In praise of Smartacus

[tenn_smoothie]

Seems I remember lots of people being happy we signed Marcus to a mid-level $$ contract because he would be a good fit in a trade package. Not to pat myself on the back or talk about what a basketball genius I am, laffs, but I have always said let's put #36 in the rafters one day because this guy is a Celtic. Time to make him permanent Captain. He is Paul Silas + Cedric Maxwell + Dennis Johnson all rolled into one player.

Not me. I have shot trade ideas for Jaylen (my true love), Tatum, IT, Baynes, Al.. NEVER Marcus. NEVER.

Dude is the most important guy on the roster. By a mile.

He has become the heart and soul of this team.

[ozgod]

Smartacus is one of those very few players who can go from zero to hero, back to zero again and then back to hero all in the space of one game 

He was atrocious in the first half and but had some key plays in the 2nd, interspersed with more "omg why did you do that" play

[SHAQATTACK]

Smartacus is one of those very few players who can go from zero to hero, back to zero again and then back to hero all in the space of one game 

He was atrocious in the first half and but had some key plays in the 2nd, interspersed with more "omg why did you do that" play

He sure has alot OMG plays !   alternate between superhero play one trip down court and bonehead shot the next.

[gouki88]

Killed me in the first half and killed them in the 2nd half

[keevsnick]

In the Celtics two wins he's averaged 9.5 shots a game and 7 assists. In their three losses he's averaged 14.3 and 5.3 assists. In other words its better for the Celtics when Smart plays within himself and lets other people carry the scoring load.

[trickybilly]

In the Celtics two wins he's averaged 9.5 shots a game and 7 assists. In their three losses he's averaged 14.3 and 5.3 assists. In other words its better for the Celtics when Smart plays within himself and lets other people carry the scoring load.

Actually he has a real habit of having big stat lines in losing games.

I don't hate him taking a few threes early to get defenses to react..

[DocomoCelts]

Smartacus is one of those very few players who can go from zero to hero, back to zero again and then back to hero all in the space of one game 

He was atrocious in the first half and but had some key plays in the 2nd, interspersed with more "omg why did you do that" play

I think that's the best characterisation of Smart.  He really is our X factor, our loose cannon.

[BitterJim]

In the Celtics two wins he's averaged 9.5 shots a game and 7 assists. In their three losses he's averaged 14.3 and 5.3 assists. In other words its better for the Celtics when Smart plays within himself and lets other people carry the scoring load.

Or Smart is the player that picks up the slack when others are struggling, and those players need to step up (so Smart doesn't have to/feel he has to)

The entire offense bogs down at times (ESPECIALLY off ball movement), and that leads to the ball handler finishing more possessions. That's not the ball handler's fault, it's the entire team's fault.

[hpantazo]

In the Celtics two wins he's averaged 9.5 shots a game and 7 assists. In their three losses he's averaged 14.3 and 5.3 assists. In other words its better for the Celtics when Smart plays within himself and lets other people carry the scoring load.

I think it's because his shot numbers are more of a consequence of the other players struggling than the cause. When the offense bogs down and the other guys are playing iso and throwing the ball away, Smart steps up and tries to get things going.

[CelticsBR]

In the Celtics two wins he's averaged 9.5 shots a game and 7 assists. In their three losses he's averaged 14.3 and 5.3 assists. In other words its better for the Celtics when Smart plays within himself and lets other people carry the scoring load.

I think it's because his shot numbers are more of a consequence of the other players struggling than the cause. When the offense bogs down and the other guys are playing iso and throwing the ball away, Smart steps up and tries to get things going.

I agree. correlation does not imply causation. He actually kept the Cs in the games when others were off. Celtics are better the less shots he takes, but his shots are not what makes the Cs worse.

[Roy H.]

Anybody remember “good Tony, bad Tony” Allen?

He’s the only other Celtic I remember who could at times appear brilliant and indispensable, and at others look like the dumbest player on the court.  One of the key differences was that Tony was more of a 50 / 50 player, whereas Smart’s dumb moments are rarer. 

[tstorey_97]

When you think about, just exactly which NBA head coach wouldn't want Smart on his team?

Anyway, he's 41% from the field in his last 10 games and if there's two minutes to go in game seven, do you really want some "shooting specialist" off the bench playing for the Celtics and Smart on the other team guarding him?

The game is rife with intangibles and, rather than looking that "word" up in the dictionary just watch Marcus Smart play basketball.

[Sophomore]

When you think about, just exactly which NBA head coach wouldn't want Smart on his team?

Anyway, he's 41% from the field in his last 10 games and if there's two minutes to go in game seven, do you really want some "shooting specialist" off the bench playing for the Celtics and Smart on the other team guarding him?

The game is rife with intangibles and, rather than looking that "word" up in the dictionary just watch Marcus Smart play basketball.

That’s a great thought exercise! Smart, every time. And while he still makes mistakes, he’s so much better than he used to be.

[keevsnick]

In the Celtics two wins he's averaged 9.5 shots a game and 7 assists. In their three losses he's averaged 14.3 and 5.3 assists. In other words its better for the Celtics when Smart plays within himself and lets other people carry the scoring load.

Or Smart is the player that picks up the slack when others are struggling, and those players need to step up (so Smart doesn't have to/feel he has to)

The entire offense bogs down at times (ESPECIALLY off ball movement), and that leads to the ball handler finishing more possessions. That's not the ball handler's fault, it's the entire team's fault.

Ya I think this is partly true, I also think it is most definitely Smarts fault when he takes a deep three with 17 seconds left on the shot clock as he has done several times this series. Or when he launched a three when Jaylen Brown is literally alone under the basket.

But in general I agree, a lot of the time its just a symptom of the team playing passive.

[ozgod]

In the Celtics two wins he's averaged 9.5 shots a game and 7 assists. In their three losses he's averaged 14.3 and 5.3 assists. In other words its better for the Celtics when Smart plays within himself and lets other people carry the scoring load.

Or Smart is the player that picks up the slack when others are struggling, and those players need to step up (so Smart doesn't have to/feel he has to)

The entire offense bogs down at times (ESPECIALLY off ball movement), and that leads to the ball handler finishing more possessions. That's not the ball handler's fault, it's the entire team's fault.

Ya I think this is partly true, I also think it is most definitely Smarts fault when he takes a deep three with 17 seconds left on the shot clock as he has done several times this series. Or when he launched a three when Jaylen Brown is literally alone under the basket.

But in general I agree, a lot of the time its just a symptom of the team playing passive.

And that's because one in 3 times it works, and the other 2 times he thinks it will work 

Remember when he hit 5 3s in a row in the 4th quarter? Or that face up 3 that tied the game last game? It was a terrible shot but it went in. It's those situations that make him keep doing that. I think he simply believes every shot is going to go in. Shooters need to be confident but that's what he needs to temper.