Remember when Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics won the Defensive Player of the Year award?
There was a reason for that.
Smart can put up some great shots but he’s best known for his defensive know-how and ability.
That was on full display Wednesday night in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors were 0-9 when Marcus Smart contested the shot tonight. pic.twitter.com/UgKYpRhj3j
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 9, 2022
The Warriors were 0-of-9 when Smart was contesting the shot on Wednesday night.
That’s a wonderful high-water mark that shows just how valuable he is to the team.
And if he can keep it up, this series could ultimately be won by his team.
Boston Blocking
Every championship team needs a good offense but they definitely always need a powerful defense too.
Smart understands that and he is an intensely dedicated defender.
He might not look like the biggest guy on the floor – he’s not – but he’s a prime example of it not being about the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.
That’s an old cliche but it rings true for Smart, who has repeatedly shut down players that are larger than him.
Smart will need to keep up this defensive power moving forward if the Celtics hope to win the Finals.
But he won’t be alone: Robert Williams is yet another player on the squad who can play some lights-out defense.
If the entire team keeps it up, the Celtics could be winning their newest ring and secure the most Finals victories in NBA history.
That is obviously on Smart’s mind as he keeps pouring himself completely into every game.
Smart set the bar high on Wednesday night – can he top it on Friday?
NEXT: Robert Williams Comments On Being The Ultimate Fighter