Of course the haters are out thick during a Smart rough patch.
Yes, he's undeniably going through a rough patch right now. However, what else do you expect when he's having to play a role on this team that he's not, i.e. a 3-and-D off-ball swingman. It's no coincidence that he's going through a rough patch with Crowder out when he almost exclusively always plays with two other ball-handlers on the floor with him - IT, Turner, and Rozier.
If we don't plan on truly developing the kid, then we might as well use him in a trade for Boogie.
I don't understand why you continue to blame the Celtics for his lack of progress. You have no evidence that the Celtics are holding him back at all. Last night for example, he was driving to the hoop and missing. I've also seen Smart run the P n R plenty of times. It is clear to me IMO that he prefers to shoot outside and it is not the coach. He doesn't have a good first step. His ball handling isn't tight enough as well to be a primary P N R ballhandler.
Like I said, if you're going to blame the Celtics, please have some proof because it feels like we are watching completely different games. For god sakes Bradley is better inside than Smart. Bradley has actually been attacking the paint these last few games. Is that because Stevens has allowed him too? Like think about what you are saying dude. Also, Rozier gets to the paint all the time as well. Stop blaming the team for Smart's development. It's seriously lame. If you think he is going to be a good player, that is fine. But it will be Smart's fault if he isn't, not the teams. No excuses.
Reason over emotion is always a better starting point for an argument. Just a tip for you.
I provided proof in the fact that since Crowder has been out, Smart has almost exclusively played with two other ball-handlers on the floor in Turner and IT, Turner and Rozier, or Rozier and IT. When they're all out there together, Smart handles the ball the last amount of time, and the other two ball-handlers almost exclusively do the ball-handling. These are obvious facts that can't be disputed.
So then tell me how Smart, who has always played point guard with ball-handling responsibilities his entire basketball career, is supposed to succeed in that type of system that doesn't utilize him to his strengths but forces him to do things that he's not great at? How is he supposed to flourish in a system that plays him out of position, expects him to primarily be a spot-up shooter, and hardly gives him any ball-handling responsibilities when he's shown he's a capable distributor and initiator of the offense? Go ahead - I'll wait.
Oh, and let's finally dispel this whole notion of Smart not driving and attacking the rim anymore. That was a legitimate criticism last year, but he routinely penetrates into the lane every game this year with regularity. I'd say he penetrates at least five to six times a game anymore, which is quite a bit given that he hardly ever has the ball in his hands. Granted, he's not been finishing those looks for several reasons, such as taking off too early and not getting the benefit of the doubt from the officials, but this whole notion that he doesn't attack the basket is not based in reality anymore.
How am I emotional? Lol. You are the one who has never once criticized smart or held him accountable as a player. I don't understand why you had to go there. This is a debate.
Second, I just don't see what you are seeing. He doesn't have point guard skills. And he actually played shooting guard in college his freshman and then switched to point guard his sophomore year, unless I have my story mixed...so I don't get the him being a point guard his whole life comment. Nor does it matter because rozier is clearly better at him regarding point guard skills. You say smart gets to the paint which I agree he does at times, but not all the time. All I really see is excuses for this player. Nothing is his fault. I really hope smart becomes good, but the reason they have to play him with ball handlers is because those guys are better at handling the ball and running the offense. IMO smart can't run the offense from what I've seen. It seems like a struggle for him to get past his defender. He does at times, but other times he gets closed out.
Only time will tell what Smart turns into, but I would be careful. Remember how much people loved rondo? You don't want to be one of those people. If you really think smart will be good, then that's fine, but I don't see an all star. And it is troubling that rozier is already better than him at running the offense.
Topic: Yet another dissapointment in Marcus Smart thread (Bob Ryan comments) (Read 22269 times)