Marcus Smart Discussion

[Ilikesports17]

I see a good defender with not obvious strength on the offensive end.  He isn't a PG and won't necessarily learn how to be one in the NBA.  He's a below average shooter and with practice, could become average.  His handle is shaky though it could improve a little.  With a shaky handle, and not being extremely explosive, he will have difficulties breaking down his man and getting to the hoop and finishing. 

So in a nutshell, I see a defensive specialist that will need to find a niche on the offensive end if he is to become an NBA level rotation player.

Is this harsh?  I am sure many will think so.  But everything is also true.  Smart has a ways to go.

Smart already is an NBA level rotation player.

If he continues to develop his game he can become a high level starter.

[td450]

Marcus just doesn't have that explosive separation step, even though he is a good athlete. There are 10 or so point guards in the NBA at any given time that learn to get to the rim without that step, so it is possible, and given everything else he brings to the table, it is worth waiting to find out.

The cautionary tale here that all C's fans remember is Chauncey Billups, who was a similar player in a lot of ways. It took him a few years to figure out w. Eventually he became a championship level point guard, but the C's didn't have the patience to wait. But he was the exception, not the rule.

[tankcity!]

I don't think he has enough quickness and ball handling skill (or shot) to compensate for his lack of height.  I love his make up and defense, but that will not punch his ticket to the all star game.

That's why pairing him with Rozier could be so good. Rozier has the speed to keep up with other top PGs, which Smart sometimes doesn't have. But they both could be combo-guard playmakers back there. Crowder, KO, and Johnson are three heady players to really make the ball spin out there with them.

I also have high hopes for Thornton coming on as a complementary pairing with him at some point too.

I think the 2013 and 2015 drafts will prove to be Danny's two best since he bagged Rondo a decade ago.

You mean 2014 and 2015. Unless you think Olynk is going to be really good?

[droopdog7]

I see a good defender with not obvious strength on the offensive end.  He isn't a PG and won't necessarily learn how to be one in the NBA.  He's a below average shooter and with practice, could become average.  His handle is shaky though it could improve a little.  With a shaky handle, and not being extremely explosive, he will have difficulties breaking down his man and getting to the hoop and finishing. 

So in a nutshell, I see a defensive specialist that will need to find a niche on the offensive end if he is to become an NBA level rotation player.

Is this harsh?  I am sure many will think so.  But everything is also true.  Smart has a ways to go.

Smart already is an NBA level rotation player.

If he continues to develop his game he can become a high level starter.

Being in a rotation doesn't necessarily make you a rotation player.  He was drafted #6 in the draft.  A team will put you in no matter what (unless you a complete disaster.  Moving forward, he will need to get better.  There are plenty of guys drafted #6 that didn't end you as regular rotation guys.

[alewilliam789]

I see a good defender with not obvious strength on the offensive end.  He isn't a PG and won't necessarily learn how to be one in the NBA.  He's a below average shooter and with practice, could become average.  His handle is shaky though it could improve a little.  With a shaky handle, and not being extremely explosive, he will have difficulties breaking down his man and getting to the hoop and finishing. 

So in a nutshell, I see a defensive specialist that will need to find a niche on the offensive end if he is to become an NBA level rotation player.

Is this harsh?  I am sure many will think so.  But everything is also true.  Smart has a ways to go.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who can see the roses here. You would think that most fan bases would be utterly disappointed if a 6th overall pick 1. Was beat out by a second round pick for the Rookie 1st Team and 2. Put up extremely mediocre stats like 7.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 3 APG on shooting percentages of 36% from the field and 33% from behind the arc in 27 minutes per game. 27 minutes!! I honestly think you guys are blinded by this allegiance to Ainge because those stats are terrible.

[Dedalus]

Huge fan of Smart. Understand criticisms offensively up to a point.
It's easier to fathom a 20 year-old player being ready on offense than defense - so watching how advanced he is on defense can skew offensive expectations. It's surprising.
He received an All-Defensive team vote. To understand and physically execute defense at 20 deserves greater appreciation than stats show. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses et cetera rarely rank in the top %10 of their given field of specialty at this age. He'd be called a prodigy in those worlds.
On offense I appreciate his willingness to take shots. Calipari spoke about Rose and Wall on the Herd a few weeks ago. He defended Rose and Wall's shot choices, despite low fg% - explaining how few players have the courage to take critical shots. He will be a better shooter in '16.
It's great he drew the most charges.
Hoping for 13/6/5, 2.3 stl, .9 blk.
Will earn more minutes. Please don't foul this up and trade him.
 

