Tim BontempsESPN
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics, Raptors guard Norman Powell had the ball in a quick break against Celtics guard Marcus Smart in less than a minute in double overtime and turned one And-1 layup that helped seal a dramatic Toronto win to keep the series alive.
With less than a minute before Game 7 on Friday evening, the same scenario presented itself. This time, however, Smart made sure there would be a different outcome.
“As soon as Norman caught the ball, I immediately remembered the last game,” said Smart later.
“In my mind, I just said to myself, ‘He has to dip it in. I’m not going to foul. I’ll just meet him upstairs and see who wins this fight.'”
It turned out that, as so often, Smart’s defense won this time around. As a result, the Celtics won 92-87 and reached the Eastern Conference finals.
Smart’s block against Powell by 58.2 seconds – a game reminiscent of LeBron James’ chasedown block against Andre Iguodala in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals – kept Toronto from having the best chance of that in the last few moments Scoring Goal Celtics reached the conference finals for the third time in four years.
After the Raptors weathered tight calls in Games 3 and 6, Smart’s block proved to be the moment the defending champions were finally sent home from the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World Resort.
“I bet on myself 110% of the time,” said Smart. “I’m a first-team all-back for a reason and I believe it with all my heart.”
Smart often lags behind his high-profile teammates in Boston, and that was also the case in Game 7. Jayson Tatum (29 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists) was the second youngest player in NBA history with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a game 7 – only his idol Kobe Bryant. Jaylen Brown had 21 points and Kemba Walker fought overall but made a few key games in the fourth, including free throws, 7.9 seconds ahead.
But ask anyone about the Celtics and they will be quick to say that it is Smart – with his toughness, defense, and non-stop frenzy – who is the heart and soul of this team. And it was fitting that his game helped seal Boston’s victory, both in this game and in this series.
“This block was so special,” said Walker. “It was unreal. That’s why he’s first-team all-defense. He shows it night after night. He played so many big games tonight. A lot of the things he does just go unnoticed.
“But this kid, he’s special, man. He’s on another level at the end of the basketball court.”
Smart played a huge role in the battles of Raptor’s star Pascal Siakam on the series. He made several stops on Powell in the fourth quarter before his highlight block. And if it hadn’t been for Toronto’s late comeback in Game 6, Smart’s first playoff triple double in that game would have been what would have brought Boston to the East Finals against the Miami Heat one game earlier.
Even so, the Celtics will be just glad to be there in the first place, having survived this brawl of a series against the Raptors, which Boston gave absolutely everything it could, even though it played out for the vast majority of the series according to the team’s own statements has been.
“Of course,” said Celtics coach Brad Stevens when asked if playing this series against Toronto had made Boston any better. “I mean, I’ve trained in a lot of playoff games now, a lot of playoff series, and a lot of NCAA tournament games. I would say we’ve seen more defenses and more stuff and more … just when something has worked next game it didn’t work anymore, that’s a credit to her.
“We should definitely be hardened. We should definitely have a lot more in our toolbox to fall back on. We need to prepare for a different, more unique team now in Miami.”
The Celtics should be a different team even against the heat. Injured striker Gordon Hayward, who has been out of action after a Class 3 right ankle sprain since the first round of Boston game against the Philadelphia 76ers, is out of quarantine after the birth of his fourth child and worked up before the game the place.
Stevens said he expected Hayward to return against Miami at some point but doesn’t know when. It will be four weeks since Hayward was injured on Monday – that was the original timeframe for his return. Boston’s streak against Miami begins Tuesday night.
The Celtics will be there for the most part because Smart plays along the track on Friday evening.
“The rush, the block, the toughness … he’s a big part of our team,” said Stevens. “He’s a big part of our organization.
“I said that before the playoffs, we have a chance to play [the playoffs] He’s been here every year and it’s no coincidence. “
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