Things are not going well in Boston. The Celtics lost five out of their first seven games to start the 2021-22 NBA season, while there has been some friction in the locker room as well. This reportedly prompted a players-only meeting that took place ahead of the team’s clash against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the meeting included discussions about the Celtics’ bad form and recent fallout against the Chicago Bulls that saw them suffer a 128-114 loss despite leading 14 points to start the half. The players also touched on the subject of guard Marcus Smart’s comments about his teammates Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

After the Bulls game, Smart said that Brown and Tatum are being poor distributors and “don’t want to pass the ball.” He also urged them to “create for others on this team to open up the court for them later down in the game.”

It appears that the meeting, described as “emotional at times,” helped Boston at least in the short run. The Celtics bounced back with a 92-79 win against the Magic and improved their record to 3-5.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Jaylen Brown confirmed the Celtics had a players-only meeting but declined to talk further on the subject.

“Team meeting, just an opportunity to talk as a group, get some communication going in, and move forward,” Brown said.

The post Celtics Held a Players-Only Meeting after Marcus Smart Called Out His Teammates appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The absence of Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics’ lineup is reportedly expected to continue over the next few weeks.

While making an appearance on NBA Countdown on Sunday, NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that Smart is still not near to returning to court and will remain on the sidelines at least through the All-Star break (March 5th to March 10th).

Smart suffered a Grade 1 calf strain in January against the Los Angeles Lakers. The injury came at a bad time for the 26-year-old guard as he was having a career season, averaging 13.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.

Without Smart, the Celtics’ season has taken a turn for the worst as the team obviously misses his leadership and elite defense. In 12 games without Smart, Boston compiled a 5-7 record while stumbling to No. 6 in the Eastern Conference.

Marcus Smart, who was the franchise’s No. 6 selection in 2014, has become an extremely valuable player for the Celtics in recent years. Despite not being a volume scorer, he affects the game in other ways, and the team often has trouble replacing him when he’s out.

Smart was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in consecutive years while also receiving an NBA Hustle Award in 2019.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart Won’t Return Before All-Star Break appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Boston Celtics are currently going through a rough stretch, having lost five out of their last seven games. And it could get worse, as the team learned on Monday that their guard Marcus Smart is set to miss several weeks recovering from a calf strain.

Smart got hurt on Sunday early in the fourth quarter of Boston’s 96-95 loss to the reigning NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers. The 26-year-old guard was going for a defensive rebound after the Lakers’ Montrezl Harrell missed an easy layup and landed awkwardly. He immediately went to the hardwood and needed help to exit to the locker room.

According to The Associated Press, Smart had an MRI on Monday, and it was revealed that he suffered a Grade 1 calf strain. The expected downtime for this injury is two to three weeks, but the Celtics are reportedly optimistic that the player might get back even earlier.

Marcus Smart has been great for the Boston Celtics lately, averaging a career-high 13.1 points and 6.1 assists per game to start the 2020-21 NBA season. He has also been a big part of the team’s defense as always and is already a candidate for an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection for the third consecutive year.

This all makes Smart extremely valuable to Boston, and it remains to be seen how they will manage to cope without him for the upcoming trip to the West. The Celtics are set to play five away games against teams from the Western Conference, including the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart Out for Several Weeks with a Calf Strain appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Just when it seemed that Boston Celtics found their footing after struggling for better part of the season, the team was hit with another setback just in time for the playoffs. In the match against Orlando Magic, which was their final home game of the season, Celtics did not only suffered 116-108 loss but also saw Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart suffering injuries.

Tatum, who is Boston’s second-leading scorer with 15.9 points per game, played only six minutes against Orlando before exiting the game. The 21-year-old, who was previously dealing with a shin contusion, said after the game that his leg felt “funny” after one jump and that he didn’t want to risk a more severe injury.