[rollie mass]

just because marcus is so strong doesn't mean he can't improve on explosiveness and first step-also ball handling and timing will help-

[loco_91]

There seem to be two sides of this debate, neither which is right.

Side one is the blind optimists who seem to think that Smart is already a two-way player, and that he will be able to get to the rim and shoot the ball and average 15/5/5 next year. The fact is that Smart showed very little on the offensive end last year; right now, he is a below-average offensive player, and he can become average on that end but he will never be a big-time scorer.

Side two sees his offensive limitations and then dismisses him as a bust. For example the person who said he might not even become a rotation player. These people forget that defense is equally as important as offense, and Smart could become the best defensive PG in the league. If he can be the league's best defensive guard, and average offensively, that is an extremely valuable player.

[DarkAzcura]

I see a good defender with not obvious strength on the offensive end.  He isn't a PG and won't necessarily learn how to be one in the NBA.  He's a below average shooter and with practice, could become average.  His handle is shaky though it could improve a little.  With a shaky handle, and not being extremely explosive, he will have difficulties breaking down his man and getting to the hoop and finishing. 

So in a nutshell, I see a defensive specialist that will need to find a niche on the offensive end if he is to become an NBA level rotation player.

Is this harsh?  I am sure many will think so.  But everything is also true.  Smart has a ways to go.

Smart already is an NBA level rotation player.

If he continues to develop his game he can become a high level starter.

Being in a rotation doesn't necessarily make you a rotation player.  He was drafted #6 in the draft.  A team will put you in no matter what (unless you a complete disaster.  Moving forward, he will need to get better.  There are plenty of guys drafted #6 that didn't end you as regular rotation guys.

Smart was a starter for the final half the season of a team that went 24-12 while rolling into the playoffs. Smart's massive improvement on the defensive end of the floor was probably the largest reason the Celtics' defense took off into top 10 territory for the final ~40 games. He's already a NBA rotation level player.

http://www.vantagesports.com/story/VUg6gSYAADAKl1nV/exit-interview-marcus-smart-developed-into-one-of-vantages-elite-defenders

[Boris Badenov]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who can see the roses here. You would think that most fan bases would be utterly disappointed if a 6th overall pick 1. Put up extremely mediocre stats like 7.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 3 APG on shooting percentages of 36% from the field and 33% from behind the arc in 27 minutes per game. 27 minutes!! I honestly think you guys are blinded by this allegiance to Ainge because those stats are terrible.

Errr, only three other players from the 2014 draft class played more mpg than Smart.

He finished first among all 2014 draftees in Win Shares.

He was first in Box Plus-minus.

He was first in VORP.

He was 5th in points, 4th in rebounds, and 3rd in assists - one of only two players to crack the top 5 in all categories, doing so in 67 games played.

First in three pointers made, 4th in 3pt%.

2nd in steals.

Received consideration for NBA All-Defense as a rookie.

And he was 20 years old.

[D Dub]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who can see the roses here. You would think that most fan bases would be utterly disappointed if a 6th overall pick 1. Put up extremely mediocre stats like 7.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 3 APG on shooting percentages of 36% from the field and 33% from behind the arc in 27 minutes per game. 27 minutes!! I honestly think you guys are blinded by this allegiance to Ainge because those stats are terrible.

Errr, only three other players from the 2014 draft class played more mpg than Smart.

He finished first among all 2014 draftees in Win Shares.

He was first in Box Plus-minus.

He was first in VORP.

He was 5th in points, 4th in rebounds, and 3rd in assists - one of only two players to crack the top 5 in all categories, doing so in 67 games played.

First in three pointers made, 4th in 3pt%.

2nd in steals.

Received consideration for NBA All-Defense as a rookie.

And he was 20 years old.

Boris Badenov with the Tommy Point!

[PhoSita]

Focus on his EFG% / TS% and his scoring efficiency doesn't seem nearly so bad.

Smart was a useful (read: net positive) role player in his 1st year as a 20 year old.  That's pretty good.  Almost never happens with guards.

Big question that will determine whether he ever becomes much more than that, though:

Can he get inside more often?  Can he get to the line with any regularity?  Can he run the pick and roll well enough to keep other teams on their toes?

