https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/05/28/celtics-rookie-still-smarting-over-season-mistakes/0X4RFJAvZhqnbKV1LONiqM/story.htmlThis is a must read article.
This guy is just epic on his work ethic and he's one or the most intense player on our team. He wants to lead his team so bad that he played through that ankle injury during the second half of the season and he claims to have lost his explosiveness. I really hope that he drived to the basket less frequently than in college also because of that injury (I also think that Brad wanted him to shoot more and he might have struggled with the speed of the NBA) as I want him to attack the rim more next season.
He is still frustrated by his shooting percentage (36.7), and annoyed his ankle injury suffered in November never truly went away.
He still thinks he should have been in the Rising Stars Challenge, an all-star game involving first- and second-year players. And he still believes he should have been a first-team all-rookie choice.
“That’s just another thing that’s on my book, my mind, that’s keeping me going and motivated into this summer,” Smart said.
And that is why, after a brief trip home to Texas to see family, he is now back in Waltham, training for several hours a day with Celtics assistant coach Darren Erman. They have worked on shooting, ball-handling and defense, and how to make proper reads coming off of pick-and-rolls.
“If he continues to work,” Erman said, “he can eventually be an All-Star.”
Smart said his workouts have been productive because, for the first time in months, his left ankle is not a hindrance. He suffered the sprain and a bone bruise while attacking the rim on a fast break during a Nov. 7 game against the Pacers. He returned Dec. 3 but was in pain for most of the season.
“I just couldn’t get my regular explosiveness,” Smart said. “It just wasn’t the same. I never really gave it that time to heal on its own. I was always putting more pressure on it and pushing it and pushing it.”
Smart constantly iced the ankle and received electro-stimulation and would sometimes arrive at TD Garden six hours before tipoff to loosen the joint.
“There were days I just wanted to call it quits and have my rookie season be over,” he said. “There were days where it was really bothering me to where I could barely walk on some mornings. I tried not to limp, I tried not to show it, because I didn’t want to be taken out of a game or use it as an excuse. But now I can’t really deny that my ankle played a big part in some games.”
I think his frustration can be crucial to his development as he might think that he wants to show the NBA that is better than this. I expect that his breakout year will be next year and I am so glad Danny picked him up in the draft.
I completely agree with Erman as his upside would be a legitimate All Star caliber player.