At his core, Marcus Smart was a Celtic, and he deservedly received praise from Boston upon his return.
Instead of bitterness, there was graciousness. Appreciation and introspection were present. When Marcus Smart made his first trip back to TD Garden on Sunday following his contentious trade to the Grizzlies, it was all of him.
Being intelligent is unhealthy. After missing 17 games due to a foot ailment, he is currently rehabilitating from a right ring finger injury that has cost him the previous 13 games. He’s had a difficult season with the Grizzlies, a team that was predicted to contend for the NBA Finals before a slew of crippling injuries decimated almost their whole core.
Consequently, Smart stood on the sidelines for Sunday’s 131-91 Celtics victory, accepted the “Hero Among Us” trophy to a thunderous applause following the opening frame, and then provided his teammates with an insightful and in-depth scouting report on his previous colleagues.
