What's wrong with Marcus?

[liam]

What's wrong with Marcus? Since he came back from injury he's looked slow, and makes tons of rookie mistakes. His defense looks off and he's missing bunnies left and right. He's getting toasted by the refs. He just doesn't look like the DPOY. He looks like his forcing everything. We are going to need him to get his head screwed on right. White was also playing like a star while he was out.

[liam]

 I think he should take a couple of games off ( at least the Houston game...) to heal up physically and mentally. He will be much needed in the playoffs.

[Who]

This is has often been the case with Smart throughout his career. He gets injured, he misses those games, then he returns but he has to play himself back into shape and gives sub-standard performances for awhile until he is back in game shape.

[liam]

This is has often been the case with Smart throughout his career. He gets injured, he misses those games, then he returns but he has to play himself back into shape and gives sub-standard performances for awhile until he is back in game shape.

Well, that's a good explanation. I guess rest won't do him any good if that's the case. He'll just have to play through it. I hope you're right.

[Roy H.]

This has been the story of Marcus's career, right?  Sometimes he's the guy who is dedicated to defense and who makes huge plays; other times he sort of goes through the motions and goes into bad offensive funks.

From my observation, the Marcus we've seen lately is the same Marcus we saw in the 2021 season under Brad.  He's nothing special on defense, hustles less, and is a poor offensive player.  Ime got Smart to play more like "good Marcus" when he won DPOY.  This season, particularly lately, we're seeing the less intense Smart who coasts more.

Marcus needs a coach that holds him accountable, like here:

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/ime-udoka-reveals-fallout-marcus-smart-calling-out-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown

[gouki88]

This has been the story of Marcus's career, right?  Sometimes he's the guy who is dedicated to defense and who makes huge plays; other times he sort of goes through the motions and goes into bad offensive funks.

From my observation, the Marcus we've seen lately is the same Marcus we saw in the 2021 season under Brad.  He's nothing special on defense, hustles less, and is a poor offensive player.  Ime got Smart to play more like "good Marcus" when he won DPOY.  This season, particularly lately, we're seeing the less intense Smart who coasts more.

Marcus needs a coach that holds him accountable, like here:

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/ime-udoka-reveals-fallout-marcus-smart-calling-out-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown

Perhaps, but in my opinion the Marcus we saw pre-injury this season was the best rendition we've ever seen. 7.2APG, 2.4TOV, great defence, efficient enough (by Smart standards).

Since coming back, 4APG, 2.5TOV, worse defence, cratering 2PT% but significantly better 3PT%.

[liam]

This has been the story of Marcus's career, right?  Sometimes he's the guy who is dedicated to defense and who makes huge plays; other times he sort of goes through the motions and goes into bad offensive funks.

From my observation, the Marcus we've seen lately is the same Marcus we saw in the 2021 season under Brad.  He's nothing special on defense, hustles less, and is a poor offensive player.  Ime got Smart to play more like "good Marcus" when he won DPOY.  This season, particularly lately, we're seeing the less intense Smart who coasts more.

Marcus needs a coach that holds him accountable, like here:

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/ime-udoka-reveals-fallout-marcus-smart-calling-out-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown

Perhaps, but in my opinion the Marcus we saw pre-injury this season was the best rendition we've ever seen. 7.2APG, 2.4TOV, great defence, efficient enough (by Smart standards).

Since coming back, 4APG, 2.5TOV, worse defence, cratering 2PT% but significantly better 3PT%.

I agree. Marcus from the beginning of the year is the one we need. I hope he'll be there by the time of the playoffs. When he's playing all over the map like he is now it makes the whole team very inconsistent.

[liam]

This has been the story of Marcus's career, right?  Sometimes he's the guy who is dedicated to defense and who makes huge plays; other times he sort of goes through the motions and goes into bad offensive funks.

From my observation, the Marcus we've seen lately is the same Marcus we saw in the 2021 season under Brad.  He's nothing special on defense, hustles less, and is a poor offensive player.  Ime got Smart to play more like "good Marcus" when he won DPOY.  This season, particularly lately, we're seeing the less intense Smart who coasts more.

Marcus needs a coach that holds him accountable, like here:

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/ime-udoka-reveals-fallout-marcus-smart-calling-out-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown

I agree that the coach needs to use playing time and even the starter spot to crack down on Marcus' bad habits.

[SHAQATTACK]

Needs a talking to.

[LilRip]

He (and most of the team) seems to be coasting for chunks of the game.

You know who never coasts? Pritchard. Not the most skilled player but that guy really plays! Too bad he’s injured.

[ozgod]

He (and most of the team) seems to be coasting for chunks of the game.

You know who never coasts? Pritchard. Not the most skilled player but that guy really plays! Too bad he’s injured.

Well what's notable is that the players who tend to be coasting right now are the ones that are probably assured of playing significant roles in the playoffs, and are possibly trying to preserve themselves for that time. Pritchard is in the other category, they need to showcase as much of themselves as possible because they may not be with this team next season and this is really their opportunity to let other teams know what they can do.

[Moranis]

He has a badly broken body, which makes his badly broken shot and decision making that much worse.

[LilRip]

He (and most of the team) seems to be coasting for chunks of the game.

You know who never coasts? Pritchard. Not the most skilled player but that guy really plays! Too bad he’s injured.

Well what's notable is that the players who tend to be coasting right now are the ones that are probably assured of playing significant roles in the playoffs, and are possibly trying to preserve themselves for that time. Pritchard is in the other category, they need to showcase as much of themselves as possible because they may not be with this team next season and this is really their opportunity to let other teams know what they can do.

Ehh, if that’s the case, I think Mazzulla is better off “load managing” his players so they can play in the games they play. And at some point, you have to start gearing up for the playoffs. Players can’t go from coasting to playoff basketball. And at 14 games to go, the season is winding down.

I do wish we had rested Tatum a bit, maybe like 6 games ago. I’m glad he got that day off with the “knee soreness” or whatever. He’s played a lot of minutes on top of last year’s deep playoff run.

[liam]

He (and most of the team) seems to be coasting for chunks of the game.

You know who never coasts? Pritchard. Not the most skilled player but that guy really plays! Too bad he’s injured.

Well what's notable is that the players who tend to be coasting right now are the ones that are probably assured of playing significant roles in the playoffs, and are possibly trying to preserve themselves for that time. Pritchard is in the other category, they need to showcase as much of themselves as possible because they may not be with this team next season and this is really their opportunity to let other teams know what they can do.

If they reduced Marcus' minutes could he play harder when on the court? Would he play smarter?

[ChillyWilly]

This has been the story of Marcus's career, right?  Sometimes he's the guy who is dedicated to defense and who makes huge plays; other times he sort of goes through the motions and goes into bad offensive funks.

From my observation, the Marcus we've seen lately is the same Marcus we saw in the 2021 season under Brad.  He's nothing special on defense, hustles less, and is a poor offensive player.  Ime got Smart to play more like "good Marcus" when he won DPOY.  This season, particularly lately, we're seeing the less intense Smart who coasts more.

Marcus needs a coach that holds him accountable, like here:

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/ime-udoka-reveals-fallout-marcus-smart-calling-out-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown

Either you want it at his age or you dont. Another man isnt going to "hold him accountable". Self motivation at the highest level. Marcus has to decide not Joe.