[Greenbean]

There seem to be two sides of this debate, neither which is right.

Side one is the blind optimists who seem to think that Smart is already a two-way player, and that he will be able to get to the rim and shoot the ball and average 15/5/5 next year. The fact is that Smart showed very little on the offensive end last year; right now, he is a below-average offensive player, and he can become average on that end but he will never be a big-time scorer.

Side two sees his offensive limitations and then dismisses him as a bust. For example the person who said he might not even become a rotation player. These people forget that defense is equally as important as offense, and Smart could become the best defensive PG in the league. If he can be the league's best defensive guard, and average offensively, that is an extremely valuable player.

15 ppg as a guard in this offense is not blindly optimistic. Granted it would mean that he has imporved his ability to get to the hole with regularity, but he was 20 last year and the upside lies in his understanding of how to use his body and above average dribble to get in the paint.

He flashed enough last year where it is informed optimism, not blind.

[BDeCosta26]

I'm a huge fan. By the end of his rookie deal I think he will be the best perimeter defender in the league.

On offense, we should see him attack the rim a lot more this year like he did in college. In college he was excellent at drawing fouls, as he gets more respect from referees he will do that in the NBA. I also expect him to be able to get his 3 point percentage up.

This upcoming season Smart will probably take a big step and give us a more accurate picture of what he is going to be long term.

I always seem to give you a TP when a Smart discussion comes up, so here's another one.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Smart is going to be a Tony Allen level perimeter defender in this league. I'll go so far to say he could compete for a few DPOY awards in the future. His instincts are absolutely incredible, he's athletic enough to terrorize just about any guard in the league and he plays every single play like it's his last. Kid never gives up on a play.

To me, Smart's floor is a smarter version of Tony Allen with an adequate (36% from 3 or so) jump shot. That in itself is nearly an all-star, TA is one of the three most important players on a legit contender in Memphis. But if he can start driving to the hoop and getting to the line like he did in college, he could really be special. And I expect him to do that.

Beyond the ankle injury, Stevens eased Marcus into major PT by focusing his energy on defense and working on his jump shot as the "bail-out" guy hanging around the 3 point line. It wasn't until the very end of the season that Smart was ever more than the 5th option. It's really hard to drive to the bucket when your coach camps you out on the perimeter and you never get any plays called for you. Smart was THE man at OK State. He was option number 1, 2 and 3 in college and you can't expect him to duplicate that as the 5th option here, but Stevens made the right move in doing that with him. His defense is so stellar that he demands major minutes on a team like ours, but to get his offense where it needs to be, breaking him in slowly and working on his jumper was the right play.

I expect him to take big steps forward in the next couple years, and I think Rozier is a good guy to pair with him. Having a guy like Rozier who can make plays himself takes the pressure of Smart and allows us to use less Evan Turner (Always a plus). I don't think it really matters if he's a "true PG" or not in today's NBA. And I haven't even talked about his amazing intangibles and work ethic, which is off the charts. It amazes me some folks around here say "he may develop into a role player one day". He literally just played a major role in our run to the playoffs AS A ROOKIE. To some who care only about stat lines, Smart May never meet their expectations. But he's a guy I want on this team, he will make us better every time he steps on the court.

There's very few players I would consider trading him for, and it would seem Ainge feels the same way.

[loco_91]

There seem to be two sides of this debate, neither which is right.

Side one is the blind optimists who seem to think that Smart is already a two-way player, and that he will be able to get to the rim and shoot the ball and average 15/5/5 next year. The fact is that Smart showed very little on the offensive end last year; right now, he is a below-average offensive player, and he can become average on that end but he will never be a big-time scorer.

Side two sees his offensive limitations and then dismisses him as a bust. For example the person who said he might not even become a rotation player. These people forget that defense is equally as important as offense, and Smart could become the best defensive PG in the league. If he can be the league's best defensive guard, and average offensively, that is an extremely valuable player.

15 ppg as a guard in this offense is not blindly optimistic. Granted it would mean that he has imporved his ability to get to the hole with regularity, but he was 20 last year and the upside lies in his understanding of how to use his body and above average dribble to get in the paint.

He flashed enough last year where it is informed optimism, not blind.

Yeah, maybe 15ppg isn't out of the question, but it's certainly optimistic and if he hits it, it will be at low efficiency.