Marcus Smart Injury: Updates on Celtics Star's Achilles and Return
Boston Celtics point guard Marcus Smart is dealing with another injury concern after being forced out of the team's game against the Knicks on Dec. 12 because of a strained Achilles. His expected return date remains unclear at this time.
Continue for updates.
Smart Out vs. Magic
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Sean Grande of CBS Sports Network provides an update on Smart:
Smart Unlikely to Return Wednesday
Tuesday, Dec. 16
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe provides an update on Smart's status:
Smart Could Return Wednesday
Sunday, Dec. 14
The Celtics provided head coach Brad Stevens' comments:
Smart Removed vs. Knicks
Friday, Dec. 12
The Celtics announced Smart's injury:
It's his second notable injury issue of the campaign.
Smart previously dealt with an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for most of November. Although missing any time while trying to acclimate to the NBA level is a frustrating setback for any rookie, his absence also had a sense of relief because it looked much worse when it first happened.
Luckily, testing showed no major structural damage to the ankle and he was able to make a quick return to the floor compared to what it could have been.
At the time, he explained to Chris Forsberg of ESPN how much it pained him to be missing games.
"Oh, man, it's been eating me alive, especially because I love to play basketball," he said. "It's been taken away from me for right now, and I'm trying to stay engaged in practice, on the court. When I'm off the court, I'm getting treatment and stuff. Just seeing those guys out there, and knowing I can't do anything, it's tough."
Now his status is back up in the air once again.
While the Celtics await more details about the extent of the injury, they can at least take a little solace in the fact they are used to playing without him. Phil Pressey figures to step into the backup point guard role behind Rajon Rondo with Avery Bradley also leading the offense at times.
For Smart, he plays an aggressive style of basketball and sometimes injuries come with that. The Celtics just have to hope stints on the sidelines don't become commonplace for him. He needs in-game experience to continue his development.
