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Saturday, December 14, 2024

Boston’s Starting PG Has Been Right In Front of Them

  • After years of shuffling through starting point guards, the Celtics had their guy in Marcus Smart the whole time.
  • Smart’s 6.7 APG in the postseason ranks third among PGs and fifth overall.
Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Since Kyrie Irving left for Brooklyn in the summer of 2019, the Celtics have been shuffling point guards — not realizing the answer was right in front of them.

“I think everybody in the organization and the world has seen what I can do at the point guard position,” Marcus Smart said after a 25-point Game 2 victory against Miami.

After missing Game 1 (foot), Smart finished with 24 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds (+32), further proving why he’s Boston’s best option at point — and how GM Brad Stevens and coach Ime Udoka’s trust in the 6’3” guard has paid off.

  • Irving was the PG from 2017-19 and made roughly $39 million.
  • When he left, they signed declining star Kemba Walker to a four-year, $141 million max contract — he only lasted two seasons there.
  • Early this year, Dennis Schroder ($5.7M) was the team’s starting PG; he was traded to the Rockets in February.
  • Smart’s 6.7 APG in the postseason ranks third among PGs and fifth overall, and the Celtics are 4-0 when he scores 20+ points.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is locked in for another four years and $77 million. He accepted Boston’s offer after considering holding out for something in the $90 million range.

Former GM Danny Ainge and Stevens never moved him despite several reports coming out over the years about a potential trade.

And thanks to Smart, the Celtics head back to Boston with home-court advantage, and they still haven’t lost consecutive games since late March.

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