Robert Williams backs Marcus Smart for Defensive Player of the Year

Jay King: Why would Robert Williams vote for Marcus Smart for DPOY? “Look at what he doing.”
Source: Twitter @ByJayKing

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Jay King @ByJayKing
Robert Williams on the knee soreness that sidelined him against OKC: “Really any little injury obviously coming toward the playoff time you get as much maintenance on it as you can. But definitely something I’ve gotta stay on top of.” – 1:41 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Robert Williams on his young daughter: “She don’t really get excited for dunks. If she just sees me on TV, she’ll get more excited about that. Like, ‘That’s my daddy.’” – 1:37 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Robert Williams said he was extremely sleep deprived after his son was born earlier this season: “I’m just ready for my daughter, my oldest, to get to the age where she can watch him.” – 1:26 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Breaking: Rob Williams says he’s actually down with the Time Lord nickname now.
“Over the past two years I took on Time Lord. I like it now.” – 1:22 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Why would Robert Williams vote for Marcus Smart for DPOY? “Look at what he doing.” – 1:13 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Marcus Smart in full practice gear today with the robe and slippers pic.twitter.com/pHShZRY9Dz – 12:55 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Yes, that’s Marcus Smart in his robe after practice. pic.twitter.com/hCLBc7i9IE – 12:55 PM David Thorpe @coachthorpe
In researching for a pod that has nothing to do with the DPOY award, I’ve established that my imaginary vote for that award goes to Marcus Smart. – 8:43 AM Jay King @ByJayKing
Basketball’s such a great game because every little detail impacts everything else. Jaylen Brown doesn’t get a stat during this sequence, but his defense allows Robert Williams time to catch up and block the shot. Then Brown frees up White simply by running the lane hard as hell. pic.twitter.com/H2F7kvaOBP – 11:49 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Jaylen Brown on Marcus Smart at point guard: “We believe in him and empower him.” – 10:38 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Jaylen Brown on Marcus Smart: “He’s been great. He’s running the show. He’s the point man. We empower him and believe in him. Marcus is a huge part of the turnaround.” – 10:38 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Jaylen Brown on Marcus Smart at point guard: “Marcus has been running the show. We’re trusting him to be the point person and he’s made it easier for everybody. … He’s a big reason why our team has really turned it around.” – 10:38 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Marcus Smart, Celtics offense toxicologist: “9 times out of 10, the poison that you pick isn’t good for you.” – 10:18 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Marcus Smart: “The only way is to have trust and confidence, individually and in each other.” – 10:17 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Marcus Smart on Boston’s dominant first quarter: “Having a blast. We were obviously not satisfied, but you have to enjoy those times because we’ve been through the other ways. We’ve been on the other end of those and they’re not pretty.” – 10:15 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Marcus Smart: “I don’t know how else to say it, but I’m finally in the right position that fits me and helps the team.” – 10:14 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Marcus Smart said he’s always been a point guard: “I’m finally in the right position.” – 10:14 PM Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Marcus Smart: “Me and Deuce (Tatum) have a love-hate relationship,” he says joking. Says Deuce is always trying to give him the business. #Celtics – 10:13 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Marcus Smart: “Me and Deuce got a love-hate relationship.”
Went on to explain that Deuce is always trying to attack him. Finished with “But we all love Deuce. That’s our guy.” – 10:13 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Marcus Smart on whether he felt Deuce hit him during the inbounds pass: “I actually did. Deuce and I have a love-hate relationship.”
Lol – 10:13 PM Mark Murphy @Murf56
Marcus Smart on those 37 assists, and his career-high 13: “We’re thinking great shot every time down right now.” – 10:11 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Marcus Smart on the Celtics ball movement: “It’s just selfless. We’re thinking great shot every time down. You might be the one to sacrifice, but you do it knowing the next time someone else will sacrifice for you.” – 10:11 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Marcus Smart on the Celtics’ ball movement: “It’s just selfless. We’re thinking great shot every time down.” – 10:11 PM Mark Murphy @Murf56
Celtics finish with a season-high 37 assists – a career-high 13 from Marcus Smart. – 9:45 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Another easy win for the Celtics against a playoff team, beating the Jazz 125-97. Marcus Smart with a career-high 13 assists and they won the blocks battle 10-1 against Rudy Gobert somehow. – 9:44 PM A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakely
The third quarter between the #Celtics and #Jazz ended with back-to-back blocked shots, neither by Robert Williams which is yet another reminder of how good this team is defensively, and how they don’t rely on just one or two guys to get the job done at that end of the floor. – 9:15 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Salute to Marcus Smart taking a charge late in the third quarter while ahead 91-64. – 9:10 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
13 assists for Marcus Smart. That’s a new career-high for the CELTICS POINT GUARD. – 9:06 PM Mark Murphy @Murf56
