly values what Smart brings to the table and how he helps the most important players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, so it would require quite a return to ship him away.</p><p>Udoka’s comments don’t mean Smart is definitely going to stick around. Things like this are said all the time about players before teams then ultimately turn around and them. It’s just how the business works.</p><p>But this would at least seem to signal a strong desire to keep Smart. Celtics president Brad Stevens will be on the lookout for ways to upgrade the roster after already pulling off the big Walker trade, but for right now it would be a surprise if Smart is moved.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Celtics coach Ime Udoka’s Marcus Smart comments hint at trade plans

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/celtics-news-marcus-smarts-shoutout-to-kemba-walker-after-trade-to-thunder.jpg"></figure><h1>Celtics guard Marcus Smart’s shoutout to Kemba Walker after trade to Thunder</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-06-18T12:24:24-07:00">June 18th, 12:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-06-18T12:25:23-07:00">June 18th, 12:25pm</time><address><a>Jason Patt</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Boston Celtics <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-kemba-walker-traded-to-thunder-for-al-horford/" rel="noopener">traded</a> Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder after two injury-plagued seasons with the team. The Celtics had high hopes for Walker after acquiring him in 2019, but things just didn’t work out.</p><p>While the veteran point guard only spent two seasons in Boston, he built some special bonds there, including with fellow guard Marcus Smart. The 27-year-old Smart <a href="https://twitter.com/smart_MS3" rel="noopener">took to Twitter</a> to give Walker a shoutout after the trade:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">One of the best teammates I’ve ever had! Fam for life! <a href="https://twitter.com/KembaWalker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@KembaWalker</a> <a href="https://t.co/LgmJvnKE9v" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/LgmJvnKE9v</a></p><p>— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) <a href="https://twitter.com/smart_MS3/status/1405953489558196224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">June 18, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Walker has always been known as a great teammate, and Smart clearly cherished their time together on the Celtics. It’s unclear just how long Walker will be in Oklahoma City, but if he’s there to start next season, he can be a good mentor for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.</p><p>Meanwhile, Marcus Smart will reunite with Al Horford in Boston … unless Smart is the next to go. There have been some rumblings about a potential Smart trade in order to shake things up after a disappointing 2020-21 season.</p><p>Of course, that could change now with Walker out the door. This trade gives the Celtics a bit more flexibility for this offseason, so trading Smart might not be on the table now unless there’s a chance for a big-time upgrade. Smart has meant so much to Boston for so long, so the preference is surely to keep him if possible.</p><p>The Celtics went just <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nba/boston-celtics/records" rel="noopener">36-36</a> this past season and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Brooklyn Nets after winning their play-in game. With a few more moves, though, Boston could put itself in position to be a contender once again next season. The C’s were just in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, so they could easily turn things around.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Celtics guard Marcus Smart’s shoutout to Kemba Walker after trade to Thunder

