Marcus Smart’s physicality, energy vital for Boston Celtics in NBA Finals against potent Golden State Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — Early in life, Boston’s Marcus Smart learned two aspects about himself that helped him later in life.

The youngest of four brothers, Smart said. “You ain’t got no choice but to be tough, and that’s just how it was.”

That explains his toughness.

And endless energy left his mom exasperated.

“Just constantly going, couldn’t sit still,” Smart said. “And my mom, she put me in every sport. I played football. I played basketball. I played soccer. I played baseball. A little bit of everything, just to try to wear me down. Then when she realized it’s not working and I’m just still going like the Energizer Bunny, she was like, ‘Listen, there’s nothing I can do.’

“And from then on for me it’s something I adopted and really took it head on. It’s what I pride myself on, just being able to keep going.”

That explains Smart’s motor.

Being physical and relentless has made Smart one of the premier defenders in the NBA, and he was rewarded for his work on that side of the basketball, earning the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year award – the first guard to win the award since Gary Payton in 1996.

In the Finals against Golden State, Smart has the toughest assignments because of the way Boston switches so much: defend Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

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At his size (6-4, 220 pounds), he can defend guards and forwards which allows more versatility for Boston’s defense, which was the top-rated defense in the league this season.

“He brings the physicality every night, kind of gets everybody else in line,” Celtic coach Ime Udoka said.

Playing elite defense requires physical skills, smarts and focus.

“Not a lot of people like to sit down and play…