Crowder And Smart NEED To Drive More (Force Fouls, Score Easier)

[Celtics4ever]

Quote
This could be a problem for the team then, because people here say Smart and Crowder can't drive to the hoop that well, but in that case, if their shots aren't falling outside, they are as big of a liability on offense as Isaiah Thomas is on defense.

We have had some real offensive droughts at times.   My son always rages about all the threes we take and miss.  But when you have guys who are not one on one standouts who can create this happens.

[cousytoheinsohn]

I think several of these guys have either the ability on offense to do  more than just shoot threes, or just shoot, as well as the capability to improve their skills to a level resembling a weapon.

The insistence on shooting threes almost exclusively seems to be stunting development to a certain extent.

I remember Jae at Marquette. He could do just about everything, and do it well. He was the star of the team the year he played with Jimmy Butler.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/01/17/bulls-jimmy-butler-praises-former-college-teammate-jae-crowder/E0Lo5RirK1H2oJR8iAYBsO/story.html

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Nah, they just need to be packaged together and shipped out of town this summer for someone better.

#Rozier+Hayward.

Crowder has one of the best contracts in the league.  I wouldn't trade him unless it was absolutely neccasary.

he is terrible and cannot leave town soon enough for me. I have had enough of him. A bunch need to go.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Crowder and Smart have had their moments in this series, and I'm not implying they are the sole reason this team lost last night (there were A LOT of other factors too).

But Smart scored 1 point in 28 minutes, and Crowder was 3/9 from the field last night (1/4 from 3 point land).

And I know, Smart is not known for his offense, and we shouldn't expect him to put up 20 points consistently. But that's why he should drive more and get to the line, if nothing else is working.

I know Crowder averages 7 rebounds a game, and that's a big plus, but my main issue with him this series is his shot selection from behind the arc. He's been taking a lot of ill-advised 3s.

His 3 point average in the postseason is 33%, but honestly, it feels like most of his misses come from the bad shots (like taking a shot with a defender right in front of him, and/or taking a 3 with still about 18-20 seconds left on the shot clock). Remember that airball in Game 5? Yikes. It's one thing to miss a lot of open look 3s (Crowder has missed some, yes), but many of his misses are on contested 3s that should honestly not be attempted. I think that's something that can be "corrected" for Game 7.

It's obviously easier said than done, but I think Smart and Crowder need to assert themselves more and drive to the paint. Even if they can't convert, draw fouls (get guys in foul trouble), and go to the line more. Or in some cases, open up the floor for other guys so IT and Horford and AB can take more open looks outside. Frankly, the way they've played this series, I trust them a lot more to hit those looks than Crowder/Smart (no offense to them).

Seeing Smart and Crowder for much of games just standing behind the arc looking to take a shot is just not their game. I want to see these guys in ATTACK MODE Game 7.

I'm not saying stop taking 3s completely, but only take them when you are wide open, and if they don't go in a few times, try driving to the basket more instead of taking more contested 3s.

If the C's want to win Game 7, Crowder and Smart are going to have to step up, and find ways to get more involved on offense and scoring.

been sayin'

[hodgy03038]

My problem with Crowder in the playoffs is that he seems to take bad shots like fall away deep 2's or 3's that are contested. It is not even late shot clock shots but contested bad shots like he thinks he is Steph Curry and all he has to do is throw it up and it will go in. He is not Steph Curry and they aren't going in. Some of the Wizards runs have been propelled by shot selection just like that. Uncontested 3's sure take them but make the extra pass Jae or drive top the hoop.

[Celtics4ever]

My problem with Crowder in the playoffs is that he seems to take bad shots like fall away deep 2's or 3's that are contested

Yeah it feels like Crowder has a cause of staritis.    He thinks he is an alpha star when he is not, he seeks big shots but rarely makes them.   I appreciate all the work he did in the offseason on his shot and it was great during the regular season.  But he seems to be struggling against playoff intensity on his offense.

[feckless]

This could be a problem for the team then, because people here say Smart and Crowder can't drive to the hoop that well, but in that case, if their shots aren't falling outside, they are as big of a liability on offense as Isaiah Thomas is on defense.

IT makes the effort on D and is easier to hide on D but yes his size makes him a liability on defense similar to the other 2 on offense.

But Marcus's and Jae's other abilities are not even in the same ball park as Isaiah's scoring ability.

[PaulAllen]

I feel like every time Smart drives to the rim he loses the ball ...

[feckless]

I feel like every time Smart drives to the rim he loses the ball ...

I agree, it sure seems that way on too many nights.  I cringe when he doesn't move the ball quickly and instead starts pounding the ball.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Nah, they just need to be packaged together and shipped out of town this summer for someone better.

#Rozier+Hayward.

Crowder has one of the best contracts in the league.  I wouldn't trade him unless it was absolutely neccasary.

he is terrible and cannot leave town soon enough for me. I have had enough of him. A bunch need to go.

DA should have listened to me and traded Crowder when his value was higher. Hopefully, the playoffs will be overlooked and his regular season stats/contribution will be what teams look at.

[Ilikesports17]

I feel like every time Smart drives to the rim he loses the ball ...

I agree, it sure seems that way on too many nights.  I cringe when he doesn't move the ball quickly and instead starts pounding the ball.

He is decent offensively in 2 areas.

1. The post against smaller less athletic gaurds (read: not John Wall)
2. In the pick and roll when his able to move very slowly. When he is able to slowly maneuver his body and get his defender planted on his hip. Here he can force fouls or force guys to help and take advantage of his good vision and passing ability to find cutting bigs wide open under the rim.

everywhere else, he is bad.

[Phantom255x]

My problem with Crowder in the playoffs is that he seems to take bad shots like fall away deep 2's or 3's that are contested. It is not even late shot clock shots but contested bad shots like he thinks he is Steph Curry and all he has to do is throw it up and it will go in. He is not Steph Curry and they aren't going in. Some of the Wizards runs have been propelled by shot selection just like that. Uncontested 3's sure take them but make the extra pass Jae or drive top the hoop.

Exactly, their runs have come off of bad Celtics shots.

I know the Spurs just lost, but look at them today. Not too many ill-advised, early shots in the shotclock, and when GSW made some runs, they took it a possession at a time, and typically answered back.

Unfortunately the Leonard injury + red hot Curry was too much for them.

But the C's have to do similar things to avoid giving up another big run in GAME 7.

[mr. dee]

Smart should exploit mismatches in the post. He needs to work out with Andre Miller and Hakeem in the offseason for post ups moves.

[Celtics4ever]

Crowder came to play against the Cavs.