Poll: Who is worried about Smart's shot.

[LarBrd33]

Smart was a huge mistake.

Who would you have taken instead of him?  Randle?  Vonleh?  Stauskas?

[Fafnir]

The idea that Rondo hasn't improved because he shot 45% in 07-08 by taking mostly baseline 15 footers with set feet (on the right side as part of the C's pet plays for KG) is just refusing to look beyond FG%.

Except this is not true.

Rajon Rondo, 2007-08
10-16 ft: 91 shots total, 41% FG.
16-23 ft: 249 shots total, 46% FG.

And yes, even conceding that most of these were the result of a pretty well functioning pet play (I never understood why they threw it out of the playbook after the championship season) -- with the exception of an outlier in 2012-2013, Rondo's shooting has remained largely unchanged in terms of shooting percentage and number of assisted shots.

Is Pedantry your favorite sport? How dare I get the shot distance for Rondo's set shot on the right side off by a foot or two!

My point hasn't changed and you still haven't responded to what I was saying, which DarkAzcura highlighted. There is a world of difference between the shots Rondo was taking then and the kind he can hit now.

More than Raw percentages matter.

[Vox_Populi]

Yes, Rondo shooting ~49-50% from 16-23 feet a couple seasons ago (12-13) and Bradley improving at the 3PT line is no material improvement.

Yep, it's the one season where he shot ~.500 and not the 5 seasons where he shot in the high .300s / low .400s that matter.

You said that where was no material improvement. Don't change your point. '12-13 was Rondo's last healthy season, and he was one of the best pull-up, off the dribble mid-range jump shooters in the league that year. That's a far cry from shooting baseline jumpers off broken plays from Pierce or Garnett in 2008. That's the definition of improvement. Rondo was better in his most recent healthy season. It's a fact.

I hope you know that low 40s is not even bad for a shooter in this league. You must not know how poorly the league generally shoots it then.

Via to NBA.com/stats

In 2007-08, Rondo shot 44% from mid-range and was assisted on 62% of his baskets. In 2012-13, he shot 48% and was assisted on 34%. So yeah, he definitely improved.

[SHAQATTACK]

Rondo

Should be gratefull

For Marcus

Now he is not the WORST shooter on the team

[DraftSmart33]

Love all the reactionist coming out after a couple summer league games they probably didn't watch.  Smart is very young and will take time to develop like every other point guard...let's not repeat Chauncey B. 

Like KO's problems at the beginning of the season, Smart doesn't understand yet where to get his shots and where not too.  Adding to that he isn't very consistent in the way he approaches jumpers...some times he fades back with good elevation, sometimes its set, while others are forced with a quick release.  I'd like to see him shooting elbow jumpers.  On that particular shot he's looked decent.  (Last game was either 3's or forces at the rim)

Also important to note that everyone on the C's was awful with the ball yesterday (KO was something like 5-14) And if we are going to judge Smart by to summer league games lets look at the rest of the league. 

James Ennis and Calwell-Pope will be a superstar.
Smart and Aaron Gordon will be busts.

[aingeforthree]

Rondo

Should be gratefull

For Marcus

Now he is not the WORST shooter on the team

I still give that honor to Pressey.

Ultimately, I think Smart will have the better shot between all 3.  He's got some work to do but he'll get there.  He looks so much better than Rondo did at this time in the game.

I don't really want any of them shooting outside.  All three can get to the rim no problem and should be able to facilitate from there.  I'm tired of our guards settling for the outside jumper.

[kozlodoev]

In 2007-08, Rondo shot 44% from mid-range and was assisted on 62% of his baskets. In 2012-13, he shot 48% and was assisted on 34%. So yeah, he definitely improved.

The problem is that 08-09, 09-10, 10-11, 11-12 and 13-14 were all worse than 07-08.

[SHAQATTACK]

Rondo

Should be gratefull

For Marcus

Now he is not the WORST shooter on the team

I still give that honor to Pressey.

I'm not going to argue with that......when I finished my comment ....the thought struck me ......Pressey is the worst shooter .....and really he is runaway winner of that award.


