| |
|
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 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras By Eric Armit, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai , Wed, 03 Dec 2025OKC Thunder is NBA 2025-2026 Strongest Team By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025Who was Clever Sison? By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025MATCHROOM BOXING RETURNS TO FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS WITH MURATALLA-CRUZ FIGHT, JAN. 24, 2026 , Wed, 03 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Undefeated Featherweight Luis Nuñez Prepares for Hector Sosa Showdown on PBC on Prime Video , Wed, 03 Dec 2025Darry Bernardo, 4 other Pinoys in hot start in 3rd Asian Chess Championship 2025 for players with disabilities By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025Two Pacquiaos on same card? By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026 , Tue, 02 Dec 2025USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA , Tue, 02 Dec 2025THE RING 6: TEOFIMO-SHAKUR SET FOR JANUARY SHOWDOWN IN NEW YORK , Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Middleweight Dante Kirkman Set to Return December 11 in Costa Mesa , Tue, 02 Dec 2025Dejon Farrell Francis Turning Things Around , Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David 'The Mexican Monster' Benavidez Excited About History-Making Cinco De Mayo Showdown with Gilberto Ramirez , Tue, 02 Dec 2025PPV.COM RETURNS TO THE RING LIVE STREAMING ALL-ACTION TITLE TILT ISAAC "PITBULL" CRUZ vs. LAMONT ROACH, JR , Tue, 02 Dec 2025Llover Eyes Winner of Salas-Ngexeke IBF Title Duel in Mexico By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 01 Dec 2025Jimuel draws in pro debut By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 01 Dec 2025Kevin Durant sets new NBA record By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 01 Dec 2025LAZARO LORENZANA CAPTURES WBC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE OVER LUIS ARIAS , Sun, 30 Nov 2025Paras fails bid for IBO world super fly title By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 30 Nov 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|