Marcus Smart is invited to USA Basketball Select Team

[Snakehead]

Good for him, but I quietly wish he would stay back and just work on his shot all summer long, into the fall. He's been doing this the last 3 years, keeping him way too busy. At some point, he may want to just forgo some of this, and just improve the timing on his shot.

But how do you tell a kid not to go represent his Country? So I don't blame him.

You get better by playing, and regardless, you don't think he's putting up shots?  He's working on his game every day either way.  And this is a great experience for a rookie.

[Sketch5]

Good for him, but I quietly wish he would stay back and just work on his shot all summer long, into the fall. He's been doing this the last 3 years, keeping him way too busy. At some point, he may want to just forgo some of this, and just improve the timing on his shot.

But how do you tell a kid not to go represent his Country? So I don't blame him.

I wish Ron Adams hadn't left. He could have done real nice things for MS. That said, I don't think Smart's shot is quite as broken as some thing and fixing what is wrong could potentially be much easier than fixing someone like Rondo's.

lonely toaster, you raise a question for me. there has been a lot of talk about smart's shooting. but is the problem his mechanics? or the shot selection (he takes perfectly fine shots, but from bad locations)? both? neither?

i am curious about what exactly the problem is for his shooting.

He has a slight dip in his shot, which looked better in SL. And he turns his body some times in the air, which he still did in SL. Out side of that it's not bad. He shoots freethrows well, which shows if he keeps his body squared he shoots better.

It's no like Rondo's shot. Rondo takes his guide hand off the ball way too quick and has a hitch some times. It's not fluid at all. And he shot better at times last year, but the form is still bad. Smart's over all form is good, just needs some tweeking.

But when this kid gets hot, its fun to watch!

[Celtics4ever]

He's working on his game every day either way.

I hope he rubs off on Jared this way.

[JBcat]

Good for him, but I quietly wish he would stay back and just work on his shot all summer long, into the fall. He's been doing this the last 3 years, keeping him way too busy. At some point, he may want to just forgo some of this, and just improve the timing on his shot.

But how do you tell a kid not to go represent his Country? So I don't blame him.

I wish Ron Adams hadn't left. He could have done real nice things for MS. That said, I don't think Smart's shot is quite as broken as some thing and fixing what is wrong could potentially be much easier than fixing someone like Rondo's.

he has a good form, him being a bad shooter for his career is so overblown. I know it annoys people when people compare rookies to stars, but look at D.Wade, was he a "great" shooter coming into the league, no. He slashes.

He has a good form, and with practice he will improve it. It's different from college, now he's doing this for a living

Good point.  There have been many great players that weren't good shooters coming into the league that became one.

That being said I'm not sure the comps to Wade is a good one.  I have to see more of him but I don't see the same explosive first step and athleticism as Wade.  I'd love to be proven wrong though.  That doesn't mean I don't think he'll be an excellent player.

[lon3lytoaster]

Good for him, but I quietly wish he would stay back and just work on his shot all summer long, into the fall. He's been doing this the last 3 years, keeping him way too busy. At some point, he may want to just forgo some of this, and just improve the timing on his shot.

But how do you tell a kid not to go represent his Country? So I don't blame him.

I wish Ron Adams hadn't left. He could have done real nice things for MS. That said, I don't think Smart's shot is quite as broken as some thing and fixing what is wrong could potentially be much easier than fixing someone like Rondo's.

lonely toaster, you raise a question for me. there has been a lot of talk about smart's shooting. but is the problem his mechanics? or the shot selection (he takes perfectly fine shots, but from bad locations)? both? neither?

i am curious about what exactly the problem is for his shooting.

He brings the ball down to his knees at times before he pulls up into his usual motion, which that motion is quite good. He also tries to draw contact too often sometimes and that can be a bit of a hinderence to his form.

No, isn't a perfect shooter but he's going to be good in that department sooner rather than later.

