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Marcus Smart named Kia Defensive Player of the Year

 The news caught me off guard, but Celtics guard, Marcus Smart, has finally been named Kia Defensive Player of the Year. He beat out Phoenix wing, Mikal Bridges, and Utah center, Rudy Gobert.


Smart is the first guard to win DPOY since Gary Payton took the award in the 95-96 season. The Celtics finishing the regular season with a 51-31 record and the top Defensive Rating in the League certainly helped the tenacious guard earn this recognition, but Smart's dedication to disrupting opponents' offenses was the key.

Count me as close-to-emotional over the news. "This is for you, Mama!" is what Marcus wrote in recognition of his late mom, Camellia. We thank her for her gift to Boston, the Celtics community and that Beantown fans that adore her gift to us. 


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