Author Topic: A team desperate to make the playoffs should chase both Smart and Thomas  (Read 2518 times)

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Offline Beat LA

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Because such backcourt was key 2 seasons in helping the Celts obtain a fantastic regular season record and a decent run in the playoffs

When I see teams like the Magic trade for Grant who has done nothing in his career or Bulls staying forever mediocre....instead wouldn't it be better to sign both Smart and Thomas to be your starting backcourt (even if it were for 2 year deals) and try to propel out of mediocrity? Detroit Pistons the same..

Absolutely not, as Chicago already has the makings of an excellent core, imo, in Dunn, Markkanen, and now Wendell Carter, Jr (I'm sure that someone will add Chandler Hutchinson to this list, which, is fine, it's just that I don't know much about the guy, so yeah).

Offline Fafnir

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I do think Marcus would help any team with a good coach who can use his versatility on D and put him in positions to succeed. A team that can't put some shooting or a PnR partner with him will get a lot less out of him but still good things.

I don't know if IT3 will be a positive force for a team anymore. He needs to be utterly elite on offense given his limitations on the other end (and in getting possesions) Is he truly going to be right and get back to scoring efficiently?

He looked pretty good with the Lakers at 75 percent capacity

Really?

He shot 38.3% from the field, 32.7% from 3's, and had a career high 3.2 turnovers per game despite only playing 26.8 MPG. Oh yeah, he was also his same atrocious self defensively.
If you watched any of his games near the end of his season, he was starting to play a lot better.  Still nowhere near where he was - but a lot better than when he was with Cleveland.
He did look better by the eye test. His efficiency wasn't there yet though, still wasn't making the same shots even if he got them off more often.

Then he had another surgery.

Offline action781

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IT was great with the C’s partly because CBS allowed the offense to run through him.

Do you think Smart/IT is better than Lillard/McCollum, or Wall/Beal?

IT/Smart duo had a better team record than both Beal/Wall and Dame/CJ duo. So probably, yes.

The two of you and triboy in the OP are neglecting Avery Bradley here.  If we're going to talk about Beal/Wall and Dame/CJ, then we're talking about starters and AB started over Smart and got more minutes than him.  So IT/Bradley is the more accurate comparison.

Particularly mr. dee, your comparison is like comparing a Horford/Baynes frontcourt to a Cousins/Ant Davis frontcourt and saying Horford + Baynes must be better because they had a better record.
2020 CelticsStrong All-2000s Draft -- Utah Jazz
 
Finals Starters:  Jason Kidd - Reggie Miller - PJ Tucker - Al Horford - Shaq
Bench:  Rajon Rondo - Trae Young - Marcus Smart - Jaylen Brown -  Peja Stojakovic - Jamal Mashburn - Carlos Boozer - Tristan Thompson - Mehmet Okur

Offline mr. dee

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IT was great with the C’s partly because CBS allowed the offense to run through him.

Do you think Smart/IT is better than Lillard/McCollum, or Wall/Beal?

IT/Smart duo had a better team record than both Beal/Wall and Dame/CJ duo. So probably, yes.

The two of you and triboy in the OP are neglecting Avery Bradley here.  If we're going to talk about Beal/Wall and Dame/CJ, then we're talking about starters and AB started over Smart and got more minutes than him.  So IT/Bradley is the more accurate comparison.

Particularly mr. dee, your comparison is like comparing a Horford/Baynes frontcourt to a Cousins/Ant Davis frontcourt and saying Horford + Baynes must be better because they had a better record.

That 53 win Celtics wasn't even that deep. Sure they have Horford and Avery. But Both Wiz and Portland have a decent supporting cast. Aside from AB and Al, our bench are composed of soft bigs and underdeveloped young guys who can't shoot to save their lives.

- Otto Porter, Allen Crabe and ET are arguably better than the rookie Jaylen Brown.
- Gortat and Nurkic  will manhadle Amir, Olynyk and Zeller.
- Kelly and Kelly are washed, talent wise.
- Napier and Trey Burke maybe just as good if not better than sophomore Terry.

The only real advantage Celtics had is Brad Stevens.