“Tatum had a shin contusion that evidently he had before the game, and I didn’t know about it,” – said Celtics’ head coach Brad Stevens. “But he just said it felt a little off when he jumped, so, you know, hopefully, it’s nothing major, but he’ll get checked out tonight and tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Smart, on the other hand, left the game against Magic in the third quarter after scoring six points and having four steals. According to Celtics’, the 25-year-old guard suffered an oblique bruise.

“Marcus Smart has an oblique bruise, which means he got hit right there,” – said Stevens. “And so, I guess that’s better than a strain or whatever, but we’ll see what that looks like tomorrow.  He was a little sore but was walking around, which was good, in the locker room. So obviously, I’m glad we got out of there without anything else after that.”

Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart are a big part of Boston Celtics’ rotation, so the team hopes that they won’t have to miss significant time. Both should be ready by the start of the playoffs, but further information will be revealed in the upcoming days.

The post Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart Suffer Injuries in 116-108 Loss to the Magic appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Before the season started, Boston Celtics were viewed as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference. Things, however, look a lot different now as they are currently sitting on the fifth spot in the standings.

Another confirmation of Celtics’ struggles came on Tuesday night, when they suffered 118-95 loss against the Toronto Raptors and extended their losing streak to three games. After the game, guard Marcus Smart decided to offer his opinion on the team’s poor play, saying that Celtics’ are “just not together.”

“What are the main ingredients to those collapses? Not being together,” – said Smart. “And that’s it. We’re just not together. Plain and simple. That’s it. Because if we were together, that wouldn’t happen. We’re all talking and linking up, but like I said, it’s something we’re going through, and it’s something we’re going to have to continue to work at and figure it out.”

The loss against the Raptors was Boston’s third straight, meaning that they didn’t win a game since the All-Star break. Even more worrying thing for Celtics is the fact that one of those losses came against the Chicago Bulls, who are currently sitting in the lottery with a 16-44 record.

Celtics will have a chance to find their footing in their next game when they face Portland Trail Blazers.

“That’s the thing about this game,” – added Smart. “You’ve got to have a short memory. This game’s over with, and we’ve gotta focus on tomorrow and get ready to come out and play.”

The post Marcus Smart on Celtics’ Struggles: “We’re Just Not Together” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Guard Marcus Smart, who was a restricted agent this summer, has signed a new deal with the Boston Celtics. Smart and Celtics reportedly agreed to a four-year contract worth around $52 million. The news was confirmed on the Celtics’ social media.

Welcome back, @smart_MS3 pic.twitter.com/WoESnLR7rU

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 19, 2018

“Boston loves me, I love Boston,” – said Smart after inking the deal. “Boston wants me to be here, I want to be here. So, we made it work.”

According to Yahoo Sports, Marcus Smart met with several other teams including the Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies but was set on working out a long-term extension with the Celtics. Now, with the stress of contract negotiations and uncertainty being behind him, Smart will focus on improving his game.

“Each year I’ve expanded my game,” – he said. “This year I showed my ability to be more of a point guard and a playmaker. I’m just going to keep working on all aspects to improve my game, trying to master a little bit of everything.”

Marcus Smart, who was drafted sixth overall by the Celtics in the 2014 NBA Draft, established himself as an important part of the team’s in the recent seasons. He does a little bit of everything and is a great defender, which perfectly matches with coach Brad Stevens’ system. He averaged 10.2 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in the past season and played an important part in Celtics’ long playoff run.

The post Marcus Smart and Celtics Agree to 4-year, $52 Million Contract appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart is about to become a restricted free agent in the offseason, but it looks like the 24-year-old guard already knows where he wants to play next season.

“I’m here. They’re already planning for me to be here,” – said Smart to reporters after Game 7 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. “Those guys, I tip my hat to those guys. You don’t see a lot of organizations that are as clear about their players as the way this organization does it.“

Marcus Smart established himself as a valuable player for the Celtics in the past couple of seasons, doing a bit of everything. He isn’t a volume scorer, but different ways he impacts the game might make him a valuable addition to a contender.

