Time frame for Marcus Smart's return remains unclear
In the second quarter of last Wednesday’s 121-96 preseason loss to the New York Knicks, 22-year-old Celtics guard Marcus Smart stepped on Justin Holliday’s foot and sprained his ankle. The industrious defensive stopper had to be assisted off the floor and it was unclear just how serious the injury would be.
Initial, vague reports from Boston’s head coach Brad Stevens suggested that Smart wouldn’t be out of action for too long:
Just days before the beginning of the 2016-2017 NBA season, Stevens revealed on Monday that he was still uncertain on when he would have his sixth-man back:
Celtics’ GM Danny Ainge was also unable to share any further light on Smart’s recovery, citing the former Oklahoma State University standout’s omission as the ‘only negative’ heading into Wednesday night’s opener against the Brooklyn Nets:
Smart averaged 9.1 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds last year and became extremely valuable to Stevens, due to his ability to guard multiple positions. Although the Texas native’s injury creates opportunities for some of the promising guards on the roster, his versatility will be sorely missed if he is sidelined for longer than originally expected.
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Initial, vague reports from Boston’s head coach Brad Stevens suggested that Smart wouldn’t be out of action for too long:
Brad Stevens says of Marcus Smart's ankle sprain, "Early indications are that it looks like it will hopefully not be too long-term."
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) 20 October 2016
Just days before the beginning of the 2016-2017 NBA season, Stevens revealed on Monday that he was still uncertain on when he would have his sixth-man back:
#Celtics coach Brad Stevens: Marcus Smart (ankle) is improving, but no update on timetable for return.
— Scott Souza (@Scott_Souza) 24 October 2016
Celtics’ GM Danny Ainge was also unable to share any further light on Smart’s recovery, citing the former Oklahoma State University standout’s omission as the ‘only negative’ heading into Wednesday night’s opener against the Brooklyn Nets:
Ainge: “I think the only negative [right now] is that we don’t have Marcus for the first however long — a week or a few days, I’m guessing."
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) 24 October 2016
Smart averaged 9.1 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds last year and became extremely valuable to Stevens, due to his ability to guard multiple positions. Although the Texas native’s injury creates opportunities for some of the promising guards on the roster, his versatility will be sorely missed if he is sidelined for longer than originally expected.
Follow Josh Coyne on Twitter at @poundcoyne
Image Credit:
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports