The Boston Celtics must focus on returning to their winning ways at home. After opening the season with a record-
breaking 20 consecutive wins at TD Garden, the Celtics have lost three of their last five in Boston. Their most recent
home loss was humbling, as the Celtics were defeated 114-105 by the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday,
February 1.
Boston returns to action on Sunday when it hosts the Memphis Grizzlies. The return of Marcus Smart, the veteran
point guard who spent the first nine years of his NBA career as a fan favorite with the Celtics, will draw a lot of
attention. Smart will not be in action due to an injured finger, but he will receive a lot of attention from both players
and fans.
The Celtics chose Smart in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft. He spent nine seasons in Boston and was the
team’s heart and soul, known for his defensive approach and all-out effort on the court.
Smart returns to TD Garden as an opponent on Sunday, February 4, but he will be out due to a right ring finger
injury sustained in a victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, January 9.
Smart, according to Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, was instrumental in laying the groundwork for Boston’s defense
during his tenure here. Smart was named Defensive Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season, a rare
accomplishment for a guard. His defensive philosophy has stayed with the Celtics.
“I think he’s one of the guys that started our defensive foundation before I got here because of his ability to compete
at a high level, defend at a high level, and execute different coverages,” Mazzulla told reporters following Saturday’s
practice.
“For him to win Defensive Player of the Year, he was the first guard to do so since Gary Payton, which was a huge
accomplishment. So, seeing a guard have such an impact on the game at so many levels, I believe, was the catalyst.”
