1. One benefit, of the many, of having Marcus Smart in the starting lineup is that he can take on whichever of the opponent’s guards that Brad Stevens deems to be more of a threat. In this game, that was Bradley Beal. Beal got only two shots off in the first quarter, as Smart locked him up in his own personal torture chamber. Beal either didn’t get the ball or was forced to immediately give it up upon receipt. There will be more on Smart later, but him being in the opening five has changed everything for Boston to start games.
Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris play the heroes and 10 more takeaways from Celtics/Wizards.