“I got a lot to think about. There’s a lot of factors that go into it. But that being said, I want to be in Boston. I want to be here,” – Smart added. “I love this city, I love this team, I love the atmosphere it gives off. I’ve been here for four years. My heart’s here. But there’s definitely going to be some factors going into it.“

Given the fact that he is a restricted free agent, Celtics would have to match outside offer if they want to keep Smart on their team. There is also an option for Smart to sign the $6.1 million qualifying offer with the Celtics, and then test the unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019. He previously told ESPN that he is worth more than $12 million to $14 million per season, which are the offers he was projected to receive.

In the 2017-18 regular season, Marcus Smart averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebound, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart Wants to Stay in Boston appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Boston Celtics will have to make the final push in the regular season without their guard Marcus Smart. The team announced that the 24-year-old underwent a surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb. This will keep Smart sidelined for six to eight weeks. The Celtics are hoping for the most optimistic outcome, meaning that he recovers in time for Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Marcus Smart injured his thumb in the first half of Sunday’s 97-99 loss to Indiana Pacers. The injury was initially regarded as a sprain, and Smart returned to court and finished the game. On Monday, however, additional tests showed that the injury is more serious and Smart opted for a surgery.

This is the second time this season he has been out with an injury. He missed 11 games before the All-Star break, after cutting his hand in a hotel in Los Angeles. According to Smart, this pause made him appreciate playing basketball even more.

“I love this game. I love to play,” – said Smart at the time. “So when that kinda gets taken away from you, temporarily or permanently, you kinda start realizing how much you do miss this game and how much it is easy to take it for granted when you can’t do that.“

Boston Celtics drafted Marcus Smart with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He played a solid rookie season while being selected in the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team. During his time with the Celtics, Smart became an important role player for the team and a big part of their system. In this season he has been averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart To Miss Six to Eight After Undergoing Right Thumb Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Things are not going well in Boston. The Celtics lost five out of their first seven games to start the 2021-22 NBA season, while there has been some friction in the locker room as well. This reportedly prompted a players-only meeting that took place ahead of the team’s clash against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the meeting included discussions about the Celtics’ bad form and recent fallout against the Chicago Bulls that saw them suffer a 128-114 loss despite leading 14 points to start the half. The players also touched on the subject of guard Marcus Smart’s comments about his teammates Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

After the Bulls game, Smart said that Brown and Tatum are being poor distributors and “don’t want to pass the ball.” He also urged them to “create for others on this team to open up the court for them later down in the game.”

It appears that the meeting, described as “emotional at times,” helped Boston at least in the short run. The Celtics bounced back with a 92-79 win against the Magic and improved their record to 3-5.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Jaylen Brown confirmed the Celtics had a players-only meeting but declined to talk further on the subject.

“Team meeting, just an opportunity to talk as a group, get some communication going in, and move forward,” Brown said.

The post Celtics Held a Players-Only Meeting after Marcus Smart Called Out His Teammates appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The absence of Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics’ lineup is reportedly expected to continue over the next few weeks.

While making an appearance on NBA Countdown on Sunday, NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that Smart is still not near to returning to court and will remain on the sidelines at least through the All-Star break (March 5th to March 10th).

Smart suffered a Grade 1 calf strain in January against the Los Angeles Lakers. The injury came at a bad time for the 26-year-old guard as he was having a career season, averaging 13.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.

Without Smart, the Celtics’ season has taken a turn for the worst as the team obviously misses his leadership and elite defense. In 12 games without Smart, Boston compiled a 5-7 record while stumbling to No. 6 in the Eastern Conference.

Marcus Smart, who was the franchise’s No. 6 selection in 2014, has become an extremely valuable player for the Celtics in recent years. Despite not being a volume scorer, he affects the game in other ways, and the team often has trouble replacing him when he’s out.

