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Writer's pictureWill Tondo

For people who slept on Marcus Smart, shame on you. The Celtics Guard just won DPOY at +4000 odds

Any team fans who simultaneously gamble, always love to sprinkle some odds on their teams and players. MVP, league winners, whatever the case may be. Most of the times its bullish and bias, but other times, there's true merit behind the bet. If there was ever a time to bet on your guy, it was this season for Celtics fans, who banked on Marcus Smart winning Defensive Player of the Year.


His odds at the beginning of the season were +4000. At one point of the season, it shot up to 500-to-1. He quickly closed that gap as the favorite.


If you bet $10 at the start of the season, you'd be up $4,000. $100 bucks, you're taking home 40k pre taxes.


Alas, I am here writing a blog on Smart's performance rather than cashing in. But how are you not entertained? Marcus Smart has been touted as a trade chip or depth piece, now he is laughing at the haters as the newly minted DPOY. Marcus Smart is the best perimeter defender in the NBA and his stats back up the award perfectly.

  • 1st in team defensive rating (106.2)

  • 1st in team points allowed per game (104.5)

  • 1st in loose balls recovered per game (1.1)

  • 5th in defensive rating by guards (105.2)

  • 7th in steals per game (1.68)

  • T-10 in deflections (106)

  • T-10 in charges drawn (16)

  • Career High DREB (3.2 per game)

The Defensive Player of the Year has been primarily a big-mans award, but the 8-year Celtics guard did the unthinkable, winning the award as the first guard since 1996, when Gary Payton claimed the title. What made the moment even cooler was the fact that The Glove presented Smart with the award.



Smart received 257 points with 37 first place votes. He took down Mikal Bridges of the Suns (202) and Rudy Gobert of the Jazz (136). Defense will be the key for the Celtics to go far in this playoff run, especially this first round to the Nets.


Gotta give a shoutout to our SSBT gents, these dudes have been on Smart since the beginning.


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