Marcus Smart's role

[RockinRyA]

We need offense from somewhere, and unlike other guys he's not afraid to let it fly. There just isn't much offensive bench depth on the team and it's really showing now that they're so depleted. I would love for him to not have to take so many shots but I'm struggling to think of who else not named Tatum or Walker would be a more efficient option.

Assuming Brown and Hayward are left off because of injury, it's not that Smart should never shoot; it's that he shouldn't lead the team in shots taken. Last night is a rough example, but he had 23 shots to Tatums 19 and Kemba's 17 (and all 3 were generally bad). It would be nice if a few of those 23 shots went to guys like Langford (1 shot), Theis (7 shots), TL (2 shots), Kanter (4 shots). As one of the lead playmakers, it is up to him to get others involved.

he has a specific role that he needs to play on this team,when he doesn't play that role and tries to be something hes not ,we lose.

This is a succinct way of putting it. Smart is awesome when he is playing his role, but usually not when he is trying to do too much. His off balance, desperation drives to the basket are just the worst. He needs to play more in control.

A lot of shots smart took in this game were shots he had to take. Tatum and kemba were getting trapped and he received the ball on bailouts. Id rather have him take those shots than wanamaker or green.

[rollie mass]

Marcus looks like he has lost weight .The illness he had  and came back from may have been part of melt down at referees along with the stress of losing guys to injuries .A bug like that can throw one out of kilter As well a losing Haywards calm influence on offense and defence coupled with Jaylen's defence and points..
Losing 35 points a game production and the defensive loss might be putting to much stress .On a run down Marcus
Marcus seems to be taking more shots at end of quarter and with clock winding down that alter his stats.
Before the rash of multiple injuries Marcus was so much calmer and his game showed it.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Marcus Smart takes just as many losing shots as he makes winning defensive plays (if  not more). What tips the balance in his favor is that he is a high level passer as well.

[ihatelakers]

  his biggest issue during his nba carrer has been his inability to use his head in tight games.ive watched almost everygame the last 5 yrs and it happens more than people on here care to admit.just not as noticible in blowouts

[Csfan1984]

It's love and hate for me with Smart. But I definitely think he does more good than bad. Just wish he was coming off the bench playing for 26 mins a game. Starting, playing 30+ mins, and taking 15 or more shots a game he looks bad to me. It's as if he is wearing himself out by trying to do too much.

[obnoxiousmime]

We need offense from somewhere, and unlike other guys he's not afraid to let it fly. There just isn't much offensive bench depth on the team and it's really showing now that they're so depleted. I would love for him to not have to take so many shots but I'm struggling to think of who else not named Tatum or Walker would be a more efficient option.

Assuming Brown and Hayward are left off because of injury, it's not that Smart should never shoot; it's that he shouldn't lead the team in shots taken. Last night is a rough example, but he had 23 shots to Tatums 19 and Kemba's 17 (and all 3 were generally bad). It would be nice if a few of those 23 shots went to guys like Langford (1 shot), Theis (7 shots), TL (2 shots), Kanter (4 shots). As one of the lead playmakers, it is up to him to get others involved.

he has a specific role that he needs to play on this team,when he doesn't play that role and tries to be something hes not ,we lose.

This is a succinct way of putting it. Smart is awesome when he is playing his role, but usually not when he is trying to do too much. His off balance, desperation drives to the basket are just the worst. He needs to play more in control.

I hear what you're saying about the shot attempts, and though Smart is definitely not shy, I think that some of it is just the defense making guys other then Walker or Tatum beat them. Smart, Williams, Theis, Langford, Wanamaker, Green, Kanter, they're just not good or consistent enough on offense to take that role. The only difference is unlike those other guys Smart is not afraid to shoot.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is he's in a role he's not suited for due to the injuries, but it's not like there are great alternatives to take those shots besides him. Now, if he were doing this regularly while the team was fully healthy, I'd be more upset.

[RockinRyA]

We need offense from somewhere, and unlike other guys he's not afraid to let it fly. There just isn't much offensive bench depth on the team and it's really showing now that they're so depleted. I would love for him to not have to take so many shots but I'm struggling to think of who else not named Tatum or Walker would be a more efficient option.

Assuming Brown and Hayward are left off because of injury, it's not that Smart should never shoot; it's that he shouldn't lead the team in shots taken. Last night is a rough example, but he had 23 shots to Tatums 19 and Kemba's 17 (and all 3 were generally bad). It would be nice if a few of those 23 shots went to guys like Langford (1 shot), Theis (7 shots), TL (2 shots), Kanter (4 shots). As one of the lead playmakers, it is up to him to get others involved.

he has a specific role that he needs to play on this team,when he doesn't play that role and tries to be something hes not ,we lose.

This is a succinct way of putting it. Smart is awesome when he is playing his role, but usually not when he is trying to do too much. His off balance, desperation drives to the basket are just the worst. He needs to play more in control.

I hear what you're saying about the shot attempts, and though Smart is definitely not shy, I think that some of it is just the defense making guys other then Walker or Tatum beat them. Smart, Williams, Theis, Langford, Wanamaker, Green, Kanter, they're just not good or consistent enough on offense to take that role. The only difference is unlike those other guys Smart is not afraid to shoot.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is he's in a role he's not suited for due to the injuries, but it's not like there are great alternatives to take those shots besides him. Now, if he were doing this regularly while the team was fully healthy, I'd be more upset.

