Whether you are in the schoolyard or the prison yard, the theory remains the same: If you’re the new guy and want to
prove your toughness, go pick a fight with the biggest guy in the yard.
That’s what Boston Celtics rookie Marcus Smart did in Wednesday’s home win over the Sacramento Kings.
In the fourth quarter with the Celtics pulling away, the 6-4, 220-pound Smart ran directly into the chest of the 6-11, 270-pound DeMarcus Cousins, who was trying to set a screen.
Smart wasn’t done, though. A shot went up and the two jostled for boxout position. Smart may or may not have taken a cheap shot at Cousins, whose frustration boiled over. He threw Smart to the floor, and the rookie bounced right back up, looking for more.
Cousins was ejected, completing one of Smart’s best games thus far in a fragmented rookie season. He collected 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 106-84 victory. More importantly, he gained the attention of anyone who may have been watching that he has the toughness to compete in the NBA. “I’m one of those guys that’s not going to back down from anything,” Smart said afterward. “I’m going to let that be known.”
“That’s when he’s at his best. There’s no question about that,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.
Smart has shown that in other ways as well, most notably with his on-ball defense and willingness to get on the floor after loose balls. That has been perhaps his best attribute in a rookie season interrupted by ankle and Achilles injuries.But Stevens needs to see a different type of toughness from Smart – mental toughness.
By trading Rajon Rondo, the Celtics expedited what most saw coming when they took Smart with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft: the team’s next point guard. And Smart hasn’t quite moved into that role.
The Rondo trade brought back veteran Jameer Nelson, who had been starting until the last week, when Smart received a pair of starts vs. Brooklyn and Washington with pedestrian results. On Thursday, he came off the bench behind Evan Turner – who responded with a career-high 11 assists – and played alongside Nelson, sharing the point guard duties.
Stevens also is in a bit of a tough spot. While no one would deny that the Celtics are rebuilding, they also are just one game out of the embarrassment known as the Eastern Conference playoff race. For a team with seven players on their rookie contracts, a trip to the postseason – even if it lasts just four or five games – would do wonders for building confidence and expectations.
Smart certainly has all the physical tools to succeed in the NBA. Stevens would like to seem him develop the mental tools required for the game’s most cerebral position and play more instinctively.
“I don’t know if it’s mechanical as much as just thinking,” Stevens said. “When you’re tasked with running the offense and getting people in spots and playing well yourself, it’s a difficult job. And I think that being able to manage those duties a little bit with a guy like Jameer is helpful. So I think that we’ll see, we’ll see how it continues to play itself out, but he’s going to have some ups and downs and I just hope he continues to play hard through them.”
That shouldn’t be a problem for Smart, who said he wants his reputation to be “when people think of me just think a tough guy, that’s never going to back down from anything and isn’t gonna take nothing from nobody.”
After his tussle with Cousins, no one should doubt Smart’s ability to play tough. Now he has to play well.
1. ANDREW WIGGINS, F, MINNESOTA: His team keeps losing, but don’t blame him. In four games this week, 
Wiggins averaged 20 points while shooting nearly 50 percent (32-of-65) from the field, adding 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals. He averaged nearly 15 points per game in December with five games of 20-plus points and is starting to create some separation in the ROY race. LAST WEEK: 1
2. NIKOLA MIROTIC, F, CHICAGO: After going for 10 points and six boards in a win over New Orleans, Mirotic 
managed just 10 and eight in the next three games. That may be due to coach Tom Thibodeau’s idea of playing him some minutes at small forward. “We got to keep working at it,” Thibodeau said. “It’s going to take some time. I think it’s hard for him to pick up two positions right now.” LAST WEEK: 2
3. ELFRID PAYTON, G, ORLANDO: It’s not just Payton who has been better since returning to the starting lineup. 
The Magic have been better, too, splitting their last six outings to move within two games of the East’s final playoff spot. Throw out an 0-of-7 stinker in his first game back as starter and Payton is averaging 8.2 points, 6.4 assists and 1.8 steals in five games. LAST WEEK: 5
4. NERLENS NOEL, F-C, PHILADELPHIA: He has been playing despite an ankle injury – usually a no-no in 
Philadelphia’s “rebuilding” plan – which may explain some of his awful 33 percent shooting in three losses this week. He also is playing both forward and center, which is part of the plan. “We’re trying to grow him in both spots,” coach Brett Brown said. LAST WEEK: 3
5. K.J. MCDANIELS, F, PHILADELPHIA: Is he getting tired? Making his way onto opposing scouting reports? Or simply regressing to the mean? In November, McDaniels averaged 10.6 points on 46 percent shooting, including nearly 40 percent from the arc. In December, those numbers dropped to 8.2 ppg, 34 percent shooting overall and just 18 percent (8-of-44) from deep. LAST WEEK: 4
6. JUSUF NURKIC, C, DENVER: The big man is coming along. Nurkic had his best week of the season, 
averaging 10.0 points on 56 percent shooting with 6.8 rebounds in just 16.3 minutes over four games while notching a season-high 16 points vs. the Lakers and his first double-double vs. the Bulls. He is making JaVale McGee look more tradeable with every game. LAST WEEK: 10
7. ZACH LAVINE, G, MINNESOTA: He used garbage time to amass 12 points and 14 assists in a loss to Golden State, giving him averages of 8.5 points and 6.0 assists in four games this week. In December, he shot below 40 percent overall and 23 percent from the arc. The Timberwolves haven’t won since Dec. 10, and more of LaVine’s minutes continue to go to Mo Williams. LAST WEEK: 6
8. MARCUS SMART, G, BOSTON: Welcome back, even if it is on the strength of just one good game and a lot of 
speculation. But the opportunity to display his skills is clearly there for Smart, who has to learn to temper his tough, physical play with, well, smarts. In his last six contests, he has 33 points but also has 32 combined fouls and turnovers. LAST WEEK: NR
9. RODNEY HOOD, G, UTAH: Here’s your big chance, kid. With Alec Burks now out for the season, Hood has been 
elevated to starter at shooting guard. However, averaging 5.7 points while shooting 5-of-19 in three games last week won’t keep him there. The Jazz have been winning, which should buy him some time. But returning Gordon Hayward to shooting guard remains an option. LAST WEEK: 9
10. NIK STAUSKAS, G, SACRAMENTO: He resurfaced with 11 points in the overtime win vs. New York and followed with eight 
points at Brooklyn, perhaps his best back-to-back games of the season. Of course, Stauskas followed that with four points on 1-of-10 shooting over the next two games. Still not a full-fledged rotation member, and his spot in this table is tenuous at best. LAST WEEK: NR
DROPOUTS: Bojan Bogdanovic, F, Brooklyn (7); P.J. Hairston, G, Charlotte (8).
FIVE TO WATCH: Kyle Anderson, F, San Antonio; Dante Exum, G, Utah; Jerami Grant, F, Philadelphia; Joe Harris, F, Cleveland; JaKarr Sampson, F, Philadelphia.
Chris Bernucca is the managing editor of SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear Mondays, and his Rookie Rankings on Fridays. Follow him on Twitter.