SALT LAKE CITY – After lighting up the Utah Jazz summer league team for 26 points, eight assists with just two turnovers, Celtics fans were eager to see what Marcus Smart would do for an encore.
Well a repeat performance won’t happen tonight with the Celtics opting to rest the second-year guard in order to give more playing time to some of the team’s other young guards.
Starting in place of Smart will be rookie R.J. Hunter, who was scoreless in Monday’s 100-82 loss to the Jazz.
Prior to summer league beginning, Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga said that the team would change up the lineup regularly, with some guys not playing at all some nights while logging major minutes others.
The Celtics are wise to sit Smart often during the team’s summer league slate.
He is one of the few players participating who will in all likelihood be a starter when the regular season begins.
In addition to Smart, the Celtics also made another lineup change with their first unit with Jonathan Holmes starting in place of C.J. Fair.
Boston Celtics