Keys to the Celtics Playing "Smart" if Defensive Star Can't Play in Game 2

Marcus Smart has a right mid-foot sprain that may keep him out of Game 2, but there are ways the Celtics can compensate for his absence and even up this series against Miami at one game apiece.

When Marcus Smart was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, it was validation of his impact on this Boston Celtics franchise.

And with him having missed Game 1 of Boston’s Eastern Conference finals showdown with Miami and being iffy to play in Game 2 because of a mid-foot sprain, it’s understandable if the focus for many becomes on what his absence means to the team’s defense.

But as we saw in Game 1, Smart does more than just defend at a high level.

We saw how discombobulated the offense looked coming out at halftime.

Boston turned the ball over 16 times, eight of which came in the third quarter.

After having shot better than 50 percent in the first half, Boston missed 13 of its 15 shot attempts in the third.

Jayson Tatum dropped 21 points in the first half, but could only muster up X in the third and eight total in the second half.

It’s reasonable to think that having Smart on the floor in Game 1 would have meant fewer self-inflicted wounds by the Celtics and maybe just maybe, a Game 1 win would have been in the cards for them.

But with Smart potentially out for another game, Boston has to find a way to make up for his absence.

Here are the three keys to Boston’s chances at success if the Celtics find out that they will continue to be without Smart’s services for Game 2.

TOP-FIVE TATUM TIME

The Celtics have done an excellent job throughout the playoffs bouncing back from adversity and a loss. In their previous postseason games this year in which they lost, Boston has responded by winning the next game every time, by an average of 14.7 points per game. In those games, Tatum has averaged 35 points and 5.7 assists, showcasing his ability in those games to play well both as a scorer and as a playmaker. They'll need him to excel in both areas if Smart's not around.

TWO-WAY JAYLEN HAS TO SHOW UP

As Jaylen Brown’s game has evolved, he has proven to be an explosive scorer who can get buckets from all levels of play. But for Boston to win this series, they really need him to be a better defender than what we saw in Game 1.

Butler was cookin’ all the Celtics with his mid-range game and drives to the rim. But he was particularly good when matched up against Brown where Butler scored 10 points (the most he scored in any individual matchup in Game 1) on 4-for-6 shooting from the field to go with an assist. And Brown has played like a No. 2 scorer should when it comes to bouncing back from a loss. In the three playoff games against Milwaukee won by Boston after a loss to the Bucks, Brown averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

A similar defensive performance by Brown against Butler will all but seal Boston’s fate in returning to Boston in a 2-0 series deficit. Along with Brown, Derrick White has to also do a better job of staying attached to Butler, especially when Payton Pritchard is on the floor. The Heat made no secret about wanting to hunt down that matchup whenever Pritchard was on the floor and found success more than not. While guarding Butler, Pritchard allowed him to score seven points in just under two minutes (1:53) of play. More telling was during that span, the Heat scored a total of seven points which speaks to how Miami made exploiting that matchup a priority.

MORE AARON NESMITH

It feels weird constantly talking about Nesmith’s best contributions at this point coming on the defensive end of the floor, despite coming into the NBA as arguably the best shooter in the 2020 draft.

Nesmith’s defense, much like his game at the other end of the floor, is very much a feast or famine affair.

When he’s good, like the blocked shot he had at the rim in Game 1, he’s really good.

And then there’s the not-so-great Nesmith who bites on a Jimmy Butler pump-fake and commits a foul, or throws an ill-advised pass down the baseline that sails five rows deep.

The one thing we do know about Nesmith, is that he will bring effort and energy to the game which are the kind of qualities that Boston could use more of in Game 2.