Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart has long been lauded for his defensive prowess.
During Tuesday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets, Smart blocked a Jarrett Allen dunk -- leading to an even bigger discussion surrounding his incredible defensive play.
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While Smart's teammates probably think he should win the Defensive Player of the Year award, he's now getting some recognition from 13-time All-Star Dwyane Wade.
"What Marcus Smart has done, I mean you saw him tonight when he met 'The Fro' at the rim," studio analyst Wade said on TNT's telecast, according to Celtics reporter Taylor Snow. "I mean he's fearless. And it's not just the blocks; it's the hustle, it's the diving on the floor for the ball, it's the switching one through five that the guy does. So I think he deserves more credit."
Here are Wade's full comments:
Smart's 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks average on the season doesn't begin to show how incredible he's been on defense over his six-year Celtics' career. He's been in DPOY discussion for some time now, and maybe this season he'll receive the recognition he deserves.
On top of his incredible defensive play, Smart is averaging 12.9 points and 4.9 assists on the season while shooting 38.0 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc.
So, while he's typically associated with his defensive capabilities, he can also provide some solid offense as well.
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