| |
|
NBA -- Marcus Smart out for 4-6 weeks
By Nicky Manguino PhilBoxing.com Thu, 11 Apr 2019
PORTLAND -- With four days to go before the start of the 2018-19 NBA playoffs, the Boston Celtics received some terrible news today when the team announced in an official statement that guard Marcus Smart will be sidelined for at least four to six weeks with a torn oblique,
Ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics, who tote a 49-33 record, will face the resilient 48-34 Indiana Pacers in the opening round of the playoffs. The Pacers, who lost star guard Victor Oladipo early in the season, managed to put it together and finished in fifth place.
The 25-year old Smart, the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, is a veteran of 341 regular season games and pulls in an $11.6 million salary this season. In 80 appearances this season, Smart averaged 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and four assists per.
If the Celtics somehow overcome the Pacers without Smart, a physical defender and reliable play maker, the Celtics will miss him potentially in the second round where the top-ranked Milwaukee Bucks await.
Ranked No.1 overall in the NBA, Milwaukee totes a 60-22 record and is expected to dismiss the eight-seeded 41-41-Detroit Pistons. The favorite to come out of the East, the Bucks are led by leading MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo who is averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists a contest.
After relieving Jason Kidd of his head coaching duties, the Bucks have found a new voice in Mike Budenholzer, a Coach of the Year candidate who is responsible for making Milwaukee the best defensive team in the NBA and fourth overall in offensive efficiency.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Nicky Manguino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION APRIL 20 APRIL 2026: Baumgardner Outpoints Shin, Retains IBF/WBA/WBO 130 Lb Titles; Daniels Stops Green in 9; Lorente SD Collins in WBC Welter Eliminator By Eric Armit, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Year of Memories Between the Ring and Faith By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026High Stakes in Ufa: Subkhankulov and Usmonov Clash for IBF #2 Spot By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Elorde Jr. is new PBF president By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Ancajas wins 1st bout as feather By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Ito knockouts Lerasan in 1st round By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Kristian ‘KP’ Prenga developing into Albanian heavyweight boxing GOAT , Tue, 21 Apr 2026IIEE PSME Quezon City Simba’s Tribe amazed with GAB Chairman Rivera’s advocacy for chess players By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026‘CALM’ PERO READY TO FACE MILLER’S FIRE , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Hall of Famer Rafael Marquez's son Aaron wins professional debut By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Top Super Featherweights Tsendy Erdenebat & Cobia Breedy Battle in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Registration Now Open for the Return of the Butterfly Brawl at the Iconic Santa Monica Pier – August 22, 2026 , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Brackets Set for USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team at World Boxing Cup - Stage One , Tue, 21 Apr 2026Team Altagracia Primus Praedia Land Holding champ in Pacquiao chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 21 Apr 20262-Division World Champion Daniel Ponce De León Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas , Tue, 21 Apr 20262026 NBA Playoffs: First Round Game 1 Recap By Reylan Loberternos, , Mon, 20 Apr 2026FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu gains a total of 36 rating points, bringing his FIDE rating to 2321 by May after completing 2 chess tournaments in Spain By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 20 Apr 2026Irish super middleweight prospect Tommy ‘The Governor’ Hyde Improves to 15-0 with 10th KO , Mon, 20 Apr 2026IBA Bare-Knuckle Director attends historic Gambian Elite National Championships , Sun, 19 Apr 2026Rosales stops Obedencio in RFL 4 By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026Atty. Aldwin Alegre shines in 23rd Bangkok Chess Club By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026Suslenkov knocks out Mann to headline explosive IBA Pro 16 night in Serpukhov , Sat, 18 Apr 2026AJ Manas off to a hot start in Indonesia By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026Camila Zamorano WBC female champion health update By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026PH Athletics team shines in the 2026 Singapore Open Track and Field Championships By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|