Marcus Smart snapped after the Boston Celtics’ 106-101 defeat to the Miami Heat.
With the loss, Boston fell to 0-2 in the series and is now staring down potential elimination from the playoffs.
As soon as the clock hit zero on Thursday night, an angry Smart stormed into the Celtics locker room and vocally began to express his frustration.
Marcus Smart is screaming in the #Celtics locker room and there is a bunch of arguing going on. Smart comes out say “y’all on that bullshit!” Team is imploding. Smart is in bathroom and there is still screaming coming from locker room.
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) September 18, 2020
Smart wasn’t the only one yelling. There were definitely items thrown and a lot of yelling. #Celtics
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) September 18, 2020
Been outside a bunch of locker rooms in my days. That’s was as raucous as I’ve ever heard. #Celtics
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) September 18, 2020
Marcus Smart is screaming at someone in the Celtics locker room — or several people. The yelling continues as Smart exits the locker room, swearing.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 18, 2020
Afterward, reactions to Smart’s tirade varied from non-acknowledgement to compassionate understanding.
Kemba Walker, for example, simply pretended it hadn’t happened.
“Nothing happened in the locker room,” he said.
“I don’t even know what you guys are talking about. We’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.”
When pressed on the yelling that had clearly been coming from the locker room, Walker simply doubled down.
She makes a reasonable point. https://t.co/oAFUDD5vcL
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 17, 2020
“It was nothing,” he said. “I’m not speaking about it.”
Jayson Tatum followed Walker’s lead.
“I don’t know who said that,” he said.
“I mean, we’re 0-2. I mean, we’re frustrated, but this is team sports.”
Jaylen Brown took a different approach.
“That’s why we love him,” he said.
“He plays with passion, he’s full of fire, and that’s what I love about him most to be honest. He has that desire and that will, and we need him to continue to have that. … Who Marcus is, I love him for it. We’ve got to get ready to come back with that same fire and add it to Game 3.”
Head coach Brad Stevens was similarly understanding of Smart’s reaction.
“Guys were emotional, after a hard game, hard loss,” he said.
Brad Stevens discusses the argument that took place in the #Celtics locker room tonight. pic.twitter.com/H9aPDTOPT0
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) September 18, 2020
Smart’s frustration is understandable. The Celtics controlled Game 2 for the majority of the first two quarters and went into halftime with a 60-47 lead. Unfortunately, a cold start in the third led to a 37-17 Heat run.
In the fourth quarter, Miami’s poise and resilience just proved to be too much for Boston.
Walker finished the night with 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Brown and Tatum chipped in 21 points each. Despite their efforts, though, the Celtics simply didn’t have what it took to come out on top.
The season will be on the line for Boston in Game 3. How will they respond? We’ll find out soon enough.
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