Allow us a moment for an excruciatingly scorching hot take right here: Maybe, just maybe, having the Defensive Player of the Year available makes the Celtics a better team.
It's a bold take, we know.
Marcus Smart returned to the Celtics lineup after missing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat with a right mid-foot sprain, but his presence in Game 2 lifted Boston on both ends of the floor as it trounced Miami, 127-102.
Smart finished the game just one rebound shy of a triple-double, posting 24 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.
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After going down by 10 points early in the first quarter, the Celtics recovered to outscore the Heat by 35 points over the final 19 minutes of the first half.
Smart made his usual impact on the defensive end of the floor (no surprise there, right?), giving Boston another body to throw at both of Miami's key guys: Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Butler still finished with 29 points, but Adebayo had a quiet game, recording just six points and nine rebounds.
Smart held Miami to just 3-of-11 from the field as the primary defender.
"As always, he sets the tone," Celtics head coach Ime Udoka said after the game. "Defensive Player of the Year for a reason. [His] ability to switch and switch onto bigger bodies ...just another good defender to throw at Butler and Adebayo, and not have to worry about them trying to pick on certain matchups."
Ime Udoka on Marcus Smart: "As always, he sets the tone. DPOY for a reason... just another good defender to throw at Butler & Adebayo"
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 20, 2022
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It was on the offensive end of the floor, however, where his return truly inspired the C's performance.
Smart's 12 assists led the team. The Celtics were — get this — 12-of-15 on field goals off his passes, per ESPN Stats and Info.
Smart scored 17 of his points in 17 minutes to help the Celtics maintain their 20-point second-half lead. In the process, he became the first Celtic since Rajon Rondo to have 20 points, 10 assists and three steals in the playoffs.
"I felt bad that I couldn't be out there [in Game 1] with my teammates and go to battle with them," Smart said immediately after the win in his on-court walk-off. "We're playing a really good Miami Heat team, and it's a blessing to be on the same court with them and going to war.
"It was tough not to be out there, but I got my rest, got my health back, got to watch and see some things and come out and execute this game."
The Celtics are thankful that they have their Defensive Player of the Year back. The pressure is now on Heat coach Erik Spoelstra to figure out how to stop him from affecting the game as he did on Thursday night.
