It’s not just the fans of the Boston Celtics who are still getting used to the lack of Marcus Smart being on the team, with Celtics reserve guard Payton Pritchard recently sharing his feelings about seeing the Flower Mound native on the Memphis Grizzlies in an interview with the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach. “It’s tough,” related the Oregon alum.

“I’ve played with Marcus for three years and I’ve been around him since the beginning of my NBA journey,” added Pritchard. “So, he’s helped me a lot. I look at him like a big brother. He’s a tremendous player.”

“I know he’ll continue to do great things,” suggested Pritchard of Smart’s new role with the Grizzlies next season.

The West Linn native also had some thoughts on how Boston will have ot adjust in his absence, noting that “for what he brought at the defensive end and just his leadership in different areas, we’re all going to have to step up and fill those gaps.”

“It’s a good opportunity for some of us, but he’s definitely going to be missed.”

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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire