For a moment there, everyone, including the Celtics’ players themselves, thought Marcus Smart was going to take the potential game-winning three-pointer with Boston down by one against the Nets in the waning seconds of Sunday’s thrilling series opener.
But as the lore of this game will show forever, Smart did just the opposite. His pump-fake drew two Brooklyn defenders in the air, and his pass found a cutting Jayson Tatum for a buzzer-beating layup to give the Celtics a scintillating win and 1-0 lead in Round 1 of the playoffs.
In the eyes of Golden State forward Draymond Green, the veteran Boston point guard’s play is the perfect example of what has made the Celtics one of the NBA’s best teams over the last two months.