The Boston Celtics will be without Marcus Smart when they tip off their second round series against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The rugged guard/wing/forward is sidelined by a partially torn oblique muscle. It’s not hard to deduce that Boston would prefer to have Smart in the fold. He’s one of the league’s best defensive players and the Celtics’ emotional heartbeat.
They’ll certainly miss him, but the NBA Playoffs demand a more nuanced understanding of the ways in which Smart’s absence will impact Boston’s performance than simply stating it’s not ideal.