The
Celtics sounded like a well-prepared team Thursday afternoon. If nothing else, they were in unison while addressing the questions surrounding
Marcus Smart’s one-game preseason suspension.
“That’s internal,” said Ime Udoka after The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Smart would be held out of Friday’s preseason finale against Miami. “We’ve handled it.”
Smart echoed that sentiment. So did Robert Williams, who fielded a question about whether Smart had apologized to the team. The Celtics apparently wanted to avoid piling on top of the drama. As ESPN reported and The Athletic also confirmed, Smart had missed a team flight to Orlando earlier this week. Udoka and the two players neglected to share any specifics.
“It’s just a situation we’re handling internally,” Williams said. “Obviously, can’t wait for him to be back.”
Smart eventually joined the Celtics in Florida. He attended the team’s 103-102 preseason loss to the Magic on Wednesday night, but, like many of the team’s regulars, did not play in that game. According to the Celtics, Smart, Jayson Tatum, Dennis Schröder and Josh Richardson all sat out for rest. Jaylen Brown and
