Marcus Smart named starter if Rajon Rondo can't play


Via the Celtics' twitter account, Marcus Smart has beaten out Evan Turner as the opening night starter if Rajon Rondo can't play.



Obviously Rondo is the starter if he can go, but for that to happen he'll need to start taking contact without the padded brace he's currently wearing. So it looks like a better than 50/50 proposition that it will be Smart at point guard on Wednesday night against the Nets.

As for the Smart vs. Turner battle, here are their preseason stats:

Smart: 8 games, 26.4 MPG, 8.4 PPG, 4.6 APG, 2.6 RPG, 2.4 SPG, 32% FG, 25% 3 PT

Turner: 8 games, 25.5 MPG, 9.4 PPG, 4.4 APG, 5 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 39% FG, 41% 3 PT

Turner clearly had the better offensive numbers, but Smart's defense has gotten rave reviews from just about anyone, something evidenced by his 2.4 steals per game.

Also worth noting, Smart missed today's practice with a stomach bug. However, that does not seem like it will keep him out very long.


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