‘We know who we are,’ says Celtics’ Marcus Smart of the culture that nearly had Boston’s reserves beating Toronto’s starters

Despite being down four starters, it took everything Toronto had that night to beat Boston’s next men up.

Despite missing not only starting big man Robert Williams III — out indefinitely with a meniscal tear — but also three other starters in Al Horford, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum in the Boston Celtics’ game against the Toronto Raptors on Monday, the Intensive Care iteration of the Hospital Celtics was in the mix to win it with the next men up until the game’s final moments, even sending the contest to an extra period before falling 115 – 112.

Speaking with the media after the close loss in a joint appearance with teammate Derrick White, veteran point guard Marcus Smart related how the strong internal culture the team forged over the course of the season played a role in buoying the team down so many key players.

“We have an identity,” explained Smart. “We built that.”