Defensive Player of the Year finalists: Rudy Gobert, Marcus Smart, Mikal Bridges
Source: Twitter @IraHeatBeat
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetMikal Bridges just tried to end the series – 11:31 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetMikal Bridges picks up his 4th foul and then a technical foul. Which, to give Mikal Bridges a tech…. – 11:27 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlsonMikal Bridges technical foul I’m Ron Burgundy? – 11:27 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetCJ McCollum heating up here, Mikal Bridges waiting at the scorer’s table to get back on him – 11:12 PM
Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_LopezFrom @ESPNStatsInfo:
New Orleans shot 0-of-10 against Mikal Bridges in the first half. – 10:36 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetDPOY highlights left and right for Mikal Bridges. And then Deandre Ayton reminds everyone he’s not so bad on that end either! – 10:05 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetTorrey Craig and JaVale McGee the next Suns subs in for Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton. Book the only starter on the floor right now – 9:35 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetDeandre Ayton, Cam Payne and Mikal Bridges have been in playoff form whenever Nevada comes on all season long pic.twitter.com/0FGyNtBZQq – 9:03 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetMikal Bridges goes Iron Man, and Chris Paul had something to say before JaVale McGee came in wondering where his dogs were at: pic.twitter.com/4SBwtDPmd8 – 8:54 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobbMarcus Smart got some good news about his chances for winning NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Sunday masslive.com/celtics/2022/0… – 8:27 PM
Christian Clark @cclark_13Pelicans starters:
CJ McCollum
Herb Jones
Brandon Ingram
Jaxson Hayes
Jonas Valanciunas
Suns starters:
Chris Paul
Devin Booker
Mikal Bridges
Jae Crowder
Deandre Ayton – 8:25 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobbMarcus Smart on being DPOY finalist: “It would be an honor to win it but for now, I’m playing for something bigger.” – 7:06 PM
Jay King @ByJayKingMarcus Smart said he tells teammates just to cut when he has the ball: “When you think I don’t see you, that’s when I see you the most.” – 7:02 PM
Jay King @ByJayKingMarcus Smart on the final play: “First off, you’ve gotta credit Ime for trusting us in that situation.”
Smart said he’s always been told that you have more time than you think. Said he was planning to find Horford, then spotted Tatum flashing open at the last second. – 6:58 PM
StatMuse @statmuseMarcus Smart last 3 seasons
2019-20: 2020-21: 2021-22:
11.4 FGA 10.6 FGA 10.1 FGA
6.6 3PA 5.9 3PA 5.1 3PA
4.9 APG 5.7 APG 5.9 APG
Passing up that three was the embodiment of this growth. pic.twitter.com/FsILxeMa8d – 6:36 PM
Eric Walden @tribjazzRudy Gobert is a finalist for DPOY pic.twitter.com/HtCapgjSCp – 6:29 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBAIme Udoka says Marcus Smart passing up the last shot shows his maturity as a playmaker and how the team evolved over the year: “We’ve gotten away from the your turn, my turn and we enjoy seeing each other succeed. Get those assist numbers up.” – 6:26 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobbIme Udoka on Marcus Smart making the game-winning assist over taking the shot: “It shows growth.” – 6:25 PM
Ben Anderson @BensHoopsRudy Gobert is officially a finalist for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/Fab4N2oZd3 – 6:17 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBAMarcus Smart has been named a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year alongside Mikal Bridges and Rudy Gobert, per the NBA. – 6:16 PM
Ryan Miller @millerjryanRudy Gobert is a finalist for what would be his 4th defensive player of the year award.
