BOSTON — Marcus Smart doesn’t care about the effect the hardwood can have on human flesh. He plays with the abandon of a hair-on-fire stuntman for his Boston Celtics, diving then crashing to the floor while pursuing a loose ball.
His bandaged right wrist should serve as a reminder of recent surgery, but that does not seem to cross Smart’s mind when he belly-flops onto the leather shoes of the Cleveland Cavaliers coaches.
On Tuesday night — as the Celtics took control of the Eastern Conference finals, defeating the Cavaliers, 107-94, for a two-games-to-none series lead and home court advantage — Smart created one of his signature moments.