Celtics News: Smart to make debut Wednesday; Smart/Rozier options picked up

[jpotter33]

The reaction on this board, you'd think an all star was coming back. I mean it's crazy to say he's a role player right? Well look below.

Per 36 Min last year, he averaged 12 points a game, shot 25% from three, 35% from the field, 4 assists, and 5 boards.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smartma01.html#per_minute::none

Smart didn't even make the list for defensive rating here last year.

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/stats?season=2014&category=ADVANCED&group=1&sort=5&time=0&pos=0&team=0&qual=1&sortOrder=0&opp=0

He was 93 in Defensive Win Shares last year

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2015_advanced.html

He was 169 in win shares

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2015_advanced.html

Just facts I thought I would share since we've clearly been missing Smart, lol. We're 2-1, Chicago got hot or we should be 3-0. But hey, Some people are saying he's going to be an all star, so let's see what he has. He shouldn't post these stats again if he is going to be the difference maker everyone claims he is.

do you not think he's one of our best defenders?

One of the best defenders, yes - on a team that is stacked with good defenders and desperately lacks/needs scoring and rebounding.

I would say that Smart is a top 5 defender on this team - along with Bradley, Crowder, Horford and Amir.

I definitely rank Smart below Bradley and Crowder, so that puts him (IMHO) between the 3rd and 5th best on the team.

The problem is that all the other guys I just mentioned are good at more then just defense.  Bradley can score and defend.  Crowder can score and defend.  Amir can rebound and defend.  Horford can score and defend and is a top 5 passing big in the NBA. 

For Smart however, defense is the only thing he does at an above average level.  His next best talent is playmaking, where calling him 'average' would be generous.

People were bagging the hell out of Rozier for his mediocre stats so far. Smart's stats today?

7 points
5 rebounds
5 assists
1 steal
1 block
6 turnovers
2-8 (25%) FG
1-6 (16.7%) 3PT
2-4 (50%) FT
33 minutes


Rozier's stats so far:

6.25 points
3.0 rebounds
2.3 assists
1.0 steals
0 blocks
0.75 turnovers
45% FG
40% 3PT
50% FT
21.0 minutes

So, why are we bagging on Rozier's apparently poor stats again?

Oh, right - Smart's stats today aren't allowed to be judged because he's been injured, right?  I've heard this one so many times that I'm sure it's going to be the next point raised.

You must not watch must basketball if you seriously watched that game and didn't see the completely different impacts that Smart and Rozier respectively provide. There's a reason one plays 34 minutes and the other 13 minutes... Good Lord...

And again, it must just be "coincidence" that our defense was better than ever when Smart came back, Horford didn't play, and Crowder barely played, huh? Smart is no less than a top-2 defender on the team, and it's not even really close with him and Bradley clearly the top two.