In praise of Smartacus

[celts55]

Have to admit, after he missed badly on a couple of threes in the third quarter i texted to my son that Smart needs to quite jacking them up.

2 minutes later, boy did he prove me wrong.

I'd like to believe it was my challenge that got him going. You can all thanks me I guess.

[hwangjini_1]

before the game we all discussed here about coaching, player match ups, depth of boston's bench, Xs and Os, and more.

and what happens that is the deciding factor in the game? smart makes five three point shots in a row. FIVE!

no way in heck anyone here could have or should have foretold that smart would do that to win the game.

smart is a winner. he makes winning plays. i love him as a celtic.

[Csfan1984]

Tatum and Kemba's words remind me of KD's first free agency in asking about Smart's future/him staying long term. Guys who love to score love having teammates like Smart.

[Neurotic Guy]

The thing I love most about Smart is that he’s not just a leader, he’s a culture creator.  And from the position of being the fifth offensive option AND a non-big, I’m not sure there have been too many comparable in the history of the NBA.

What is serendipitous is that the J’ ays seem to have great winning mentality and all top 5 players (Marcus, Jays, Kemba and Gordon) seem to be clutch.  I’d say I’ve seen the clutch gene a little less in Gordon but he has held his own down the stretch in tight games.

So now guys like Grant, Rob, Romeo, Daniel, etc. are learning/growing in this culture.  Those who don’t have it in them won’t make it here (Kyrie...)  This team is starting to feel like not just a team but a Celtics Team.

[Donoghus]

Sigh...but probably deserved, TBH.

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
NBA is fining Boston's Marcus Smart $5K for flopping in Game 2 victory over Toronto, source tells ESPN.

[Rondo9]

Sigh...but probably deserved, TBH.

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
NBA is fining Boston's Marcus Smart $5K for flopping in Game 2 victory over Toronto, source tells ESPN.

Did they fine Lowry's flop?

[Donoghus]

Sigh...but probably deserved, TBH.

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
NBA is fining Boston's Marcus Smart $5K for flopping in Game 2 victory over Toronto, source tells ESPN.

Did they fine Lowry's flop?

Haven't seen anything.

[ozgod]

I love Marcus.  He is getting $13.4M and $14.3M the next two seasons.  That is not chump change.  Marcus just has the kind of game that isn't as likely to command the really big money.  If he was a free agent at the end of this season, I am not sure what he would get offered.  $20M?  Maybe, but he is not going to get a super big contract.  He still doesn't make enough 3s, still doesn't score enough points.  I am not saying this is fair or accurately reflects his contribution to winning, just saying that seems to be how the NBA market works.

And I love the leadership by Tatum calling this out.  This will really help to galvanize the team.

Marcus has his 3% up to 35%-36%.  His scoring this season is up to about 12 ppg.  I'll take it.

I think $15-20m a year would be fair and realistic. He's the perfect glue guy who does a lot of x-factor type things and leads by example. Jeff Teague, Evan Turner and Iggy are on $18-20m and I'd take Smartacus over them anytime.

[nickagneta]

Sigh...but probably deserved, TBH.

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
NBA is fining Boston's Marcus Smart $5K for flopping in Game 2 victory over Toronto, source tells ESPN.

I bet Smart will happily pay it. He knows he flops and he picks up a lot of offensive fouls that way. Sometimes he gets caught and fined. My guess is he is okay with that.

[Scottiej23]

Funny how defenders flop, yet when players on offence do it it's called drawing contact and they are invariably lauded for it.

[liam]

Sigh...but probably deserved, TBH.

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
NBA is fining Boston's Marcus Smart $5K for flopping in Game 2 victory over Toronto, source tells ESPN.

I bet Smart will happily pay it. He knows he flops and he picks up a lot of offensive fouls that way. Sometimes he gets caught and fined. My guess is he is okay with that.

Has the NBA seen LeBron play this year or that Heat game with 53 fouls?

[ozgod]

Smartacus should be in the Green for life!!!

[Erik]

Let’s all get Smart jerseys as a show of support for everything this guy has done for Boston.

[Donoghus]

MVP of the series.  He was incredible. 

[mef730]

I remember when we drafted him and I couldn't figure out why we picked a 2-guard who couldn't shoot. And I remember that the guy we wanted was Dante Exum (who went fourth).

Man, so glad that I'm not in charge.

Mike