Celtics’ Marcus Smart is embracing being the ‘Bad Guy’ for Warriors fans
The Celtics’ point guard has built quite a reputation for himself, but he doesn’t seem to care and it works for him.
If the Celtics are going to get the better of the Golden State Warriors it’s going to take exactly the kind of approach that their point guard has been utilizing for a while now.
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Marcus Smart knows Warriors fans don’t like him and why
When Marcus Smart dived for a loose ball in a game against the Golden State Warriors just under three months ago, he collided with Warriors star Steph Curry - his knee to be precise - and the result was that Curry was forced to miss the remaining three weeks of the regular season and even started the post season from the bench, as he worked to regain fitness. At the time head coach Steve Kerr was livid and accused Smart of dirty play. Where the fans were concerned, the Warriors faithful exploded on social media with absolute animosity.
That, however, doesn’t seem to be a problem for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, in fact Smart actually expects a rowdy reception from the Warriors’ fans when the NBA Finals tip off on Thursday night in San Francisco. One could even say that as he is, Smart is actually looking forward to the moment. “I’m used to it. When am I not a target by fans, especially while going up against their favorite player? It’s always been like that,” Smart said.
The Celtics will need Marcus Smart to stop Steph Curry
With his apparent indifference to the ‘bad boy’ perception that the public has of him, Smart appears to be embracing the manner in which it fuels him. “I know I’m not the league’s favorite, I know I’m not the fan favorite all the time and I know I’m not a lot of people’s favorite player. My whole life has been like that. I’ve always been the underdog. I’ve always been the player that’s easily targeted to root against because of the way I play,” he said. “I’m not the most likable player and I thrive off it. So it’s nothing new to me. I think I have a pretty good mental toughness about it. My team got my back, so I’m good.”
Good he will have to be or probably even better, given the challenge he is about to face in the Warriors’ Steph Curry. The Western Conference Finals MVP is in as good a run of form as he’s ever been and apparently rearing to go. If there is one positive for Smart, however, it’s that not only is he conscious of the the threat, he seems to be totally focused on preparing for it. “My first Finals appearance going against one of the greatest who has been here and done it multiple times as the best shooters we have ever seen. I just take the assignment like any other match-up, but this one I’m probably focused a bit more. I’m studying every aspect of his game, just making sure I try to understand to the best of my ability. And I’m really going to make sure I get my rest and my sleep to make sure I’m ready to go.”