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Marcus-Smart_s-perceived-trade-value-revealed.jpg"></figure><h1>RUMOR: Marcus Smart’s perceived trade value for Celtics, revealed</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-06-03T17:02:17-07:00">June 3rd, 5:02pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-06-03T17:11:21-07:00">June 3rd, 5:11pm</time><address><a>Paolo Songco</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>We expect big things from the Boston Celtics this summer. After their season came to a disappointing end at the hands of the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, rumors have begun circling about a potential <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-how-boston-will-sensationally-blow-up-roster-amid-front-office-reshuffle/" rel="noopener">squad overhaul</a> in the offseason. As it appears, veteran guard Marcus Smart might now be on his way out of Boston.</p><p>While Smart has been one of the key cogs for the Celtics over the past years, it looks like the team will be looking at the possibility of offloading him in the summer. Unfortunately for them, Smart’s trade value isn’t looking very good at the moment (h/t <a href="https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2021/06/celtics-offseason-primer-what-can-danny-ainge-do-to-improve-roster-with-trades-and-in-free-agency.html">Brian Robb of MassLive.com</a>):</p><blockquote>One league source told MassLive that getting a late first-round pick for Smart would be a challenge unless Boston took back an unattractive contract as part of the deal.</blockquote><p>Smart isn’t exactly the best player in the Celtics’ current roster, but it’s hard to replace what he brings to the table. He’s one of Boston’s best defenders and his tenacity is second to none. He’s also emerged as a leader in the locker room, so trading him away would have a significant impact on the team’s dynamics.</p><p>Nevertheless, it looks like the Celtics are committed to completely revamping their roster. They’ve already made a big move in the front office with Brad Stevens taking the place of Danny Ainge as the team’s new president of basketball operations.</p><p>For what it’s worth, Smart recently took to social media to share his reaction to Boston’s current situation:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I Hate Losing! but give Nets 🔥 credit. Got to play in front of a packed TD house &amp; I’m most happy that our ☘️fans are back! I need to give some thx to <a href="https://twitter.com/danielrainge?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@danielrainge</a> for taking the chance on me on the draft. Seems like yday. Thank u! And to Coach- thank u! Well deserved promo! <a href="https://t.co/8Teas9vHjc" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/8Teas9vHjc</a></p><p>— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) <a href="https://twitter.com/smart_MS3/status/1400603809647370243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">June 4, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>We fully expect the Celtics to make waves in the offseason, and for his part, Marcus Smart may have already played his last game as a Celtic.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

RUMOR: Marcus Smart’s perceived trade value for Celtics, revealed

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/celtics-news-marcus-smart-backs-kyrie-irvings-claims-of-racism-in-boston-after-danny-ainge-denies-it.jpg"></figure><h1>Marcus Smart backs Kyrie Irving’s claim of racism from Celtics fans after Danny Ainge’s denial</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-27T13:49:53-07:00">May 27th, 1:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-27T17:05:46-07:00">May 27th, 5:05pm</time><address><a>Jason Patt</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-kyrie-irvings-desperate-plea-to-celtics-fans-upon-his-return-to-boston/" rel="noopener">made headlines when he recently pleaded</a> to Boston Celtics fans to not display any “subtle racism,” among other things, when he returns to TD Garden for Game 3 on Friday night. Celtics president Danny Ainge responded to Irving’s remarks and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-danny-ainge-is-calling-bs-on-kyrie-irvings-racism-claims-from-boston-fans/" rel="noopener">effectively called BS</a>, saying he has never heard anything like that from his players in his 26 years in Boston.</p><p>Well, Celtics guard and former Irving teammate Marcus Smart <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1398006596836470785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1398006596836470785%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php" rel="noopener">just gave his two cents</a> on the matter, and his comments back Irving:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Marcus Smart on if he's heard Boston fans make racist comments: "Yeah, I've heard it. I've hard a couple of things. It's hard to hear that and then have them support us as players. It's kind of sad and sickening."</p><p>— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1398006596836470785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">May 27, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Racism is “sad and sickening” no matter the circumstances, but it has to sting even worse when you get it from your home fans. Boston isn’t particularly unique when it comes to awful fan behavior like this, but there have been a good amount of complaints about the fans <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/torii-hunter-details-racist-encounters-boston-led-no-trade-clause" rel="noopener">there</a> (and not just Celtics fans).</p><p>Smart’s comments come after an especially ugly day for NBA fans. Supporters in Philadelphia, New York and Utah were all just banned from games because of their reprehensible behavior. A Sixers fan got the boot for dumping popcorn on Russell Westbrook’s head as he walked to the locker room after an injury and a Knicks one was banned for spitting on Trae Young. A group of Jazz fans were also banned for heckling Ja Morant’s family.</p><p>Smart is sick of seeing this kind of stuff happen:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Marcus Smart referenced some of the things that have been seen around the NBA in the last couple of days as things that shouldn't be happening with fans and players. <a href="https://t.co/cVjE9OY0b1" target="_blank">https://t.co/cVjE9OY0b1</a></p><p>— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1398007426654347265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">May 27, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Irving and the Nets will not be getting a friendly welcome in Boston in Game 3. Plenty of Celtics fans are still upset with how the Irving acquisition worked out, and they’re going to let him hear about that disappointment throughout the game.</p><p>Still, while it’s okay for supporters to boo and talk some trash, the physical actions we saw on Tuesday and racism are unacceptable. There’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed, and these fans crossed it.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Marcus Smart backs Kyrie Irving’s claim of racism from Celtics fans after Danny Ainge’s denial

