Robb: Marcus Smart's Suspension Puts Celtics In A Bind
BOSTON – When the Celtics face off with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night at TD Garden, it's a game the team must win in order to keep pace in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race.
Coming off a two-game losing streak out West, Boston is currently clinging to the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference, holding just a half-game lead over the Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets. The Brooklyn Nets lurk just a game behind as well.
With a schedule that's littered with both over .500 teams and teams fighting for playoff spots over the final 14 games of the season, every game counts at this stage. Winnable games, such as tonight's home tilt against the Pistons, become just that much more crucial. There are no "gimme" games in the NBA, but a matchup with a reeling team that's fallen out of playoff contention is as close as this Celtics team will get to one.
The Celtics were already going to be shorthanded on Sunday, with Isaiah Thomas expected to miss his seventh straight game as he recovers from a badly bruised tailbone. Now, Marcus Smart's one-game suspension will leave Brad Stevens without his two top point guards against Reggie Jackson and the Pistons.
Immediately after Smart was ejected from Friday night's game against the Spurs, he knew he might be putting his team in a bind moving forward.
"I didn't really know what happened," Smart said of the low blow on Matt Bonner that led to the ejection. "It really wasn't anything going through my head, besides I just let my team down. There's a possibility it could go the way I don't want it to go. I could be apart from this team [due to a suspension] and it could really hurt this team."
Smart couldn't be more right. During Boston's resurgence over the past two months, he has been one of the most reliable players for Stevens. He's averaged over 31 minutes per game since Feb. 1, putting him just behind Avery Bradley for average playing time during that span. Smart's 3-point shooting (44 percent with Thomas out) has also helped to carry the Celtics offense while their top scorer has been sidelined.
There's also the issue of Smart's defense. Jackson is one of the more promising young guards in the NBA, and the Celtics will be without their best weapon in Smart to stop him Sunday night.
In the 21-year-old's place, Stevens will have to look to his deep bench for a boost. James Young has already been recalled from the D-League and should have a chance to provide some offensive production off the bench. Reserve point guard Phil Pressey has already seen plenty of playing time with Thomas sidelined, and he could be asked to handle 30+ minutes at the one with Smart out of the mix.
It's possible that Pressey could start, but the more likely scenario is that Evan Turner will slide over to the point guard slot with the starters, while Jae Crowder gets the nod at small forward. If Pressey starts, there is no true point guard coming off the bench for Boston, so the guess here is that Stevens gives Turner a short leash at point while playing Pressey big minutes off the bench.
Whatever Stevens decides, he'll have his hands full managing this lineup tonight, all for what was a completely avoidable situation. Even if you believe Smart's low blow was a "freak accident" as the point guard claims, he's got to be in better control of his body. With two ejections in two weeks (Smart was ejected in Orlando for what appeared to be an inadvertent elbow), a track record is now in place. Smart's a gritty player, but he can't put himself in a situation like we saw on Friday night.
As the youngster learns his lesson by watching from the sidelines, it'll be next man up for the Celtics on Sunday. Boston's upstart roster has risen to the occasion in past weeks, but the Pistons game may end up being their stiffest challenge yet.
Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @CelticsHub.
