Boston Celtics Celebrate Marcus Smart After Block In Game 7: “That’s Why He’s First Team All-Defense”

The Boston Celtics are in the Conference Finals for the third time in the past four years. In Game 7, coach Brad Stevens’ team kept their nerves in an exciting final phase, also because Marcus Smart showed once again that he is perhaps the best little defender in the NBA. Here are the highlights of the game.

In the end it was another tremendous game. The Celtics led deep in the fourth quarter with ten points, but as so often in the series, the Raptors bit their way back into the game. Daniel Theis sat on the bench for a long time with 5 fouls before coach Brad Stevens let the Celtics anchor again a good 90 seconds before the end.

It took 11 seconds for Theis to be back on the bench after Kyle Lowry cleverly sought contact with the German on the drive and got two free throws. The Raptors leader scored both, the Canadians were only two points behind (87:89). On the other hand, Jayson Tatum forgave and Toronto switched over in a flash after the long rebound.

Norman Powell had free rein and was able to level the game, but Marcus Smart appeared out of nowhere and nailed the lay-up attempt to the board with brute force, as if he were LeBron James himself. It was the play of the game, even if Tatum’s offensive rebound a few seconds later after two free throws from rookie Grant Williams were no less important.