David and Marcus Legitimate One Two Punch

[KG Living Legend]

David Lee is poised for a big year. Whatever he has left where about to see it this year. He feels slighted and he's trying to earn himself megabucks for the last time in his life.
 Marcus is ready for his breakout tell me if you don't sender it's coming. You know what is just so special about this kid, he's so darn serious at this young stage of his career. You just don't see that from many kids at all. Let alone Blue chip prospects like him.
 We can also put some players around these two so they can be the focal point. For all the Turner Harriet's that would like to take the ball or of his hands put Crowder and Johnson out there with Either Thomas for offense or Bradley for defense and we could run the offense through them.

[Celtics4ever]

Don't you think IT will be punching too?  He has the most recent history of scoring.

[PhoSita]

As things stand, I expect IT and Lee to be our leading scorers.  Each could average in the high teens at least on this team.

I think Marcus can average 11 or 12 points a game if he's given something close to starter minutes and a larger role in the offense this year, but that's about it.

From Marcus, I'd be happy with a statline something like:

11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 3 FTA, 1.5 3PM, 40% FG / 33% 3P / 70% FT

[D Dub]

agree with the OP.

yesterday, the more I thought about a potential Gallo trade --- I seemed to talk myself out of it based on Smart's potential alone.  Gallo is kind of a black hole offensively, and I kind of like the idea that, as of right now, Smart has a very large role awaiting him --- if and only if he's man enough to take it. 

Great coaching by Brad, not something you see much at the NBA level. 

[PhoSita]

agree with the OP.

yesterday, the more I thought about a potential Gallo trade --- I seemed to talk myself out of it based on Smart's potential alone.  Gallo is kind of a black hole offensively, and I kind of like the idea that, as of right now, Smart has a very large role awaiting him --- if and only if he's man enough to take it. 

Great coaching by Brad, not something you see much at the NBA level.

Gallo averages 12.5 field goal attempts per 36 minutes for his career, so it's kinda hard to provide a basis for this idea that he's a black hole.

[KG Living Legend]

As things stand, I expect IT and Lee to be our leading scorers.  Each could average in the high teens at least on this team.




 That's not bad Phosita, but honestly looking for more. He's going to have multiple 20 point nights and about 7 games with 30 plus point outbursts. 
 I do like the idea of

Amir J
David Lee
Crowder
Smart
Thomas

I think Marcus can average 11 or 12 points a game if he's given something close to starter minutes and a larger role in the offense this year, but that's about it.

From Marcus, I'd be happy with a statline something like:

11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 3 FTA, 1.5 3PM, 40% FG / 33% 3P / 70% FT

[MJohnnyboy]

I'm most excited for Lee/IT as well. If Smart gets better offensively than that's just gravy, but IT and Lee on the pick and roll could be deadly.

[kozlodoev]

Just because Smart distinguished himself as a volume shooter in SL doesn't mean he'll be any sort of punch when we start playing real games. Just saying.

[PhoSita]

Just because Smart distinguished himself as a volume shooter in SL doesn't mean he'll be any sort of punch when we start playing real games. Just saying.

I mean, I think that if Smart wanted to play in the regular season the way he has done in Summer League he could, and would put up nicer looking counting stats.  But it would probably also hurt the team and his scoring efficiency would not be very good (i.e. much worse than before).

The question is to what degree will Smart feel comfortable being more assertive in the offense this year as opposed to operating mostly off the ball as he did last year. 

Yes, some will say that he was very shot-happy last year given his shot selection from three, but I think he was encouraged greatly to take outside shots last season.  He was hesitant to do much else except when things broke down.

[Big333223]

I'm keeping my expectation for David Lee in check. I think he'll be an assett and he'll be in better shape for us than he was for GS in the Finals, but he's still a guy who hasn't played big minutes in a long time. He simply might not have it anymore.

[Evantime34]

As things stand, I expect IT and Lee to be our leading scorers.  Each could average in the high teens at least on this team.

I think Marcus can average 11 or 12 points a game if he's given something close to starter minutes and a larger role in the offense this year, but that's about it.

From Marcus, I'd be happy with a statline something like:

11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 3 FTA, 1.5 3PM, 40% FG / 33% 3P / 70% FT

David Lee and IT in the pick and roll is going to be a problem. I think they end up on the court together a lot.

I think Smart's 3 point percentage will be higher and he will score more than that by getting to the line a lot.

[PhoSita]

David Lee and IT in the pick and roll is going to be a problem.

A problem for other teams on one end and a problem for the Celtics on the other end.

That duo is going to get fileted, roasted, and eaten in the pick and roll.

[pokeKingCurtis]

IT is a feisty defender.

Definitely better than guys like Jamal Crawford...not a great endorsement, but the lil' dude can play and make plays.

IIRC, aside from his at rim defense stats, he's pretty okay overall. Even above average in some categories (perhaps overall). IIRC, this is even more apparent when you consider how poorly his teams have played defense. (Don't crucify me, all this is from memory and some from my impression on the matter).

A deep guard rotation = even better defense thanks to the ability to exert more effort.

[Celtics18]

Just because Smart distinguished himself as a volume shooter in SL doesn't mean he'll be any sort of punch when we start playing real games. Just saying.

I mean, I think that if Smart wanted to play in the regular season the way he has done in Summer League he could, and would put up nicer looking counting stats.  But it would probably also hurt the team and his scoring efficiency would not be very good (i.e. much worse than before).

The question is to what degree will Smart feel comfortable being more assertive in the offense this year as opposed to operating mostly off the ball as he did last year. 

Yes, some will say that he was very shot-happy last year given his shot selection from three, but I think he was encouraged greatly to take outside shots last season.  He was hesitant to do much else except when things broke down.

I am hoping that Marcus gets more of an opportunity to play as a lead guard this season than last. 

I am still convinced that much of his lack of offensive assertiveness was by design.  I think Danny and Brad had a plan to make the primary offensive focus for Marcus' rookie season for him to become a serviceable spot up three point shooter.  If that was indeed the plan, it was a success.

I suspect this year will be more about his development with the ball in his hands. 

[celtics2030]

Marcus Smart and One Two Punch is hilarious

Maybe 4 5 Punch