The Boston Celtics may not get veteran guard Marcus Smart back until after the March 7 All-Star Game, according to ESPN senior writer Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Celtics are struggling considerably in the absence of the player often referred to as the heart and soul of the team.

Smart has been the team’s best defender in a season their normally-robust defense has hovered between mediocre to among the league’s worst, and the loss of his 13.1 points and 6.1 assists per game hasn’t helped the weak win games either.

Smart is traveling with the team on its road trip but is unlikely to join the team on the court before the All-Star break according to Wojnarowski.