Here's the problem with smart. He CAN'T get to the basket consistently in the nba. THAT is why he's not aggressive.
And like rondos shooting and Bradley's ball handling, this is not something you just learn at this point in his development. You have combo players that can play multiple positions and you have tweeners, which can't play any position well. Smart is a tweener. The next Marcus banks. He may never even be an nba level starter, much less a star.
Too bad.
It was his first game. I don't like when someone says they can't do something. He probably can he just isn't right now. I appreciate that Smart is just trying to fit in right now but I'd like to see him being more aggressive. Sound familiar? He's a rookie. It takes a bit to develop those parts of your game. I don't know what Smart's style ultimately is though. He was a scorer in college though. That's why I think the DJ comparison is good somewhat. DJ was different in that way though where he would more play off other guys vs being the guy when we had Bird and McHale and Parish. He was a guy who could shoot it and was aggressive taking it to the basket at opportune times. Smart can shoot it imo but his shot is still developing. I think Tommy Heinsohn is right though that being a running aggressive team is a mindset though and that starts with Marcus Smart imo. The pg sets the tone. Everyone has to do it though.
I think physically and talent wise Smart has no limitations. He might not be the quickest first step guy in the nba though, but it's a mindset with him. He might not even be rondo a magician with the pass either. But he's solid in a lot of aspects of the game. That's what I expect from him ultimately. He's a standout on the defensive end. I more see that as a strength anyways. Running is a mindset. you don't have to defend to run. You run regardless off made baskets and everything but defense helps. Rondo thought you had to defend to run and I think Rondo was wrong in that regard.
The early Celtics Cousy and Russell were the guys then you had other guys playing off them. Like Kobe and Shaq. Those Celtics teams were just uber talented. The 80's Celtics you had Bird, McHale Parish and then you had DJ and Ainge. 5 guys ultimately though.
I'm still not completely sold Smart is a pg though at this point. I think he is but I also see him as a tweener who can play both guard spots. That's the Celtics decision to make though. I think in ways he should be the pg, but could also see him being something else. I think he's a pg and just has to learn aspects of the position at the NBA level. That could take a couple years. It could happen tomorrow. Smart is pretty smart. We have to surround him with guys though.
I think ultimately Smart has less limitations than Rondo. Rondo could have been that too but had some mental blocks himself. That's why he's gone in ways. He didn't want to be here apparently. The Celtics wanted to go another direction and it's not all Rondo's fault. They both did.
Doc would always say we want players to be themselves. Rondo in ways was kind of stuck in his ways and instead of trying to change him at this point we went with Marcus who's talent and skillset more fits what we are trying to do.
Time will tell. But I think you want marcus playing to his strengths and not being limited which means he might play multiple positions at times. But I think we want him to be the pg. I think posting him up all that. He's kind of like Mark Jackson to me in that regard. Dennis Johnson players like that but I don't want to limit him that way. People have compared him to Bill Russell at pg and why not at this point.
Smart can outphysical other pgs in the post and I think all those aspects should be utilized. KO for example is a big man who can handle the ball and he should be utilized that way too.
I think offensively and how we look ultimately might be very different that way and more well rounded. That stuff is going to take time to gel though.