If you only looked at the box score for the Boston Celtics 112-99 Game 1 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, you might think that veteran point guard Marcus Smart had a middling game at best with his 11-point, 7-rebound, and 7-assist line. But the Flower Mound native put together one of his best defensive performances of the season to help propel the Celtics to the victory over Atlanta, and head coach Joe Mazzulla took note.
“He was physical,” said Mazzulla postgame. “His pickup points were great. He has a presence to be the quarterback on the defensive end where it puts us — where we’re able to change coverages, change matchups.”
“When he’s doing that, our defense is special, and it starts with him,” he added. “Because I thought he brought it both physically and mentally on the defensive end. I thought that was key for us.”
Joe Mazzulla honored One Boston Day and the anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing ahead of Saturday’s action between the Celtics and Hawks. https://t.co/zIIlGNdPvN
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) April 15, 2023
The Celtics took a 1-0 series lead with the Game 1 win and will face the Hawks again at TD Garden on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 7 p.m. ET.
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