Marcus Smart and Mikal Bridges are the other two finalists. – 6:15 PM
Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBAI can’t get over Marcus Smart having the restraint to not shoot with 3.5 left. Patient play to pump fake, drawing two defenders. Jayson Tatum had the spin finish also great awareness to have such an timely cut to give Smart a target. Beautiful basketball. pic.twitter.com/TOufyXjMc7 – 6:14 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsenRudy Gobert will at least be in the top-3 for DPOY. Marcus Smart, Mikal Bridges the other finalists. – 6:14 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankinMikal Bridges, Rudy Gobert and Marcus Smart #NBA Defensive Player of The Year finalist. #Suns pic.twitter.com/8WejAFczZ5 – 6:13 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBAMarcus Smart has been named a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. – 6:13 PM
Michael Pina @MichaelVPinamarcus smart on the game-winning drive and kick pic.twitter.com/HG3vKRHUYs – 6:12 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKidMan, Marcus Smart made the PLAY OF THE GAME to not chuck that shot and actually shot fake and pass it. Great awareness of the situation and clock!!! – 6:12 PM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_ChiangBam Adebayo not one of the three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year. Bridges, Gobert and Smart are the three DPOY finalists.
Erik Spoelstra is a finalist for Coach of the Year along with Taylor Jenkins and Monty Williams. – 6:11 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeatBam Adebayo NOT a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. It’s Rudy Gobert, Marcus Smart, Mikal Bridges. – 6:10 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzzBam not even a finalist for defensive player of year. Mikal Bridges, Gobert and Smart are finalists just announced. – 6:10 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetMikal Bridges joins Marcus Smart and Rudy Gobert as the 3 finalists for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award – 6:10 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeerMarcus Smart makes winning basketball play – example 7,456 – 6:10 PM
Draymond Green @Money23GreenAnd there’s the difference in the Celtics team. Last year Marcus Smart would’ve taken that shot. Ime got him to buy in and be the Marcus smart everyone loved out of Ok State. BEAUTIFUL! Looking like a true PG again! That’s what made Him special! – 6:08 PM
Alan Hahn @alanhahnIncredible poise on that pass by Marcus Smart. He had a tremendous game. Such a ridiculously valuable player. #Celtics – 6:08 PM
Tas Melas @TasMelasThe fact that Marcus Smart didn’t take that shot and had incredible poise to find a better one. 🤯 – 6:08 PM
Rob Mahoney @RobMahoneyPretty strong endorsement there for Point Guard Marcus Smart. – 6:07 PM
Meghan Triplett @Meghan_TriplettI was screaming call a timeout and look at the Celtics! Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum wowww – 6:07 PM
Jeff Goodman @GoodmanHoopsIme Udoka opts not to call the timeout and the decision pays off.
Great patience by Marcus Smart.
Celtics take Game 1. – 6:07 PM
Quinton Mayo @RealQuintonMayoWhy won’t Marcus Smart check Kyrie?
Ain’t he the DPOY? – 6:02 PM
Jordan Schultz @Schultz_ReportI cannot get over this “hockey” assist from Marcus Smart. Absolutely impossible pass leads to the Jaylen Brown triple.
#Nets #Celtics pic.twitter.com/DTEp7BOCu5 – 5:58 PM
Dan Favale @danfavalegenuinely unreal pass from marcus smart pic.twitter.com/TyrXB2502e – 5:56 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed“Kyrie sucks!” chants have intensified here at TD Garden after Irving inadvertently hit Marcus Smart in the face while going up for a shot. Foul is still on Smart, and Irving is at the line shooting two. – 5:14 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothersMarcus Smart is as high end as role players get. Elite defensively, and solid offensively, with enough talent to go on the occasional heater. AK – 5:11 PM
Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbachMarcus Smart has more 3-pointers than Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined, if you were curious. – 5:11 PM
Jay King @ByJayKingJust a monster third quarter so far from Marcus Smart. – 5:10 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobbGame-high 18 points for Marcus Smart. Just a monster effort from him this half. – 5:10 PM
Michael C. Wright @mikecwrightYa probably wanna start guarding Marcus Smart. – 5:10 PM
Kristian Winfield @KrisplashedNets just not gonna guard Marcus Smart – 5:10 PM
