smart maybe most nba ready--with his defensive strength

[NorthernLightning]

Would have been nice to have had Smart guarding Felton in the playoffs a couple years ago.

[BleedGreen1989]

I tend to agree.

I think the one thing Smart can provide from day 1 is elite defense.

[sed522002]

Sully notices too:

Marcus’ last name pretty much says it all about him on the basketball court. He’s smart, he plays well. He’s a very, very tough defender. And that was real shocking to me,” Sullinger said after Wednesday's morning session. “I really didn’t watch a lot of college basketball, but you see a lot of highlights on SportsCenter. He was always up there but they never said anything about his defensive ability.”

Sully doesn't want him compared to AB yet:

The guard sees himself as similar to Bradley – “physical, athletic, can defend one, two or three spots, and does whatever the coach asks him to do,” Smart said – but Sullinger doesn’t want to make the comparison yet.

“Oh, I can’t give him that,” the power forward said. “He’s got some guys he has to guard first before I can compare him to Avery. Give him about 15 games and then you can ask that question again.”

[Boris Badenov]

I tend to agree.

I think the one thing Smart can provide from day 1 is elite defense.

If Smart's defense is anywhere close to advertised, he and Bradley could immediately be one of the best defensive backcourts in the league. Allen and Conley have a stronger claim right now but I can't think of anyone else.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

What you guys need to realize is that teams are going to defend him with the biggest player they can get away with.

If Smart is playing PG, and Bradley is playing SG, the other team is just going to switch and put their shooting guard on Smart, who weighs 30 pounds more than Bradley.

Thats why I didn't.like the AB signing.  With a PG like Smart, you need a SG that is bigger so this doesnt happen.

Im assuming Ainge isnt willing to  lose an excelling project in Bradley, to accommodate what a rookie  "might" start doing as a NBA player. Also, we have enough bigs to slide Green down to the 2 like before so we can test this theories (especially in the 2nd unit)

[NorthernLightning]

Smart is going to make Bradley's defense even better, and the two of them are going to make everybody else play harder and better on defense.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

Smart is going to make Bradley's defense even better, and the two of them are going to make everybody else play harder and better on defense.

we should left Smart and Green  run the back court on the 2nd unit.. with crash . olynik, or whoeva we get as a center

[Who]

I think Wiggins and Smart are the two rookies most ready to play winning basketball next season.

Smart and Wiggins a bit different. Wiggins will make less positive plays but also less negative ones and be positive overall contributor. Smart make more winning plays but a lot more losing ones too (shot selection, turnovers). Both guys should be positive contributors overall thought and capable of playing big minutes (as 4th/5th best guys on team) on playoff teams, I reckon.

They are the only two guys I see as capable of starting and helping playoff team next season from lottery selections. Due to physical talent, defensive ability, two way players with strong rebounding.

[Hawkeye199]

Do you think AB and Smart could guard Curry& klay thompson  from the golden state warriors successfully

[BudweiserCeltic]

To think that the opposing PG will have Rondo, Smart, Bradley, or Pressey on them at all times during the game has me a bit giddy. All of them are pesky defenders at different degrees, Rondo being the least one of them (but who plays the lanes quite well and his long arms are often bothersome).

[LarBrd33]

What you guys need to realize is that teams are going to defend him with the biggest player they can get away with.

If Smart is playing PG, and Bradley is playing SG, the other team is just going to switch and put their shooting guard on Smart, who weighs 30 pounds more than Bradley.

Right. I'm not sure I follow all the "Smart is huge" comments.  He's 6'2 without shoes and weighs 227 pounds.  He's got 47 pounds on Bradley, but he's still undersized.   When we play Brooklyn, he'll be going up against 6'7 245 pound Joe Johnson. 

Also I keep reading that Smart was successful in College, because he used his size to bully opponents and attack the basket.  I'm not sure he'll be able to do that in the NBA.  I look forward to seeing him play, though.  He'll probably get backup minutes in year 1, but long term he would have adequate size to play PG.

[NorthernLightning]

Yeah, you can name one guy, Joe Johnson. Nice job.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

What you guys need to realize is that teams are going to defend him with the biggest player they can get away with.

If Smart is playing PG, and Bradley is playing SG, the other team is just going to switch and put their shooting guard on Smart, who weighs 30 pounds more than Bradley.

Right. I'm not sure I follow all the "Smart is huge" comments.  He's 6'2 without shoes and weighs 227 pounds.  He's got 47 pounds on Bradley, but he's still undersized.   When we play Brooklyn, he'll be going up against 6'7 245 pound Joe Johnson. 

Also I keep reading that Smart was successful in College, because he used his size to bully opponents and attack the basket.  I'm not sure he'll be able to do that in the NBA.  I look forward to seeing him play, though.  He'll probably get backup minutes in year 1, but long term he would have adequate size to play PG.

Marcus as the one and Green at the two... Stevens going to make sure he plays to his advantages.. No chance any starting lipeup or 2nd unit switching up on them

[jc3celticsphan]

Smart fits perfect with AB that back court defensively will give teams headaches probably the c`s strongest weapon at this point. No sg will back down smart he's 230 lbs and shorter that's hard to move.

He fits with Stevens ball movement offense. He excells as a pick n roll scorer and cutter much like AB

Sully KO and JG can stretch the floor for smart penetration

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

Also ainst starers, Thats still Rondo's position. Smart will deffinetely have to prove himself 1st in the 2nd unit.