Smart was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in consecutive years while also receiving an NBA Hustle Award in 2019.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart Won’t Return Before All-Star Break appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Boston Celtics are currently going through a rough stretch, having lost five out of their last seven games. And it could get worse, as the team learned on Monday that their guard Marcus Smart is set to miss several weeks recovering from a calf strain.

Smart got hurt on Sunday early in the fourth quarter of Boston’s 96-95 loss to the reigning NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers. The 26-year-old guard was going for a defensive rebound after the Lakers’ Montrezl Harrell missed an easy layup and landed awkwardly. He immediately went to the hardwood and needed help to exit to the locker room.

According to The Associated Press, Smart had an MRI on Monday, and it was revealed that he suffered a Grade 1 calf strain. The expected downtime for this injury is two to three weeks, but the Celtics are reportedly optimistic that the player might get back even earlier.

Marcus Smart has been great for the Boston Celtics lately, averaging a career-high 13.1 points and 6.1 assists per game to start the 2020-21 NBA season. He has also been a big part of the team’s defense as always and is already a candidate for an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection for the third consecutive year.

This all makes Smart extremely valuable to Boston, and it remains to be seen how they will manage to cope without him for the upcoming trip to the West. The Celtics are set to play five away games against teams from the Western Conference, including the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart Out for Several Weeks with a Calf Strain appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Just when it seemed that Boston Celtics found their footing after struggling for better part of the season, the team was hit with another setback just in time for the playoffs. In the match against Orlando Magic, which was their final home game of the season, Celtics did not only suffered 116-108 loss but also saw Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart suffering injuries.

Tatum, who is Boston’s second-leading scorer with 15.9 points per game, played only six minutes against Orlando before exiting the game. The 21-year-old, who was previously dealing with a shin contusion, said after the game that his leg felt “funny” after one jump and that he didn’t want to risk a more severe injury.

“Tatum had a shin contusion that evidently he had before the game, and I didn’t know about it,” – said Celtics’ head coach Brad Stevens. “But he just said it felt a little off when he jumped, so, you know, hopefully, it’s nothing major, but he’ll get checked out tonight and tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Smart, on the other hand, left the game against Magic in the third quarter after scoring six points and having four steals. According to Celtics’, the 25-year-old guard suffered an oblique bruise.

“Marcus Smart has an oblique bruise, which means he got hit right there,” – said Stevens. “And so, I guess that’s better than a strain or whatever, but we’ll see what that looks like tomorrow.  He was a little sore but was walking around, which was good, in the locker room. So obviously, I’m glad we got out of there without anything else after that.”

Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart are a big part of Boston Celtics’ rotation, so the team hopes that they won’t have to miss significant time. Both should be ready by the start of the playoffs, but further information will be revealed in the upcoming days.

The post Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart Suffer Injuries in 116-108 Loss to the Magic appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Before the season started, Boston Celtics were viewed as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference. Things, however, look a lot different now as they are currently sitting on the fifth spot in the standings.

Another confirmation of Celtics’ struggles came on Tuesday night, when they suffered 118-95 loss against the Toronto Raptors and extended their losing streak to three games. After the game, guard Marcus Smart decided to offer his opinion on the team’s poor play, saying that Celtics’ are “just not together.”

“What are the main ingredients to those collapses? Not being together,” – said Smart. “And that’s it. We’re just not together. Plain and simple. That’s it. Because if we were together, that wouldn’t happen. We’re all talking and linking up, but like I said, it’s something we’re going through, and it’s something we’re going to have to continue to work at and figure it out.”

The loss against the Raptors was Boston’s third straight, meaning that they didn’t win a game since the All-Star break. Even more worrying thing for Celtics is the fact that one of those losses came against the Chicago Bulls, who are currently sitting in the lottery with a 16-44 record.

Celtics will have a chance to find their footing in their next game when they face Portland Trail Blazers.

