Celtics' Marcus Smart: 'I doubt I'll play Sunday'
The slight optimism Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens had about Marcus Smart returning this weekend appears to be all for naught.
"I doubt I’ll play Sunday," Smart said after practice Thursday, according to Jay King of MassLive.com. "I couldn't really tell you (an expected return date). It just depends. One day my body feels good, probably one day it doesn't. I've got to listen to my body."
Stevens said Wednesday he felt there was a slim chance the rookie point guard could return to the lineup for Sunday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Smart hasn't played since Nov. 7 after spraining his left ankle in a win over the Indiana Pacers.
The initial timeline given for Smart's return was two-to-three weeks, so he's not behind schedule at this point. Although Smart says he's improving, the 20-year-old sounds like he has another big hurdle to clear before returning to game action.
"It’s low," Smart said when asked for a percentage of his health. "I couldn't really give you an exact number, but it is low. It’s a little bit higher than it was a couple days ago."
The point guard did some straight-line movement at Thursday's practice, but nothing from side-to-side, according to Stevens.
Smart is averaging 6.8 points in 20.4 minutes per game.