I was just letting everybody know, including them, that this is how teams are looking at you guys when they’re scouting. Last season, everybody heard what I said about how teams are scouting us and it was taken as me calling out Jayson and Jaylen. It’s just about holding everybody accountable in any way that is. What examples from last season and this season do you think were critical with taking either approach? Other times you’ve said you try to praise teammates through the ups and downs. I want to give them that extra little boost.Ĭertain times you’ve called guys out. These guys have worked their tail off for so long. It’s just about challenging them in every aspect – challenging them to be the best they can be and challenging them to be an overall great player. It helps when they play against a player of my caliber who is as aggressive, good with his hands and quick and has an IQ to get the job done against them. They’re constantly seeing different looks on a daily basis so that they can learn how to attack when they see these types of defenses in a game. They’re seeing looks from some of the best defenders in the league – me, D-White, Malcolm, Payton. They have to guard me and I have to guard them. I go up against those guys offensively and defensively. Kia MVP Ladder: Jayson Tatum 'checks all the boxes' while playing for league-leading CelticsĪs talented as Tatum and Brown are, what role do you think you’ve played with their growth both with your playmaking role and holding them accountable? So, it’s kind of hard not to give it to him if we keep winning. But this guy comes to work every day and he’s doing it consistently. You got guys missing games, for whatever reason. He’s also the only one in the league in the MVP race that has the most minutes played. We have the best offense in the league and probably in history. If our team wins and he’s continuing to play how he’s playing, it’s hard not to give it to him. What do you think he has to do the rest of the season to win that award? Obviously, Jayson is in the MVP conversation. If he was on any other team, he’d probably be in the MVP race as well. The way JB is picking up the slack and the way he’s doing it, you have to take your hat off. There are going to be nights where teams do a good job with taking Jayson out of the game. But there are going to be nights that Jayson doesn’t have it. They’ve been really good with understanding all of that. So, they can be decoys sometimes and conserve their energy so that they have it when they need to use it, especially late in the fourth. But they also understand they’re going to get a lot of eyes on them. They understand they’re going to get a lot of shots. It’s just making the game easier for them. If it’s not for me, somebody else is going to get a great shot. They understand if I make the pass early, I can still get the ball back and I’m going to get a great shot. NBA.com: How have Jayson and Jalen improved their chemistry? Smart spoke to NBA.com about a number of topics, including Tatum’s MVP chances, holding both the Celtics’ stars and role players accountable, the Celtics’ Finals loss to Golden State, possibly securing a second consecutive Kia Defensive Player of the Year award and first-year head coach Joe Mazzulla.Įditor’s note: The following 1-on-1 conversation has been condensed and edited. And even without injured center Robert Williams III to protect the rim, Smart has helped the Celtics’ defense stay in the middle of the pack. While averaging 11.8 points and 7.3 assists, Smart has overseen one of the league’s top-ranked offenses. “It’s just with the way they’re reading the game and letting the game come to them more.” “This is the best they’ve played as a tandem and individually,” Smart told NBA.com. Not only do the Celtics (23-10) enter their matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks (22-10) on Christmas Day ( 5 ET, ABC/ESPN) with the Eastern Conference’s best record, Tatum has averaged a career-high 30.9 points while Brown has posted career highs in points per game (26.2), shooting percentage (49%), rebounds (7.5) and assists (3.5). Other times, Smart pushes Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to improve their ball movement.įor most of the 2022-23 NBA season, Smart has liked what he’s seen. Sometimes, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart empowers his star teammates. Marcus Smart’s grit, high basketball IQ and defensive toughness have been constants during his lengthy stint in Boston.
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