Can Marcus Smart have the same college transition into the NBA ad Damian Lillard

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

Anyone sees this as a possibility?

[Evantime34]

I don't think Smart comes in and has the same offensive impact as Lillard coming into the league. But I think he still gets to the basket a ton early and plays elite level defense from the jump.

[hwangjini_1]

could you be a bit more specific? do you mean in terms of minutes? points? over all stats? role on the team? there is lots of room for discussion so it would be nice to have it narrowed down.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

could you be a bit more specific? do you mean in terms of minutes? points? over all stats? role on the team? there is lots of room for discussion so it would be nice to have it narrowed down.

 Offensive impact, role on team ... Im pretty sure no one expected Lillard to go off like he did rookie year. Mpost said he would struggle his first year. Curious if Smart has similar potential. Didnt really follow him in college. Really want to to if its a legit possibility or more of a long shot

[saltlover]

It's very unlikely.  Keep in mind that Lillard was a college senior instead of sophomore, so was a bit more NBA-ready.  It was also relatively unlikely that Lillard was as good as he was so quickly, even being a senior.

Is it possible that he could come in on virtually day 1 and have a major impact?  Sure, anything's possible.  He's a talented kid, hard worker, and incredible competitor, which is what you need to be.  But if you expect that to occur, you're going to leave yourself open to a lot of disappointment.

[NorthernLightning]

Yes. Smart is a way better defender than Lillard is now, and was as a rookie.

Fans are seriously sleeping on Smart's rookie impact, thinking it will be marginal simply because he's a rookie.

He's going to have a lot more space in the NBA to get to the rim using his superior strength. He's going to live at the FT line like Pierce used to do when he was young/prime.

Smart is already an elite finisher around the rim, and he is going to have many many more opportunities with our bigs that can spread the floor.

He might be our best player already, and he's going to be a major contender for rookie of the year.

28 mpg, 15 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 2 spg as a rookie would be my guess.

[D.o.s.]

It's very unlikely.  Keep in mind that Lillard was a college senior instead of sophomore, so was a bit more NBA-ready.  It was also relatively unlikely that Lillard was as good as he was so quickly, even being a senior.

Is it possible that he could come in on virtually day 1 and have a major impact?  Sure, anything's possible.  He's a talented kid, hard worker, and incredible competitor, which is what you need to be.  But if you expect that to occur, you're going to leave yourself open to a lot of disappointment.

Agreed. Lillard walked into the perfect situation for his game: With an elite offensive bigman to run the pick and roll, a pair of solid wing defenders, and a center who could cover up his defensive lapses. -- Smart is, uh, not going into that.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

It's very unlikely.  Keep in mind that Lillard was a college senior instead of sophomore, so was a bit more NBA-ready.  It was also relatively unlikely that Lillard was as good as he was so quickly, even being a senior.

Is it possible that he could come in on virtually day 1 and have a major impact?  Sure, anything's possible.  He's a talented kid, hard worker, and incredible competitor, which is what you need to be.  But if you expect that to occur, you're going to leave yourself open to a lot of disappointment.

Agreed. Lillard walked into the perfect situation for his game: With an elite offensive bigman to run the pick and roll, a pair of solid wing defenders, and a center who could cover up his defensive lapses. -- Smart is, uh, not going into that.

Great  point . Makes sense

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

Yes. Smart is a way better defender than Lillard is now, and was as a rookie.

Fans are seriously sleeping on Smart's rookie impact, thinking it will be marginal simply because he's a rookie.

He's going to have a lot more space in the NBA to get to the rim using his superior strength. He's going to live at the FT line like Pierce used to do when he was young/prime.

Smart is already an elite finisher around the rim, and he is going to have many many more opportunities with our bigs that can spread the floor.

He might be our best player already, and he's going to be a major contender for rookie of the year.

28 mpg, 15 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 2 spg as a rookie would be my guess.

I agree with these numbers on a optimistic scale.  LEts hope so

[NorthernLightning]

Once summer league hits you guys will start to realize just how big Smart is, and when preseason hits you'll really start to understand.

He's going to be one of the biggest matchup nightmares in the NBA, and we're lucky to not have to play against him.

[Evantime34]

Yes. Smart is a way better defender than Lillard is now, and was as a rookie.

Fans are seriously sleeping on Smart's rookie impact, thinking it will be marginal simply because he's a rookie.

He's going to have a lot more space in the NBA to get to the rim using his superior strength. He's going to live at the FT line like Pierce used to do when he was young/prime.

Smart is already an elite finisher around the rim, and he is going to have many many more opportunities with our bigs that can spread the floor.

He might be our best player already, and he's going to be a major contender for rookie of the year.

28 mpg, 15 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 2 spg as a rookie would be my guess.

I agree with these numbers on a optimistic scale.  LEts hope so

I think those numbers are a good guess, but I bet he plays more than 28 a game.

[coffee425]

The comparison will more likely be the same level of impact that Victor Oladipo had. At least that's my expectation.

[Evantime34]

The comparison will more likely be the same level of impact that Victor Oladipo had. At least that's my expectation.

I think his impact will be greater than Oladipo, who wasn't better than Smart last year and came out after one year where Smart had an extra year of seasoning.

[saltlover]

Once summer league hits you guys will start to realize just how big Smart is, and when preseason hits you'll really start to understand.

He's going to be one of the biggest matchup nightmares in the NBA, and we're lucky to not have to play against him.

Don't get me wrong.  I love Smart, and was really excited to pick him.  He was my #3 want behind Wiggins and Embiid.  But I think your expectations are unreasonable.  When he starts the regular season, he'll be playing 4 times per week instead of 2, in games that are 48 minutes long instead of 40, and that have many more possessions due to a shorter shot clock.  It will be more physically taxing than anything he's ever experienced.  At the same time, for the first time in his life he will not be the biggest/fastest/strongest player on the court, and the skill-level of the players will rise as well.

The likelihood that Smart comes in and excels on day 1 despite all this is pretty low.  He'll get beat a lot, and have to adjust.  He'll also get some rookie fouls called against him, and have to keep it under control.  I think he can do it eventually, and I'm really rooting for him, both as a fan and as a person who was so close to being another statistic.  But Day 1?  No, I think that's just unfair to expect.

[saltlover]

The comparison will more likely be the same level of impact that Victor Oladipo had. At least that's my expectation.

I think his impact will be greater than Oladipo, who wasn't better than Smart last year and came out after one year where Smart had an extra year of seasoning.

Oladipo was a sophomore.  Didn't play as much as a freshman.