“That’s the thing about this game,” – added Smart. “You’ve got to have a short memory. This game’s over with, and we’ve gotta focus on tomorrow and get ready to come out and play.”

The post Marcus Smart on Celtics’ Struggles: “We’re Just Not Together” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Guard Marcus Smart, who was a restricted agent this summer, has signed a new deal with the Boston Celtics. Smart and Celtics reportedly agreed to a four-year contract worth around $52 million. The news was confirmed on the Celtics’ social media.

Welcome back, @smart_MS3 pic.twitter.com/WoESnLR7rU

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 19, 2018

“Boston loves me, I love Boston,” – said Smart after inking the deal. “Boston wants me to be here, I want to be here. So, we made it work.”

According to Yahoo Sports, Marcus Smart met with several other teams including the Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies but was set on working out a long-term extension with the Celtics. Now, with the stress of contract negotiations and uncertainty being behind him, Smart will focus on improving his game.

“Each year I’ve expanded my game,” – he said. “This year I showed my ability to be more of a point guard and a playmaker. I’m just going to keep working on all aspects to improve my game, trying to master a little bit of everything.”

Marcus Smart, who was drafted sixth overall by the Celtics in the 2014 NBA Draft, established himself as an important part of the team’s in the recent seasons. He does a little bit of everything and is a great defender, which perfectly matches with coach Brad Stevens’ system. He averaged 10.2 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in the past season and played an important part in Celtics’ long playoff run.

The post Marcus Smart and Celtics Agree to 4-year, $52 Million Contract appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart is about to become a restricted free agent in the offseason, but it looks like the 24-year-old guard already knows where he wants to play next season.

“I’m here. They’re already planning for me to be here,” – said Smart to reporters after Game 7 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. “Those guys, I tip my hat to those guys. You don’t see a lot of organizations that are as clear about their players as the way this organization does it.“

Marcus Smart established himself as a valuable player for the Celtics in the past couple of seasons, doing a bit of everything. He isn’t a volume scorer, but different ways he impacts the game might make him a valuable addition to a contender.

“I got a lot to think about. There’s a lot of factors that go into it. But that being said, I want to be in Boston. I want to be here,” – Smart added. “I love this city, I love this team, I love the atmosphere it gives off. I’ve been here for four years. My heart’s here. But there’s definitely going to be some factors going into it.“

Given the fact that he is a restricted free agent, Celtics would have to match outside offer if they want to keep Smart on their team. There is also an option for Smart to sign the $6.1 million qualifying offer with the Celtics, and then test the unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019. He previously told ESPN that he is worth more than $12 million to $14 million per season, which are the offers he was projected to receive.

In the 2017-18 regular season, Marcus Smart averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebound, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart Wants to Stay in Boston appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Boston Celtics will have to make the final push in the regular season without their guard Marcus Smart. The team announced that the 24-year-old underwent a surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb. This will keep Smart sidelined for six to eight weeks. The Celtics are hoping for the most optimistic outcome, meaning that he recovers in time for Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Marcus Smart injured his thumb in the first half of Sunday’s 97-99 loss to Indiana Pacers. The injury was initially regarded as a sprain, and Smart returned to court and finished the game. On Monday, however, additional tests showed that the injury is more serious and Smart opted for a surgery.

This is the second time this season he has been out with an injury. He missed 11 games before the All-Star break, after cutting his hand in a hotel in Los Angeles. According to Smart, this pause made him appreciate playing basketball even more.

“I love this game. I love to play,” – said Smart at the time. “So when that kinda gets taken away from you, temporarily or permanently, you kinda start realizing how much you do miss this game and how much it is easy to take it for granted when you can’t do that.“

Boston Celtics drafted Marcus Smart with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He played a solid rookie season while being selected in the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team. During his time with the Celtics, Smart became an important role player for the team and a big part of their system. In this season he has been averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart To Miss Six to Eight After Undergoing Right Thumb Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.