Help me get excited about Marcus Smart

[merkins]

Marcus Smart went through a tough stretch last year.  The flopping comes from his energy and the fact he is trying to make a play vs laziness and trying to fool the ref as Wade does.  I think he will get that under control.

Smart is very active and despite the averages he can shoot the ball.  I saw his stroke in person in a game last year where he put up 23 in the first half.  He kind of went to sleep in the second half though the game was well in hand.  I dont think his NBA ready teammates such as Markel Brown and his coach played to his strengths.  He was a bit more like a misfit on that team but again I blame OK St's failures on its coaches inability to get a really talented group of players to play as a team.  Smart could explode in Stevens system if he gets it.

The kid can finish around the basket and is a scorer.  Kid just finds the rim, its a natural ability whereas I think it Rondo's first instinct to pass.  They can certainly play together and will be very tough on perimeter defense.

[TwinTower14]

I give the C's fans about two weeks before they completely fall in love with this kid!  He is literally not afraid of anyone!  One of my favorite plays from last year was against Kansas, he had the ball on a break away and it was him and Embiid!  He took it right at him and scored!  It's going to be nice to have a guy that can get to the rim / line in the 4th quarter when they need a bucket!  He is fearless, competitive and already is elite on defense.  I am much higher than most but I will not be surprised if he is the best player in this draft 5 years from now...

he is a flopper though so be prepared for that.....

[DraftSmart33]

I'm sure I'll get attacked for this but here is my perspective...

I watched a large amount of college basketball (it is the better version in my mind) and have been watching Smart since halfway through his freshman season.  He has some amazing qualities most of them previously stated by others on this forum, but here is my attempt at a concise list

+ Size, Strength, Physical Tools
+ Determination, Will, Competitiveness
+ Defensive ability to lock down opponents
+ Ability to hit big shots, penetrate and get to the line
+ Great Rebounder
+ Natural Leader

- turn over prone
- poor shot selection
- flops (often unfortunately)

+/- Intensity (live by the sword die by the sword)

The player he most reminds me of in playing style is Lebron.  I AM NOT SAYING HE IS GOING TO BE THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE. He just plays in the same mold.  Ball dominate at times, controlling the game with his physical tools, bullying his opponents with his strength, not a great shooter but hits big shots/timely shots.  I've been trying to make a comparison for him since last years draft when I thought Orlando was going to take him with the third pick, but as I watched him this season the style of Lebron's game just screamed out to me.  They're just the only two guards who I see use their gifts that way.  (Of also lived in South Florida for the last decade and seen an unfortunate amount of Queens James).  He'll be great with or with out Rondo as long as Rondo can deal with watching the ball move around to teammates, which is a worry I have about him anyway.  My two cents. 

another poster shared this http://grantland.com/features/marcus-smart-returns-oklahoma-state/

Read it.  The things some of these kids overcome is nothing short of amazing.

[Sketch5]

I love his competitiveness. He could be on the level of KG and Rondo when it comes to not liking players on the other team, just because of the color of their jersey's.

Great D, and I think he'll be able so shoot better with some work. Keeps his head up in the paint for some nice passes.

The shot selection is bad, but some of that could have been the system, and if he does play with Rondo, that will get curved.

The flopping is annoying, but I think the threat of a fine will curve that pretty quickly. He's not making Wade money so he'll be more conservative with his flopping.

Best pick DA could have made at 6. People wanted Randle, but we already have two young PF's that could be just as good. Smart I think will be better than AB. I'm not sold on him being a PG, but a SG that can play PG in stretch's. 

[Kuberski33]

Maybe some of his defensive intensity/attitude will rub off on Sullinger....Having really not seen him play the one thing that makes me optimistic is that Danny and Stevens both apparently love the guy and I have complete faith in their ability to judge talent.  Frankly the team needs some attitude and as Wyc said, an instigator -- preferably one with talent.  Definitely looking forward to watching him.

[Fafnir]

my point was more about the inaccuracies of the information that was thrown out, not really who deserved to be drafted where.  obviously, kane didn't even get drafted.  there was a reason for it, but it wasn't his resume from last year, because it was better than smart's. 

It really wasn't.

Worse PER (if that's your thing), worse winscore, worse per40 numbers, worse offensive rating, worse defensive rating, worse "Wins Produced" (if that's your thing), etc, etc.

Everything except raw per game numbers and shooting percentages rank Kane as comfortably worse than Smart, and he's much older and likely not to develop nearly as much.

Edit: Goodness Kane played in HS with DeJaun Blair who's now 5 years into the NBA.....

