Bucks vs Celtics: NBA Christmas Day injury report | Will Marcus Smart be able to play?

The Celtics are in the middle of a rough patch, that much is clear. On the other hand, the health issues that have plagued the team in recent days really don’t help either, but they’ve got stability where their coach is concerned and they may just be about to get one of their key players back, for their Christmas Day clash with the Bucks.

Brad Stevens gives update on Joe Mazulla

If you recall, Joe Mazzulla was named interim head coach back in September, following the scandal that erupted around former coach Ime Udoka. Mazulla has retained that title since then and to be fair he’s been key in helping the Celtics to play very well during the initial phases of this season. Despite the fact that the team has seen its share of struggles recently, all signs point to Mazulla retaining his job and quite frankly, he’s worth it. While there has been no official word on the situation, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens acknowledged that the Mazulla has been performing like a full-time coach and more importantly, the team is happy.

“We haven’t really even talked about it recently,” Stevens said. “The focus has been on how to make this team and staff and give everything we need to make sure we’re as good as we can be. He’s running the show. The title is the title, and we’ll have updates at a later date on all that other stuff. He’s doing a good job. He’s running it like the head coach runs it.”

Celtics injury report: The Marcus Smart question

The big question for everyone ahead of their Christmas Day date with the Milwaukee Bucks was whether or not former Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart, would play. Smart, who has been suffering with a non-covid19 illness was a late exclusion in Friday’s game against the Timberwolves, but has since been upgraded to ‘probable.’ Yet, as the saying goes: ‘to those who much is given, much can be taken away.’ That’s to say, that though Smart may return, it looks like the Celtics will have to do without Robert Williams. Here’s a look at the injury report heading into the Bucks clash: