Is Smart feeling the benching coming?

[TheReaLPuba]

Or is he just this bad at shooting and decision making?

He was not this bad last year.

I thought he was more than serviceable last season and good on most nights offensively.

Defensively he’s been meh at best.

[Moranis]

Well I do think Grant should be starting, I would do so for White, but White us playing well so maybe you do give Smart a role on bench for a bit.

[Roy H.]

It's been a rough start overall, but Marcus made some big plays last night.

If he's distracted -- and I'm not saying that he is -- it's about Ime, who he has referenced multiple times.

[Larry for 3]

It's been a rough start overall, but Marcus made some big plays last night.

If he's distracted -- and I'm not saying that he is -- it's about Ime, who he has referenced multiple times.

And really stupid play in OT. Just a horrible selection & shot. How do we have that possession with neither Tatum or Brown making the decision? There was time on the shot clock 2. Inexcusable. That play loses series. I would be annoyed if I was Tatum.

[Roy H.]

It's been a rough start overall, but Marcus made some big plays last night.

If he's distracted -- and I'm not saying that he is -- it's about Ime, who he has referenced multiple times.

And really stupid play in OT. Just a horrible selection & shot. How do we have that possession with neither Tatum or Brown making the decision? There was time on the shot clock 2. Inexcusable. That play loses series. I would be annoyed if I was Tatum.

I agree, that was a horrible shot. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKoxajStQP8

That said, he drew an offensive foul immediately beforehand.  We take the good with the bad.

[bello_man09]

he should not have the ball in his hands at the point. he should be cutting to the basket or going to grab a rebound. Honestly, he did some good things. Posted up the guards smaller guards for a high % looks.

[Csfan1984]

I feel we get less out of Brogdon and Smart when Smart starts.

Brogdon is the better PG and should start to help the team get a lead before a Jay takes a breathier.

[Roy H.]

I feel we get less out of Brogdon and Smart when Smart starts.

Brogdon is the better PG and should start to help the team get a lead before a Jay takes a breathier.

The other option is starting Brogdon alongside Smart, and bringing White off the bench.  That probably maximizes the starting lineup, but weakens the bench.

[The Oracle]

Smart the last 4 minutes of the 4th and overtime 3-5 FG, 2 Assists, 9 points, 0 turnovers.  Rest of team 4-13 FG, 2 Assists, 8 points, 2 turnovers.  The missed shots by Smart, one was a great block by Allen and the other was with 7 seconds on the shot clock and 31 on the game clock (getting a 2 for 1 while trying to draw the foul here was a quality play). 

During this 9 minute stretch the Cavs committed 4 fouls all 4 were drawn by Smart (an and 1, a loose ball rebounding foul on Garland, an offensive foul on Garland, and an offensive foul on Allen).

The only other player that did anything productive was Tatum, everyone else was basically worthless.  Find a different scapegoat. 

[bdm860]

It's been a rough start overall, but Marcus made some big plays last night.

If he's distracted -- and I'm not saying that he is -- it's about Ime, who he has referenced multiple times.

And really stupid play in OT. Just a horrible selection & shot. How do we have that possession with neither Tatum or Brown making the decision? There was time on the shot clock 2. Inexcusable. That play loses series. I would be annoyed if I was Tatum.

I agree, that was a horrible shot. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKoxajStQP8

That said, he drew an offensive foul immediately beforehand.  We take the good with the bad.

I have to think that was more Smart trying to draw the shooting foul than poor shot selection .  He got Mitchell off his feet faking the 3, and it looks like Mitchell had his hand on him the whole way. 

While poor shot selection is definitely something Smart does, don't recall seeing him take too many 18 foot runners.  He probably just overestimated the amount of contact from Mitchell.

[angryguy77]

That's great, but when you take a terrible shot and a terrible time, it doesn't get absolved because you made some play prior.
This game isn't all on him, but he had a hand in it.

I feel like Brad is back coaching atm and I don't like it one bit.

[wdleehi]

Nope. 


What have we seen that says the coaches trust him less?   Reduction of minutes?   Taken out during the end of the game?   



Just get used to him playing the same role he played last year. 

[wdleehi]

I feel we get less out of Brogdon and Smart when Smart starts.

Brogdon is the better PG and should start to help the team get a lead before a Jay takes a breathier.

The other option is starting Brogdon alongside Smart, and bringing White off the bench.  That probably maximizes the starting lineup, but weakens the bench.

I just don't think the guard and guard rotation is the issue.   

The issue is until Rob Williams comes back, the best talent off the bench after Brogdon and Grant, is Pritchard.   And because of the depth of guards, it is really hard to play Pritchard unless they start playing three guard in the rotation.   Of course at that point, Pritchard is just a shooter which they can get out of Houser.   

[bello_man09]

It's been a rough start overall, but Marcus made some big plays last night.

If he's distracted -- and I'm not saying that he is -- it's about Ime, who he has referenced multiple times.

And really stupid play in OT. Just a horrible selection & shot. How do we have that possession with neither Tatum or Brown making the decision? There was time on the shot clock 2. Inexcusable. That play loses series. I would be annoyed if I was Tatum.

I agree, that was a horrible shot. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKoxajStQP8

That said, he drew an offensive foul immediately beforehand.  We take the good with the bad.

I have to think that was more Smart trying to draw the shooting foul than poor shot selection .  He got Mitchell off his feet faking the 3, and it looks like Mitchell had his hand on him the whole way. 

While poor shot selection is definitely something Smart does, don't recall seeing him take too many 18 foot runners.  He probably just overestimated the amount of contact from Mitchell.

yeap for real..when i saw the reply I can see why he took that shot. Mitchell's hand was in there.

[sgrogan]

Nope. 


What have we seen that says the coaches trust him less?   Reduction of minutes?   Taken out during the end of the game?   



Just get used to him playing the same role he played last year.

I don't know how to evaluate Smart, but...
His first coach played him increasing minutes as his career progressed.
His next coach played him more.
His next/current coach is on pace to play him even more.

He is frustrating as heck, but his coaches have consistently chosen him over the alternatives.