[Evantime34]

Smart is going to get to the basket consistently and draw a ton of fouls. He is going to improve our offense with his scoring, passing and offensive rebounding. He will create fast break opportunities we probably wouldn't have had. Him and Rondo together, probably means they are playing with more pace, so they should be more fun to watch next year. With Sullinger and Olynyk spacing the floor from the 4 and 5 position Smart will score on the occasional duck in by posting up any weaker 1's and 2's (and there are going to be a lot of those because he is a monster)

On defense he is going to create a ton of turnovers, lock up his man, and can switch 1-3 in the pick and roll. If Rondo is back to his old self, we resign Bradley and Smart plays the type of defense he projects to next year we will have elite defense out of the guard position.

[D.o.s.]

I like Smart because some of my friends and associates online and in real life were very adamant about how they didn't want him, and I'm enjoying being on the right side of the ledger.

[Fafnir]

I like Smart because some of my friends and associates online and in real life were very adamant about how they didn't want him, and I'm enjoying being on the right side of the ledger.

Not a huge fan myself, but I can see why others like him so I'm hoping for the best. I worry about guys who use their frame/strength to bully people in college. That's something that doesn't always translate, though typically with older players its the worse and Smart is plenty young.

I'm sure I'll be on board after a full off-season of hype. Position-wise he makes sense because it protects the C's from Bradley and/or Rondo's departure.

[manl_lui]

I'm sure I'll get attacked for this but here is my perspective...

I watched a large amount of college basketball (it is the better version in my mind) and have been watching Smart since halfway through his freshman season.  He has some amazing qualities most of them previously stated by others on this forum, but here is my attempt at a concise list

+ Size, Strength, Physical Tools
+ Determination, Will, Competitiveness
+ Defensive ability to lock down opponents
+ Ability to hit big shots, penetrate and get to the line
+ Great Rebounder
+ Natural Leader

- turn over prone
- poor shot selection
- flops (often unfortunately)

+/- Intensity (live by the sword die by the sword)

The player he most reminds me of in playing style is Lebron.  I AM NOT SAYING HE IS GOING TO BE THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE. He just plays in the same mold.  Ball dominate at times, controlling the game with his physical tools, bullying his opponents with his strength, not a great shooter but hits big shots/timely shots.  I've been trying to make a comparison for him since last years draft when I thought Orlando was going to take him with the third pick, but as I watched him this season the style of Lebron's game just screamed out to me.  They're just the only two guards who I see use their gifts that way.  (Of also lived in South Florida for the last decade and seen an unfortunate amount of Queens James).  He'll be great with or with out Rondo as long as Rondo can deal with watching the ball move around to teammates, which is a worry I have about him anyway.  My two cents. 

another poster shared this http://grantland.com/features/marcus-smart-returns-oklahoma-state/

Read it.  The things some of these kids overcome is nothing short of amazing.

I would agree to an extent

I still see Smart as a lesser version of D.Wade and that is saying A LOT. Wade in his prime was great!

This guy ALSO wants to guard Lebron...even if he fails, I see that he will continue to work. His competitiveness won't let him back down and that's what I love about Smart

[knuckleballer]

Here's a very encouraging quote by Travis Ford on Marcus Smart.

?I?ve never been around another player in my whole life ? not when I was a player and not since I?ve been a coach ? that is able to bring it EVERY SINGLE DAY,? Ford said. ?I don?t care if it?s two-a-days, three-a-days or five-a-days. I don?t care if it?s 6 a.m. I don?t care if it?s the day after a big win. It?s ridiculous. I knew he was a great leader, but it?s even been a shock to me. Everybody, at some point, has a bad day in terms of coming ready to play. But he never takes a day off. He comes everyday to win every drill. Everyday. Every drill. I don?t care when it is or what it is. Everyday he?s ready. It?s ridiculous.?

[TwinTower14]

Great video on draft express with smart guarding wiggins. I can't post for some reason but it's impressive. Forcing turnovers, drawing chargers and Wiggins has a clear out against him and literally wants no part of him. It's impressive.  Wiggins was aggressive against other OSU defenders but wanted no part of Smart.

[Smokeeye123]

Marcus Smart is 6'4, Marcus Smart is 6'4, same height as Wade.

He's slightly undersized but he's not a midget like Bradley

[manl_lui]

Great video on draft express with smart guarding wiggins. I can't post for some reason but it's impressive. Forcing turnovers, drawing chargers and Wiggins has a clear out against him and literally wants no part of him. It's impressive.  Wiggins was aggressive against other OSU defenders but wanted no part of Smart.

there's also another video of him shutting down Dante Exum in the FIBA match when they were in high school

[kozlodoev]

Marcus Smart is 6'4, Marcus Smart is 6'4, same height as Wade.

He's slightly undersized but he's not a midget like Bradley

Funny you would say that, because both of them measured exactly 6'2 without shoes at the draft combine.