The opening game of the first-round NBA playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets lived up to the massive hype that came along with it.
With the No. 7-seeded Nets clinging to a one-point lead with under 10 seconds seconds remaining in regulation, the Celtics were scrambling to get a shot off before the buzzer. Jaylen Brown kicked the ball out beyond the 3-point line to Marcus Smart, who pump-faked and drove towards the basket.
Instead of pulling up and taking a mid-range jumper or taking a floater, Smart drove and dished to a cutting Jayson Tatum, who spun around Kyrie Irving and made an incredible layup before time expired, giving the Celtics a thrilling 115-114 win in Game 1 at TD Garden.
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While most people were focused on Tatum, Warriors star Draymond Green -- one of the smartest basketball minds in the game -- keyed on the play Smart made.
Andre Iguodala saw exactly what Green saw.
The Celtics underwent a massive change at head coach last summer when Brad Stevens decided to leave the post and take a front office role with the team. Boston ultimately hired former Brooklyn assistant coach Ime Udoka to be the new coach.
And things weren't going smoothly for Udoka, Smart and the Celtics during the first few months of this season. After they lost to the NBA-best Phoenix Suns on Dec. 31, Boston had a 17-19 record.
Golden State Warriors
But as Green noted, Udoka finally got the Celtics to buy into what he wanted them to do and they turned things around after the New Year. From Jan. 1 on, Boston went 34-12, finishing the season with a 51-31 record, good enough for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
In the midst of Tatum having an MVP-type season, Smart became the point guard Green mentioned. The 28-year-old averaged a career-high 5.9 assists per game this season and since Jan. 1, that number was 6.2 assists per game.
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Green can see the game like few others can, which is why he has a future as a TV analyst after his playing days are over.
Tatum will get the headlines for his game-winning shot, but it was Smart who made the heads-up play that led to the bucket and Green saw it all the way.