Marcus Smart Says Boston's Late-Game Struggles Start With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown
On Monday night, the Boston Celtics suffered a historic collapse against the Chicago Bulls. The Celtics became the first NBA team in the shot-clock era to lose a game by 14 or more points that they led by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter. Overall, Chicago outscored Boston 39-11 in the fourth quarter.
Following the game, Marcus Smart was asked about the Celtics late-game struggles. Smart stressed a desire to have the ball more often, in order to make plays for the team's stars of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Smart said, "I would just like to play basketball. Every team knows we're trying to go to Jayson and Jaylen. Every team is programmed and studied to stop Jayson and Jaylen. I think everybody's scouting report is to make those guys pass the ball. They don't want to pass the ball and that's something that they're going to learn. They're still learning. We're proud of the progress they're making, but they're going to have to make another step and find ways to not only create for themselves but create for others on this team to open up the court for them later down in the game where they're always going to have to take those tough shots or take tough matchups when they do get the 1-on-1 or they bring the trap. It's something we've been asking them to do and they're learning. We just gotta continue to help those guys do that to help our team."
Smart later added, "There's only so much I can do when the ball isn't in my hands and I'm standing in the corner."
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, Khareem Sudlow