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/celtics-news-marcus-smarts-strong-message-that-will-make-kevin-durant-nets-worried.jpg"></figure><h1>Celtics guard Marcus Smart’s strong message that will make Kevin Durant, Nets worried</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-21T18:02:27-07:00">May 21st, 6:02pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-21T18:02:27-07:00">May 21st, 6:02pm</time><address><a>Angelo Guinhawa</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Marcus Smart knows the Boston Celtics are the underdogs against the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs, but for him, that’s what makes them dangerous.</p><p>After all, underdogs who have nothing to lose and everything to gain bite the hardest.</p><blockquote>“We know the odds are against us, we know what we’re up against. This isn’t our first time being up against a Goliath of this matter and being the underdog, so we just got to come out there and play; all the cards on the table, no holding back,” Smart said about the Celtics-Nets showdown, per <a href="https://twitter.com/Krisplashed/status/1395807105827938306" rel="noopener">Kristian Winfield of New York Daily News</a>.“At this point we have nothing to lose, so go out there and just have fun and do it.”</blockquote><p>Smart is not wrong here. After struggling for much of the season and needing the play-in to secure the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nba/standings" rel="noopener">seventh seed in the East</a>, there aren’t much expectations for the Celtics. However, it is probably exactly what they want after making the conference finals in three of the previous four seasons and failing in all of them.</p><p>With less pressure surrounding them, Brad Stevens and Co. can simply focus on winning games.</p><p>Sure enough, the Nets are the favorites to come out of the conference for a reason. The names of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden are enough to strike fear in any opponent, and having three of them is absolutely terrifying.</p><p>The Celtics are a talented team as well, but with Jaylen Brown missing the playoffs due to an injury, they will have to rely on Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart? Can they beat the Nets? Well, they will certainly try to as they look to pull off the upset of the 2021 playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Celtics guard Marcus Smart’s strong message that will make Kevin Durant, Nets worried

Kyle Korver

Al Horford

Tyler Herro

Fred VanVleet

Marcus Smart

Eric Bledsoe

Patty Mills

Willie Cauley-Stein

Larry Nance Jr.

Tyson Chandler

2x All-Defensive

2014-15 All-Rookie

2018-19 All-Defensive

Boston Celtics

Career

https://twitter.com/smart_MS3/status/1405953489558196224/

One of the best teammates I’ve ever had! Fam for life! @KembaWalker 

https://twitter.com/smart_MS3/status/1398674286446092291/

Seventeen thousand+
two hundred+
twenty six = 

https://twitter.com/smart_MS3/status/1381411761925074946/

The air was thin in Denver cause I felt light as feather 🪶...

Gritty team win. Just the way I like it. 

https://twitter.com/smart_MS3/status/1380736153167523841/

If I could get all the prayer warriors out there to pray for my brother @Ford_5 and Coach Ford’s family right now, it’s needed. Need to lift him up in 🙏🏾 and healing.

https://twitter.com/smart_MS3/status/1376662686591778828/

Open the doors &amp; let those @celtics fans INNNN!!! Hell yes! 

https://twitter.com/smart_MS3/status/1375867794395435008/

No one is born racist. Racism is taught. In order to break the cycle, we have to start by teaching the younger generations. ✊🏿✊🏻✊🏾✊🏼@PlayersTribune
 

https://twitter.com/smart_MS3/status/1371333559164751872/

Team. That’s all that matters. Is team. 

https://twitter.com/smart_MS3/status/1371216937099743232/

Feels good to be back with the team. What’s up Celtics fam? 

2020-21 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
13.1	3.5	5.7	0.5	1.5

2020-21 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
13.1	3.5	5.7	0.5	1.5

Marcus
Smart

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