Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways from Game 5 vs. Bucks
2. Marcus Smart makes an impact in return
After sitting out over a month due to surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb, Marcus Smart made his debut in the 2018 NBA Playoffs in Game 5.
In 26 minutes of playing time, Smart clearly showed some rust on offense, scoring nine points on 2-of-7 shooting along with five turnovers. However, the beauty of Smart’s game is his ability to impact the outcome independent from his scoring output.
Finishing with five rebounds, four assists and three blocks with his usual hard-nosed defensive intensity, Smart showed that no rust needs shaking off when it comes to the less glamorous parts of basketball.
The Celtics would be losing this game without Marcus Smart. What a difference he's made from protecting the rim to chasing down loose balls to playing hard-nosed man-to-man defense.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 25, 2018
Milwaukee’s backcourt of Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon shot a combined 6-for-20 in the Game 4 defeat, in no small part due to the pressure that Smart brings on every single possession.
As arguably the heart and soul of the Celtics, Smart gives the C’s an X-factor that every playoff team has, capable of swinging a game with a momentum-shifting charge, recovered loose ball or a key 3-pointer in the closing minutes.
As a team that prefers to scratch and claw its way to victories, it must be nice having him back in the fold.