The Boston Celtics lost one of their most important pieces prior to the start of the NBA Playoffs when starting guard Marcus Smart tore his oblique against the Orlando Magic in the second-to-last game of the NBA season.
With Smart on the mend, Jaylen Brown was reinserted into the Celtics starting lineup. Though, according to The Athletic’s Jay King, Brad Stevens expressed at Tuesday’s practice a lot needs to be done in Smart’s absence.
Smart also provided an update at Celtics practice. While he is making strides with some work in the pool, he’s still in pain, according to Scott Souza of CLNS Media.
And according to Brian Robb of the Boston Sports Journal, Smart’s next step in his recovery puts him a long way away from returning to Boston’s lineup.
The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach also added Smart hasn’t been able to stand up on his own for the last four or five days.
Given Smart injured his oblique, it’s hard to imagine he’ll return for the NBA Playoffs. Oblique injuries can linger. The muscle plays a role in rotational movement, so if he did somehow make a return, the Marcus Smart that takes the court probably won’t be the one who was the team’s jack of all trades in the regular season. But again, this isn’t just a strained oblique, he tore it — making it even less likely he’ll make a return in the postseason.