Yes been saying this. The Jazz were trapping Tatum and Kemba and basically forcing everyone else to beat them. Sure he did make some really bad decisions, but most of the time his shots were what the defense gave us.

[td450]

Someone asked, in the game recap thread, about the C’s record with Smart taking a lot of shots, and that got me curious.  Took a quick look and here is how it shakes out.  I used 13 shots as the gauge because that is about what he averaged for February.

- Record when Smart takes 13 or more shots is 7-11.
- Record when Smart takes 12 or fewer shots is 26-7.
- Record when Smart scores 20 or more points is 2-5.

TP for the effort. I think this is a symptom and not the actual problem. Smart shoots more when key players are out and if key players are out the chances of winning are lower.

It is not an either or question.

When key players are out, the chances of winning are lower. It still matters how Marcus reacts to that.

Marcus can wrongly assume he has to take over when that happens, rather than just take a couple of more shots, and when he is too aggressive, that usually further reduces the chances of winning.

[nickagneta]

I have said this before and think it needs repeating: Marcus' biggest problem is he thinks he is a much better offensive player than he actually is. When Smart plays his game in his role, being THE best guard/wing defender in the game with solid playmaking ability and a slightly above average three point shooter, he is amazing.

When he forces himself to be more than that, his passes get too cute and become turnovers, his drives become desperate heaves hoping for a foul, he looks to shoot way too much, taking bad, early in the clock or way too far from the rim threes.

And sometimes these things lead to bad defensive lapses and/or technicals. Or even off court problems like going after refs or punching pictures.

That said, when the team is down 2-3 of it's top 4 players, Smart has to try to elevate his offensive game and I have no problem with the extra shooting. Smart took lots of shots against Utah, but most of those shots were the right shots to take.

[Donoghus]

I have said this before and think it needs repeating: Marcus' biggest problem is he thinks he is a much better offensive player than he actually is. When Smart plays his game in his role, being THE best guard/wing defender in the game with solid playmaking ability and a slightly above average three point shooter, he is amazing.

When he forces himself to be more than that, his passes get too cute and become turnovers, his drives become desperate heaves hoping for a foul, he looks to shoot way too much, taking bad, early in the clock or way too far from the rim threes.

And sometimes these things lead to bad defensive lapses and/or technicals. Or even off court problems like going after refs or punching pictures.

That said, when the team is down 2-3 of it's top 4 players, Smart has to try to elevate his offensive game and I have no problem with the extra shooting. Smart took lots of shots against Utah, but most of those shots were the right shots to take.

I think this is pretty spot on.

Hopefully, come playoff time, this team is healthy with the Big 4 and Smart can settle into the role that he's best at without any additional pressure (especially on the offensive end) to do more.

[Spicoli]

Marcus Smart has not stopped:

Collin Sexton
Dennis Shroeder
Ish Smith
Mike Conley
Caris Levert
Russell Westbrook

etc etc etc

When this team needs to stop a red hot player on the other team Marcus Smart cannot deliver. He has been getting cooked. Maybe it's because he's too busy jacking up shot after shot after shot. I'm back to hating this guy. He will never "get it." He thinks he's as good as Brown and Tatum. I've had it with him and his "winning plays." Would love to see this guy get traded at some point.

[nickagneta]

Marcus Smart has not stopped:

Collin Sexton
Dennis Shroeder
Ish Smith
Mike Conley
Caris Levert
Russell Westbrook

Know who else didn't stop those players? All the Celtics that got switched onto those players once the other team saw Smart was guarding those players.

Same thing happens to Brown. Every time Houston saw Brown on either Westbrook or Harden, when they had the ball, Harden or Westbrook did a switch to get Brown off them.

Now, I'm not saying Smart played great defense against the players you mentioned, while everyone else sucked. I actually think Smart's defense hasn't been very good in a lot of recent games. But what I am saying is Smart wasn't the only Celtic getting burned by your list of players and probably didn't play defense as poorly against those players as some other Celtics did.

[jambr380]

Smart is a fantastic defender who is physical and has great instincts, but he does get burned by smaller, faster guards consistently. This isn't really a knock on him - more an observation. Luckily, Kemba generally does just fine since he literally fits the mold of the type of guy Marcus has a difficult time stopping.

Anyway, I hope we get healthy soon. Marcus off the bench is a much better weapon than Marcus in the starting line-up. Can you believe he was actually starting over Jaylen last season?? Honestly, I'd rather we go with Romeo starting when Jaylen, Gordon, or Tatum are out. Not that I think he is more talented, but he plays his role so well and you can always count on him to look for a better option than himself (even when he is the best option).

[Monkhouse]

For god's sake, STOP shooting 3's..

I loved it more when Smart was driving, and making plays.

[Spicoli]

Marcus Smart has not stopped:

Collin Sexton
Dennis Shroeder
Ish Smith
Mike Conley
Caris Levert
Russell Westbrook

Know who else didn't stop those players? All the Celtics that got switched onto those players once the other team saw Smart was guarding those players.

Same thing happens to Brown. Every time Houston saw Brown on either Westbrook or Harden, when they had the ball, Harden or Westbrook did a switch to get Brown off them.

Now, I'm not saying Smart played great defense against the players you mentioned, while everyone else sucked. I actually think Smart's defense hasn't been very good in a lot of recent games. But what I am saying is Smart wasn't the only Celtic getting burned by your list of players and probably didn't play defense as poorly against those players as some other Celtics did.

If all it takes is a switch then what value does a "defensive stopper" actually have? If the opposing team simply has to run a pick and get a switch then his value basically becomes null.