John Karalis @John_KaralisMarcus Smart with some huge plays in an 11-2 start to the 3rd quarter. Boston now out to its biggest lead – 5:04 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatzMarcus Smart never breaks character – 5:04 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopperCeltics with an 11-2 start to the second half — Marcus Smart doing Marcus Smart things. – 5:04 PM
A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakelyOK, Marcus Smart! We see you! – 5:03 PM
John Hollinger @johnhollingerMarcus Smart rim protection against Kevin Durant holy crap, perfect verticality and altered the shot. – 4:36 PM
Kristian Winfield @KrisplashedKD just hit a shot over both Marcus Smart and Al Horford. Durant is now 2-of-8 from the field for 7 points. That shot might get him going. – 4:31 PM
Chris Grenham @chrisgrenhamGreat pass from Marcus Smart here: pic.twitter.com/tpFWmPY8AE – 3:45 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopperOther than catching the opening tip Kyrie doesn’t touch the ball on first Nets possession – partly due to Marcus Smart defense and thankfully for my hearing since they are loud when he touches it. – 3:42 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBACeltics starters this afternoon:
Daniel Theis
Al Horford
Jayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Marcus Smart
Nets starters:
Andre Drummond
Bruce Brown
Kevin Durant
Seth Curry
Kyrie Irving – 3:02 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBAIme Udoka confirms that Daniel Theis will start this afternoon alongside Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart. – 1:50 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsenBogdanovic: “We’ve got to put our ego to the side & trust each other… We really have a great group of guys who aren’t looking for individual stats. Especially Rudy Gobert, having just 1 shot & being the best player on the floor. I don’t know another NBA player who can do that.” – 12:50 PM
JD Shaw @JShawNBANBA’s best from April 16:
– T. Maxey: 38 pts, 4 reb, 14-21 fg
– A. Edwards: 36 pts, 6 ast, 2 blk
– J. Morant: 32 pts, 4 reb, 8 ast
– K. Towns: 29 pts, 13 reb, +16
– T. Harris: 26 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast
– J. Harden: 22 pts, 14 ast, 1 to
– R. Gobert: 5 pts, 17 reb, 3 blk – 10:40 AM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatkoRudy Gobert yesterday:
17 REB 3 BLK 0-1 FGThe only player in the last 60 NBA postseasons to record more rebounds without making a shot from the field is Ben Wallace on May 28, 2004 (19).
Jarrett Allen also had 17 rebounds without making a field goal on Aug. 21, 2020. pic.twitter.com/LbID71klJY – 10:31 AM
Steve Popper @StevePopperCeltics’ Smart aims to make things tough on Kyrie
Marcus Smart is key to Boston’s top-rated defense front-runner for NBA Defensive Player of the Year. newsday.com/sports/basketb… – 9:59 AM
Stephen Noh @StephNohThe NBA stats page tracked 49 Donovan Mitchell passes in Game 1. Exactly one went to Rudy Gobert.
https://t.co/nWuacivw3t pic.twitter.com/dNpotDABct – 9:24 AM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburnSince the Suns don’t need Mikal Bridges until the second round, can the Nuggets borrow him? – 1:31 AM
Ryan Miller @millerjryanRudy Gobert had one shot attempt in Game 1; he was still the reason the Jazz won ksl.com/article/503885… – 8:23 PM
Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBAIs Marcus Smart Defensive Player of the Year?
Marcus Smart tells Brian Scalabrine what it would mean to win the award.
#BleedGreen | #DPOY pic.twitter.com/lEPOXvqRJm – 7:37 PM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatkoRudy Gobert today:
17 REB 3 BLK 0-1 FGThe only player in the last 60 NBA postseasons to record more rebounds while attempting one or fewer shots from the field is Dennis Rodman on May 13, 1991 (18 rebounds, one FG attempt). pic.twitter.com/AXVovLMlXw – 6:35 PM
More on this storyline
Keith Smith: Marcus Smart on being a Defensive Player of the Year nominee: “I think I have a chance to win, and it’s an honor to even be mentioned. But, honestly, I’m playing for something bigger. My focus is on Wednesday.” -via Twitter @KeithSmithNBA / April 17, 2022 Josh Lewenberg: To little surprise, Scottie Barnes has been announced as a finalist for Rookie of the Year, along with Evan Mobley and Cade Cunningham. Award winners will be announced during the playoffs. -via Twitter @JLew1050 / April 17, 2022 Gerald Bourguet: Monty Williams joins Taylor Jenkins and Erik Spoelstra as the 3 finalists for the NBA’s Coach of the Year award -via Twitter @GeraldBourguet / April 17, 2022