Without the play of veteran guard Marcus Smart in the Boston Celtics’ recent loss to the Brooklyn Nets, it very well could have been a bloodbath. Instead, the Celtics stayed with the Nets behind the recently-returned Smart’s 19-point defensive masterpiece.

Easing back into things on a minutes restriction after remaining out since a late January loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with a calf tear, the Flower Mound native’s import to the team has perhaps never been more underscored than by the tailspin the team went into in his absence. But is his return enough to turn things around for Boston?

This is exactly what Celtics sports journalist emeritus Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman get into in the segment from their CLNS “Garden Report” podcast embedded below.

Give it a watch and decide for yourself whether the potential impact of Smart’s return is being overstated — or exactly what the Celtics needed.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!