[sed522002]

Sam Amico ?@SamAmicoFSO  26m
Celtics rookie Marcus Smart really opening eyes as member of Select Team in scrimmages vs Team USA. Going up against Kyrie, Rose, Wall, etc.

GREAT to hear. I'm excited.

[Mazingerz]

He's working on his game every day either way.

I hope he rubs off on Jared this way.

I worry however if Jared rubs off Smart. Cakes cakes cakes

[pokeKingCurtis]

He's working on his game every day either way.

I hope he rubs off on Jared this way.

Jared is working on his 4 point shot.

[celticslove]

great for marcus, really good working experience right there.

[celticslove]

He's working on his game every day either way.

I hope he rubs off on Jared this way.

Jared is working on his 4 point shot.

hope he adds a shimmy to that

[zerophase]

People underestimate the benefit of Team USA exposure. Smart is literally practicing with the absolute best guards in the NBA right now-- gaining experience guarding them, learning their practicing techniques; he's learning defense from Thibodeau. This will all help raise his game to the next level.

I really think that Rondo's lack of participation in USA basketball has really hurt his game. He could have learned a lot working out with the best, but we all know he's too stubborn for that.

---

Sidenote: Celtics need a shooting coach.

The three clubs that have employed shooting coaches for multiple years—the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers—have made at least slight improvements in shooting rates. Since hiring shooting coach Gary Boren in 1997, the Mavs have gone from 25th in free-throw shooting and 27th in three-point shooting to first and third, respectively.

Since hiring Billy Keller as shot director in 2007, the Pacers have posted the league's fifth-highest free-throw percentage and eighth-highest rate from behind the arc (up from 19th and 18th, respectively). Since the Spurs hired Chip Engelland in 2005, San Antonio has gone from eighth to third in three-point shooting, and moved up one spot, to 25th, in foul shooting.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970203897404578076793880988504

[TwinTower14]

People underestimate the benefit of Team USA exposure. Smart is literally practicing with the absolute best guards in the NBA right now-- gaining experience guarding them, learning their practicing techniques; he's learning defense from Thibodeau. This will all help raise his game to the next level.

I really think that Rondo's lack of participation in USA basketball has really hurt his game. He could have learned a lot working out with the best, but we all know he's too stubborn for that.

I agree with you on this - Smart is going to be special, the C's were very lucky to get him at 6.  He is the type of guys love to play with and coaches love coaching him.  My expectations are very high for him and I really believe he is a cornerstone guy for the next great C's team...

[hwangjini_1]

Good for him, but I quietly wish he would stay back and just work on his shot all summer long, into the fall. He's been doing this the last 3 years, keeping him way too busy. At some point, he may want to just forgo some of this, and just improve the timing on his shot.

But how do you tell a kid not to go represent his Country? So I don't blame him.

I wish Ron Adams hadn't left. He could have done real nice things for MS. That said, I don't think Smart's shot is quite as broken as some thing and fixing what is wrong could potentially be much easier than fixing someone like Rondo's.

lonely toaster, you raise a question for me. there has been a lot of talk about smart's shooting. but is the problem his mechanics? or the shot selection (he takes perfectly fine shots, but from bad locations)? both? neither?

i am curious about what exactly the problem is for his shooting.

He brings the ball down to his knees at times before he pulls up into his usual motion, which that motion is quite good. He also tries to draw contact too often sometimes and that can be a bit of a hinderence to his form.

No, isn't a perfect shooter but he's going to be good in that department sooner rather than later.

thanks lt, and others who explained this to me. tps for everyone!

[Eddie20]

I really think that Rondo's lack of participation in USA basketball has really hurt his game. He could have learned a lot working out with the best, but we all know he's too stubborn for that.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970203897404578076793880988504

It really wasn't his fault though. He did participate, started a few exhibition games, but then he started losing ground to the other PGs and eventually withdrew to save face from being cut from the squad.

[letsgoblue86]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7CUa01JG0g&feature=youtu.be

A few glimpses of Marcus, though not very notable.  Figured I'd share anyways for the overreactions