THE WEDDING PLANS were formulated some months beforehand. Long before the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, only for the latter team to lose Game 7 at home. Long before the front office of the organization had to assess yet another unsatisfactory season that came agonizingly near to the franchise’s 18th NBA championship, but yet fell short. Long before it was ever considered, Marcus Smart, the team’s heart and soul and the past Defensive Player of the Year, could be traded.
Smart and Maisa Hallum planned to marry on September 16, 2014, at the upscale Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach, California. They wanted to be surrounded by friends and family, as well as the majority of the Celtics organization that had drafted him with the sixth overall pick in 2014 and helped shape him into the player and man he is today.
The location, on a hill with a view of the Pacific Ocean, was breathtaking. White flowers decorated the aisle and the gazebo, which were surrounded by lovely, well-kept grounds. The resort’s accommodations were villas and bungalows. The pool is a tribute to Rome’s Coliseum. The entire location exudes grandeur.
But by the time the RSVP cards were due, everything had changed. Boston had become weary of the seven-game series against the Heat, unable to handle Miami’s switching defense and scorching 3-point shooting (43% in the series, 48% in their wins). Smart hadn’t been the issue for Boston, but it had become clear that they needed to acquire a floor-spacing big man who could threaten opponents in the post. Thus, the beginning of Smart’s married life became the last scene of the Marcus Smart Era with the Celtics.
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