The US Team experienced a constant flow of points during the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge and it was Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics who got it all started for them.
On the US Team’s first possession, the sophomore guard took a handoff from Karl-Anthony Towns at the top of the arc, rose up without hesitation and rattled home the first three points of the game for his squad.
For the remainder of the contest, however, Smart served as a facilitator and took a conservative approach, which he later explained was because he wanted to avoid injury at all cost.
Smart’s early 3-pointer set the offensive tone for the US Team’s 157-154 win, though that was his only basket of the game. He did make his presence known in other facets, however, as he contributed with four assists, four rebounds and a steal during 22 minutes of play.
Smart was given the nod to start the game, alongside Jordan Clarkson of the Lakers, Jabari Parker of the Bucks, and Zach Lavine and Towns of the Timberwolves. That fivesome played the first 8 minutes and 44 seconds of the game, which consisted of two 20 minutes halves.
The Celtics guard didn’t play his usual tenacious style of basketball Friday night, for one, because defense is relatively nonexistent during these All-Star Weekend exhibition games, and two, because he didn’t want to risk injury.
Rather than cut to the lane like he normally does, Smart stuck to the perimeter. Five of his eight shot attempts came from beyond the arc, and he had only one attempt inside the paint.
“My plan coming into it wasn’t to go in the lane at all really,” Smart said following the game. “Just to stay on the outside and stay away from injuries and just kind of take it slow.”
Better safe than sorry, right?
Though Smart did not cut to the hoop often, his teammates did, and on several occasions he was the one feeding them.
The guard dished out all four of his assists during the final 12 minutes of the game, starting with a long, one-handed alley-oop dish to Towns.
That was the first of three instances that Smart connected with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 Draft. He also spun a circus pass off the backboard to Towns for a layup, and later found him for an easy dunk under the hoop.
“[I was] just letting other guys have fun by the rim,” said Smart. “Give them the ball and let them do their thing.”
It was clear that Smart’s intention was to lay relatively low during this game, because he’s got much more important business on his slate during the upcoming months.
“I’m ready to get back out there and play for real when it counts,” he said eagerly. “It’ll feel good to get back with the team and everybody and try to start the second half on a good note.”
It seems as if Smart is just saving his best basketball for Boston’s stretch run as it closes out the season following the break.
