Game 3 of the NBA Finals boiled the Marcus Smart experience down to its purest form. His impact, for better and worse, was singular, with a blend of tough shot-making, furious on- and off-ball defense, reckless jump passes and curious decisions that ultimately helped elevate the Celtics to a 2-1 series lead.
It was in so many ways a quintessential performance from Boston’s longest-tenured player, a ball of deliberate energy whose impact on any given possession transcends analytical quantification. He finished with a quiet albeit critical 24 points (on 17 shots), three threes, seven rebounds and five assists.