Boston Celtics notes: Kelly Olynyk can't thank Steve Nash enough, Marcus Smart still sick

Steve Nash

Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash runs out onto the court for a preseason NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Ontario, Calif.

(AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

WALTHAM – If Steve Nash’s career has ended, Kelly Olynyk will miss his fellow Canadian.

“Unbelievable,” the Boston Celtics big men said before practice Friday afternoon. “I can’t think him enough or say enough about him and what he’s done.”

Suffering from nerve damage in his back, Nash has been ruled out for the entire 2014-15 season, a decision that could end his career. Ever since joining the Los Angeles Lakers two summers ago, the eight-time All-Star could not convince his body to work.

It’s a shame because we could have spent the last two seasons marveling a bit more at one of the greatest point guards ever to live.

In his prime, Nash would lick his fingers, slick back his hair, fire his hips one way, drive the other, launch off the wrong foot to drill a jumper, then come back the next play and thread a bounce pass with his left hand that encouraged thoughts of unicorns and cotton candy and Michelangelo. A near-perfect offensive point guard, his Phoenix Suns teams helped inspire an NBA revolution toward the pace-and-space units we see across the league today. For nine straight seasons between 2001 and 2009, Nash-led offenses finished No. 1 in efficiency. That spanned from Dallas to Phoenix, from Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley to Amare Stoudemire and Jason Richardson.

In Canada, especially, Nash’s impact was felt. Once cut by Olynyk’s father from the junior national team – true story – the two-time MVP kept improving. He ultimately stamped himself as the country’s best player ever, then took a role overseeing the men’s national team. Canada booming with talent now, as the generation of children that adored Nash’s game matures, is no coincidence.

“It’s huge. You can’t measure it, really,” Olynyk said of Nash’s influence on the Canadian basketball scene. “He’s been there the last few summers. And really, any time he’s in the gym, you can just tell people are watching him. People are taking notes and just trying to pick his brain and learn what he’s doing on the court, off the court, preparation. He’s the ultimate professional.”

“He’s a great person, unbelievable player,” the Celtics big man added. “And just his work ethic and his dedication to the game is unbelievable. He kind of instilled that in not only me, but a lot of other Canadian players throughout the summers with the national teams.”

For years, Nash played basketball as beautifully as anyone. If this is it for him, he will be sorely missed.

Smart still sick

Rookie Marcus Smart missed his second straight practice Friday due to illness, but should have time to recover with the Celtics taking the weekend off.

According to head coach Brad Stevens, the guard was spotted napping in the locker room about 50 minutes before scoring 16 first-half points in Wednesday night’s game.

“We didn’t really know he was sick at that point,” Stevens said. “We just thought he was tired.”

After Smart arrived at the practice facility the following day, he was sent home to get some rest. The 20-year-old has been named the starting point guard if Rondo misses any time.

Faverani back soon

President of basketball operations Danny Ainge said he anticipates Vitor Faverani returning to the United States on Thursday. The backup center has been rehabbing in Spain since undergoing knee surgery there earlier this month.

Ainge said Faverani is accompanied in Spain by team trainer Brian Dolan and director of player personnel Austin Ainge, who also serves as a translator.

"We’re trying to make the transition for him easy coming back here and seeing what they are doing from a rehab standpoint over there," Danny Ainge said.

He guessed that after Faverani returns to Boston, it will be "two weeks to a month" until he begins practice.

"I'm just not sure," Ainge said. "I don't have a timetable yet so I just made one up."

Ainge had no update on the Will Bynum situation. Recently acquired via trade, the veteran guard is expected to be traded or waived before the regular season.

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