I hope you do, because he deserves it. He kind of had Celtic written all over him.”Smith’s moment in the Garden sun was fleeting. That annoyed Person. Game 1 of Bruins-Hurricanes postponed until Wednesday His contributions were enormous and he left an indelible mark on my youth and my adoration of the Celtics. People don’t know who he is now. It was a prepared voice, a strong, no-nonsense one. In the Game 5 closeout game of that series, Smith played a season high 22 minutes, finishing with 12 points, 2 rebounds and 5 fouls, most of which you can bet were used on Chuck Person. That doesn’t mean I don’t know what he did.”Smith’s old teammates from his too-brief peak as a Clipper remember what was, if terribly, tauntingly briefly, and what could have been.

But re-watching all of these classic Celtics games in the absence of live sports right now restores more color and context to what we already remember or know to look up.It’s a delight to see Bird’s virtuoso shot-making and geometric-genius passing again as the details of an old game unfold.Do you remember Derek Smith? Five years after this game, while on a cruise with his family (including ESPN’s Michael Wilbon, then at The Washington Post, wrote a lovely column about Smith —who was on the Bullets’ coaching staff at the time of his passing — in the days after his death.“Derek Smith’s voice usually sounded just like your conscience,’’ wrote Wilbon for the July 11, 1996 editions. “He had all the mental, psychological, and emotional touchstones you want from a player.

It's almost like he had to change his game after the injury. “He had all the mental, psychological, and emotional touchstones you want from a player.

“He would be a very good pickup for the Celtics,’’ said Charles Barkley, his teammate with the Sixers for two years. So was Derek Smith. He was just the right kind of dude. He took his family along. Person scored 9 of the first 11 Indiana points in that first quarter. Hurricanes coach calls NHL officiating a 'joke' after Game 1 controversy against Bruins At 34.”That column always stuck with me; for years, I kept it with other sports writing clips that affected me in some way in a manila folder long since lost. Smith was annoyed, and in response stated "I played him physical and clean. (By the way check out the "D.Smith" on his jersey in the picture below. Prince had suffered from a series of … Because he was mature enough to have all of the old-school stuff without being old. Throughout that Indiana series he stepped in, as if he'd been with the C's for years, and defended Person better than anyone.

He’s a what-if in NBA lore, and few of you, re-watching this game, did not remember him.That’s understandable — he never played for the Celtics or in the NBA again after that postseason. Smith, who played just 12 games for the Celtics that year — two in the regular-season and 10 in the playoffs — scored 12 points, locked down Person in the second half, was on the receiving end of a couple of lovely Bird assists, and got a huge hug and an enormous ovation from the Garden fans when he checked out in the final inconsequential moments.Played with Derek when we were Clippers and he averaged 27ppg or so to start the season. Derek Smith, improbably perhaps to everyone but himself, helped them win perhaps the most memorable playoff series of Bird’s late career.For one night, it was as if he’d been a Celtic for life.Watching him again, 29 years after that special game and 24 years after his death, I’m going to do my best to remember him as if he was.Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. He was rehabilitating from yet another surgery years later when the Celtics signed him in December 1990, coveting his toughness and veteran presence. Larry found me creeping around there a couple of times … It’s another chapter.”Said Wilbon this week: “Guys like Larry and Magic [Johnson], they would just cling to guys like him. The latest updates from all of Boston's sports teams.

And maybe the next time you have a conversation about former Celtics who died too young, you'll remember to mention him too.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In August of 1996, Derek went on a cruise for season ticketholders of the Washington Bullets and Washington Capitals along with his entire family. On a late-game drive to the hoop, Smith collapsed to the floor, clutching his left knee and screaming in pain. Joe Montana explained why he thinks Tom Brady left the Patriots Incredibly I didnt even know he had died until I was watching the NCAA tourney and they were talking about Nolan Smith's dad. There’s a lot of joy to be found in the refreshing of sports memories.Sure, we remember the feats of Larry Bird as vividly as possible for an athlete who played his last NBA game 28 years ago. YouTube clips can dish out an assist whenever Larry’s legend might dare begin to fade.Larry, he will forever stay familiar in our minds. He would be a good pickup for anybody.”Smith played just two regular season games for the Celtics, and expressed frustration after the first because he didn’t believe he was ready to return. It did not escape the notice of Bird.“Bird wouldn’t stop talking about Smith, wouldn’t stop high-fiving him or hugging him,” wrote Wilbon upon the occasion of Smith’s passing. Bill Belichick uses swimming analogy to share update on Patriots rookies Derek was just getting in his head. Smith, who played just 12 games for the Celtics that year — two in the regular-season and 10 in the playoffs — scored 12 points, locked down Person in the second half, was on the receiving end of a couple of lovely Bird assists, and got a huge hug and an enormous ovation from the Garden fans when he checked out in the final inconsequential moments.Played with Derek when we were Clippers and he averaged 27ppg or so to start the season.

All of his He was just the right kind of dude. Tragic loss when he passed. You would have grown to like it, to respect it in time because it was growing in stature and respect, except that we will never have that pleasure because Derek Smith is dead.