Smart will inherit that stigma ....should Pressey fail to make the team

[kozlodoev]

Rondo was better in his most recent healthy season. It's a fact.

I don't think you understand what "material improvement over time" means. It is not the same as having one great season.

I hope you know that low 40s is not even bad for a shooter in this league. You must not know how poorly the league generally shoots it then.

That's not the point. The point is that except for one outlier, there is nothing that indicates sustained improvement.

Over the last 6 seasons, Rondo has shot the following from 16-23 ft (per BB-Reference):
44%, 35%, 41%, 39%, 42%, 50%, 40%

His career average is 41%, which is slightly above league average. He's been hovering fairly close to it for most of his career. He had a great season in 2012-2013. Has there been a improvement over time? Possibly. Was it a considerable one? Probably not.

[SHAQATTACK]

Smart was a huge mistake.

Predictable.

But it's all water under the bridge now......

He'll either learn to play ball ...or join Fab Melo in the coffee fields of Brazil

[SCeltic34]

I ain't worried.

There are kids who are supposed to be knock-down shooters that come into the league and struggle. 

Take Ben McLemore for example.  In college, his FG% was 49.5% and his 3PT% was 42%.  Per NBA.com stats for his rookie year, his FG% was 37.6%, and 3PT% was 32%.  He failed to improve over the course of the year, and actually shot the 3-ball worse post-All Star break at 30%.

I expect Smart's shooting to be poor.  It's a known limitation of his game and many rookies, shooter or not, struggle to put the ball in the hoop at the next level.  The best thing is that we know that he will put in the work to improve it.

[aingeforthree]

I don't worry about the shot per se, I worry about shot selection more.  I don't want him or Rondo out at the 3 pt line chucking and ducking.

I want them getting to the rim at will, facilitating, and knocking down the elbow jumper.  Smart's ability to drive will help his shot.  I want him taking 18 ' and in jumpers, or near the foul line.  Sort of like the shot he made when the shot clock was running out in the first preseason game.  That's the shot he needs to knock down consistently after 3 years or so.

BTW, he can make that shot, no problem.  For me, I have no reason to worry about his shooting.  We went over this when Rondo was drafted as well.  Similar issue.

[dreamgreen]

I think his shot is fine, looks better than Rondo's already but as others have said he takes some awful shots!

Once he is playing in real games this will hopefully get better. Think the coaches will tell him shoot if your open and it's a good shot, otherwise pass the ball. If he just chucks up shots he will be sitting on the pine.

[Sketch5]

Considering it's been two games of summer league, I'm not too worried about it. A lot of players shoot horribly during these games and then come into the season a completely different player.

I think his driving game will get better once the season starts and playing with known guys who can hit jump shots, and the defense stays honest. Plus he'll have all summer working with the NBA ball and working on his jump shot.

I'd actually like to see him fake the 3ball and get a one dribble to the hoop jumpshot move before the season starts. I think that could be a big weapon for him.

He's also had some really nice passes. One pass last night you couldn't even see the cutter on the fast break when he threw the pass, and it was spot on. I think thats going to be big for him getting shots off when teams start to respect his passing ability. 

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

So Smart goes 3-15  and KO goes 5 for 13.  Why isn't anyone complaining about KO's game? I've watched Evan turner last year go spurts of 20+ pts  shooting over 50% then act like he forgot to hold a basketball the next month!

My point is its  only summer league, who knows what plays they were experimenting on him. Would all this controversy be irrelevant if he goes 8-10 next game? I'm also sure when your being compared to D.Wade and Rondo's so called "replacement" , you'll have some jitters to. I've seen Smart pull up in college like he was Mike Miller in the Finals with the heat! Just because it didn't translate through first 2 summer league games doesn't totally justify much.  IT IS CLEAR THOUGH HIS SHOT NEEDS TUNING. I hate how that dip he does before he shoots SMH.

Also can anyone tell me if James Young possibly the real deal? he seemed at one point to be projected high before his accident. Also if he was on a different team with less weapons maybe his stock would've risen?