Marcus Smart has 13 assists – a career high – after that Derrick White three. – 9:05 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Marcus Smart with a new career-high 13 assists in the third quarter. – 9:05 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
New career-high for Marcus Smart, who has 13 assists – 9:05 PM Eric Walden @tribjazz
Robert Williams is everywhere right now – 9:02 PM Mark Murphy @Murf56
Rob Williams is wrecking the house right now. – 9:02 PM Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Robert Williams has had a special season defensively – 9:01 PM Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
Marcus Smart (playing the best hoops of his life for a weeks now) is destroying the Jazz on both ends with an extra-special “I can’t believe you took Dante Exum one spot ahead of me” vigor. – 8:46 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
I’m pretty sure Marcus Smart said “I owe you one” to Jayson Tatum after firing up that airball – 8:33 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
10 assists for Marcus Smart with 2:00 to play in the first half. His career-high of 12 is in danger of falling tonight. – 8:32 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Marcus Smart’s career high for assists is 12. He needs 3 more to to tie it – 8:10 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Marcus Smart is already 3 short of his career-high 12 assists and the second quarter is just starting – 8:08 PM Mark Murphy @Murf56
Marcus Smart just had a nine-assist first quarter – 8:08 PM Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
Marcus Smart with 9 first-quarter assists.
That ties the most in a quarter in Celtics history per @StatMuse. Rajon Rondo had 9 on November 14, 2014. pic.twitter.com/OeESpDNcdp – 8:06 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Marcus Smart has nine assists through one quarter. Sheesh. – 8:06 PM Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Marcus Smart has 9 assists in the quarter, the Jazz have 5. – 8:05 PM Eric Walden @tribjazz
In the game’s first 9:58:
• Celtics shoot 13-15 overall
• C’s go 6-6 from 3
• Jaylen Brown 13 points
• Jayson Tatum 9 points
• Timelord Batman Williams 7 rebounds
• Marcus Smart 7 assists
Jazz trail 34-18. – 8:00 PM Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Marcus Smart’s playmaking has been as big a reason as any for Boston’s success. Because Smart can handle those duties offensively, the Celtics can defend five positions at an elite level. – 7:59 PM A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakely
The #Celtics are shooting the hell out of the ball, but lost in all their shot-making has been the dime-dropping by @Marcus Smart who has seven assists in 10 minutes of court time. Is this the best version of Marcus Smart we’re seeing? pic.twitter.com/7xd68PR96r – 7:59 PM Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Marcus Smart is on pace for a 30 assist game. – 7:58 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
It’s funny how Rob Williams doesn’t even need to hide in the dunker spot to help the Celtics’ spacing anymore because even if his teammate air-balled a floater over the backboard he still could probably tip it in – 7:57 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
The Marcus Smart haters haven’t only gone silent, they’ve completely disappeared from my mentions entirely. – 7:57 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
What a pass by Marcus Smart!
Six assists already for Smart in this one. – 7:56 PM Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
Marcus Smart has 6 assists in 8 minutes. – 7:56 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Robert Williams says in a jumbotron video that if he owned a boat, he’d call it TimeLord.
This was a very important tweet – 7:46 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics starters tonight:
Robert Williams
Al Horford
Jayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Marcus Smart
Jazz starters:
Rudy Gobert
Eric Paschall
Royce O’Neale
Donovan Mitchell
Mike Conley – 7:08 PM Eric Walden @tribjazz
Quin Snyder talked about coming to Utah in 2014 and spending time on the phone with Marcus Smart during the predraft process and coming away feeling“You just knew he was gonna be successful in this league.” The Jazz wound up drafting Dante Exum No. 5; Smart went 6th to Boston. – 6:20 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Marcus Smart and Robert Williams are both officially available, per the Celtics. – 6:12 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Marcus Smart and Robert Williams are both officially available to play tonight. – 6:12 PM John Karalis @John_Karalis
Ime Udoka says Marcus Smart is in tonight… Robert Williams will test his right knee pregame but the expectation is that he’ll play – 6:10 PM Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Marcus Smart and Robert Williams are both going to warm up with the intention of playing tonight, per Celtics coach Ime Udoka. – 5:52 PM Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Ime Udoka says Marcus Smart is back from illness and Rob Williams will test out his right knee pre game but he is probable vs Utah. – 5:52 PM Jay King @ByJayKing
Marcus Smart and Robert Williams are both expected to play, per Ime Udoka. Williams will test it out before the game though. – 5:51 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Ime Udoka said the assumption is that Marcus Smart and Robert Williams will both play tonight. – 5:51 PM

More on this storyline

Eric Koreen: “I don’t think that’s a question. I think he deserves it.” Precious Achiuwa on Scottie Barnes for ROY -via Twitter @ekoreen / March 23, 2022 Brad Townsend: Jokes Kidd when asked if he should be a Coach of Year candidate: “That award is dangerous because that award leads to getting fired the next year.” He’s basically right. A lot of COYs don’t stay much longer. -via Twitter @townbrad / March 21, 2022 Cody Taylor: Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 22 of the 2021-22 season (March 14 – 20). -via Twitter @CodyTaylorNBA / March 21, 2022