Marcus Smart thinks some officials have personal vendettas

By HoopsHype | March 11, 2023

What’s the buzz on Twitter? Souichi Terada @SouichiTeradaMarcus Smart says he re-tweaked his ankle last night, among other bumps. But otherwise says he’s feeling alright despite some physical play recently. – 12:02 PM Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobeMarcus Smart when asked about his constant foul trouble of late: “I don’t know if you guys seen Fred VanVleet’s interview. That’s all I’m going to say. That lets you know I’m not speaking out of my butt. I’m gonna let Fred do all the talking.” #Celtics #NBA – 12:02 PM Jay King @ByJayKingAl Horford gave Marcus Smart a look before that play. Pretty sure he let Smart know to just cut and Horford would find him. Sure enough, Smart dove straight to the rim, Tatum hit Horford and Horford found Smart for an easy layup. Everyone on the same page. – 7:52 PM More on this storyline Marcus Smart certainly saw it. Nobody enjoyed it more. When players are upset after a game, they usually say, “I don’t want to get fined,” before saying something that’s going to get them fined. VanVleet said, “I’ll take a fine, I don’t really care.” By taking that fine, he’s opening the door for everyone else to curse out the refs in public under the guise of pleading the VanFifth. On Thursday night VanVleet was fined $30,000 by the NBA for his public criticism of the officiating. “I don’t know if you guys have seen Fred VanVleet’s interview, (but) that’s all I’m gonna say,” Smart said Thursday, before then saying more, of course. “Obviously, it let you know that I’m not speaking out of my butt. And I’m not the only one that feels that way. So, I’m gonna let Fred do all the talking.” -via The Athletic / March 11, 2023 Walking into Celtics practice Thursday, it was clear these words reverberated around the league. Everyone from the players to support staff and media were talking about it. “Did you see what Fred said,” must have been uttered 20 times. Marcus Smart certainly saw it. Nobody enjoyed it more. When players are upset after a game, they usually say, “I don’t want to get fined,” before saying something that’s going to get them fined. VanVleet said, “I’ll take a fine, I don’t really care.” By taking that fine, he’s opening the door for everyone else to curse out the refs in public under the guise of pleading the VanFifth. On Thursday night VanVleet was fined $30,000 by the NBA for his public criticism of the officiating. “I don’t know if you guys have seen Fred VanVleet’s interview, (but) that’s all I’m gonna say,” Smart said Thursday, before then saying more, of course. “Obviously, it let you know that I’m not speaking out of my butt. And I’m not the only one that feels that way. So, I’m gonna let Fred do all the talking.” -via The Athletic / March 10, 2023