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Marcus Smart Proves He Still Owns The Celtics
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- Marcus Smart Proves He Still Owns The Celtics
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There is a reason the Celtics lost their five-game winning streak on Monday night, and the answer wears a Rockets jersey. Marcus Smart did exactly what he always does: he got under the skin of his former team and turned a close game into a blowout. The final score of 109-93 tells one story, but the real tale is in the chaos Smart unleashed. He made Boston pay for every mistake with a mix of defense and dirty talk that only he can pull off.
The Agitator Returns
Smart knows the playbook better than anyone on the floor. He spent nine seasons in Boston, so he knows exactly how to rattle Jayson Tatum and the rest of the squad. He started by trying to get Tatum a technical foul before halftime, then drew a charge on him in the third quarter to force him to the bench. This was not just bad luck; it was a calculated plan. Rockets teammate Alperen Şengün told Ryan Hollins after the game, "He woke up everybody's ass," which sums up the mood perfectly, according to Yahoo Sports . Smart did not just play; he played with a purpose to hurt the Celtics' confidence.
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He made the situation worse by nearly drawing a charge on Payton Pritchard, only to have it overturned on video review. But he celebrated anyway with his signature kip-up to get back on his feet. This behavior is the definition of a player who gets under your skin. As noted by NBC Boston, the Celtics got the full Marcus Smart experience, and it was a heavy dose of nostalgia for fans who remember his antics from 2014 to 2023. You might not miss his shot selection, but no analytics can measure the Smart chaos quotient.
Emotions on Display
Smart did not stop at defensive tricks. He hit back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth quarter to extend the lead. Then, he raised both middle fingers in celebration while running back up the court. This gesture was aimed directly at the Boston bench. Smart later explained the moment to reporters, saying, according to BasketNews.com , "Just a lot of pent-up, I guess you can call it emotions. Plus, certain guys on the bench was talking. Didn't know who. I just heard them say something, so I let them hear it back." He admitted that the energy was there and that he wanted to remind them what he can do.
The numbers back up his impact. He missed his first seven shots but made Boston pay when it mattered most. Ime Udoka, the Rockets head coach, left the veteran in the game to start the fourth quarter, and he answered with timely shots. According to CelticsBlog, the Rockets are now 6-1 and sit at the top of the Western Conference standings. Smart fits perfectly with Udoka's system because he can be himself without fear. As Udoka said, according to CelticsBlog , "There are some guys who have that defensive mentality, but it's rare to have a guy who comes into the game and impacts it the way he does on that side of the ball."
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The Celtics have tried to fill the void left by Smart since he departed in 2023, but nobody has taken the mantle yet. This loss proves that the team still feels his absence when he turns his skills against them. Smart proved on Monday that he is still the best agitator in the league. The Celtics need to figure out how to handle that kind of fire before it burns them again.
