Guard Marcus Smart has been fined $35,000 for his conduct near the end of the Boston Celtics’ Tuesday night loss to the Brooklyn Nets, where he berated officials while being dragged off the court by Boston security, reports NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg.
While the Celtics’ late game collapse had little to do with officiating if at all, the Texan guard evidently felt severely aggrieved nonetheless, and took out his frustration on the officials refereeing the Mar. 3 contest.
Citing his past on-court conduct as a reason for the increased fine, Smart has now accumulated $318,848 in fines this season, per Spotrac.
In many situations, the Flower Mound native’s intensity and passion are the engine that drives the team’s energy level. But there are also times when that drive can get in the way of Smart’s — and Boston’s — best interests.
It may well be that this was one of the latter instances, but until the Oklahoma State product learns to reel himself in a bit in such situations, it’s the price of entry for having such a dynamic and intense player on the team.
Still, it will be important for the veteran guard to temper his emotions in the postseason in particular. Such intensely demonstrative reactions to officiating could well get the former Cowboy suspended — he’s lucky it didn’t happen this go-round.
