In a Twitter spaces session with ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Tuesday, renowned basketball analyst Doris Burke explained why Marcus Smart earned her vote for Defensive Player of the Year.
According to Burke, the decision was as simple as voting for the best defensive player on the NBA’s best defensive team.
“I went with Marcus Smart,” Burke said. “So my candidates, there were many. … I think a couple things, I think the metrics for defense are hard. It is a perimeter-based game. And for far too long we have not given those grinders, the Mikal Bridges and Marcus Smarts the due. The amount of space you have to cover, the number of screens you’ve got to run through. It takes a physical and emotional stability, and endurance. And I just thought it was time.”
“Boston from a certain period forward has been the most dominant defensive team,” Burke added. “And I said I’m going to give the best defensive player on the best defensive team my vote this year.”
The 2022 #NBA Playoffs are here 🍿
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Burke isn’t the only one who feels that way. Earlier this month, Gary Payton gave his endorsement of Smart for DPOY.
“Marcus Smart… he plays hard, he play with a lot of dog in him, and I think that yes, he should win (DPOY),” said Payton. “Why not? He has changed a lot of things in a lot of the game. The reason we don’t get looked as a guard is because… we don’t do the things that I did… I was 94 feet. If I could turn and guard 3-4 times before he gets to half court, and there’s only 10 seconds on the shot clock, I’ve done what I’m supposed to do. They’re getting into an offense too late, and they’re going to rush. Marcus Smart does the same thing… He makes other people handle the basketball, who ain’t supposed to handle the basketball and get into your offense, and he’s done that. He’s done that all year.”
After a sluggish start, the Celtics caught fire in the second half of the season and haven’t looked back since. They finished 2nd in the East with a 51-31 record overall.
Smart, despite some obvious flaws, has clearly been a crucial part of his team’s success and what he does defensively cannot be understated.
Whether or not he’ll win Defensive Player of The Year remains to be seen, but his ambitions likely stretch beyond that anyway.
