The Boston Celtics snatched a Game 4 victory to even things against the Chicago Bulls in the first round series between the two teams and, after the contest, seemingly no one from the Bulls side was pleased. First, head coach Fred Hoiberg tore into the officiating with regard to how they view Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas. Then, Bulls star Jimmy Butler took to the podium to address Marcus Smart after an in-game scuffle between the two players.
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With Boston threatening to run away and hide in the first half, it was easy to see why Butler might be frustrated and, as a result, get a bit chippy with Smart. On the flip side, though, Smart has a reputation for something of a trash talker that plays with an edge. Butler turned that into an accusation that Smart was only “acting tough” and that “he’s not about that life.”
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Butler was one of (very) few bright spots in the game for the Bulls, scoring 33 points and dishing out nine assists. Still, it isn’t a surprise that he and Smart would get into it at some point during what has been a long series, as Boston regularly deploys the versatile defender in an attempt to slow Butler’s offensive game.
With that said, this might not be the last we hear of this burgeoning rivalry, especially with the series now knotted at 2-2 as the scene shifts back to Boston. Jimmy Butler is, quite easily, the better player but Marcus Smart isn’t know for backing down and Boston is the team with the momentum moving forward. Buckle up.
