Do you think Marcus Smart will get the Rondo treatment?

[Eja117]

I was just thinking this. Rondo is essentially the 3rd best pg in the history of the club, but a lot of people act like he's Toine or something.

And it occurred to me at the moment if you don't like Rondo you pretty much MUST dislike Smart, right?

Smart maaayyy be a better defender. Maybe.

He may very well not be as good a shooter. Especially if his summer is any indication.

He won't be a better playmaker/passer.

He probably won't be as good a rebounder.

He could be a 4 time all star, make an all  NBA 3rd team, be a 4 time defensive teamer by age 28, do it all at a reasonable salary, and it just won't matter to some, right?

Rondo was the NBA steals leader in 2010. He was the NBA assists leader in two years.

So essentially no matter what we can pretty much expect an anti-Smart group from day one. That's weird.

[SHAQATTACK]

I hope not......I regret the bad spin Rondo get s from some sections of the Celtic nation

Smart wasn't my first choice of a draft pick.....that doesn't matter now

I'm ALL IN with him succeeding now that he is a Celtic

I'm pulling for him to be good as Rondo or better .

[BigAlTheFuture]

He will DEFINITELY be a better shooter than Rondo. He actually shoots when he's open, he doesn't dribble or pass like a little...

[Monkhouse]

I hope not.

Rondo is probably one of the most hated or beloved Celtics... I've never seen so many fans that loved, and wanted to hate the guy at the same time. I respect Rondo, and I do shake my head at some of his antics, but I understand Rondo is different than most basketball players.

Smart may never ever get the same treatment, because he already seems like a likable guy, and is very enthusiastic, and with how he interacts with fans/players, I can already tell he would be a great media type of guy. Which is why I would love a back court of him and Rondo. Yes, his shooting isn't that great, but hes a confident, and hardworking individual who never fails to work on his game. Smart/Rondo are two great intelligent point guards, if Smart can improve his mid range/3 pt range, I don't see why I wouldn't start him over Bradley. Plus Smart can talk to the media while Rondo can just sit there quietly, while nodding at the same time lol.

[Snakehead]

I think people will sag off him some but I think his shot will be pretty good.  Streaky probably, but it'll improve.  You won't be able to sag off of Smart much.

As far as the fanbase treats him, I don't know.  I do think this board in particular has out of whack expectations and a tendency to ignore strengths when it comes to Rondo and just look at weaknesses.  His PG play is taken for granted by many, in my opinion.

Rondo was the NBA steals leader in 2010. He was the NBA assists leader in two years.

So essentially no matter what we can pretty much expect an anti-Smart group from day one. That's weird.

Virtually every Celtic has a group of haters on this board.  In the past I think you wouldn't really ever see a KG or Pierce hater.  But especially since those two left no one is safe.

Personally I am pretty high on Smart.  He won't be the passer or PG that Rondo is but Rondo is one of the greatest ever in those areas.  I hope to see him as Baron Davis + a really good defender.  Which would make me happy.

And he may actually be pretty loved here if he goes on.  I think this board likes to see scoring more than anything and I think Smart will be a pretty good and versatile scorer.  And he will play very hard defense from the start.

I think this board probably just likes more than anything all around players who give defensive effort.  If you have deficiencies you are going to get picked apart until you are overpaid and expendable.

[BballTim]

He will DEFINITELY be a better shooter than Rondo. He actually shoots when he's open, he doesn't dribble or pass like a little...

   Case in point, getting ripped for getting PP/RA/KG good looks when he could have thrown up a 22 footer instead.

[csfansince60s]

Smart will not get the Rondo treatment for one main reason: Smart brings it every night, every game every practice, at least according to all reports, especially from his OSU coach.

?I fully understand the NBA regular season is 82 games, but [his competitiveness] will never waver. He will compete every game as if it's the championship game. It's just a unique trait. It's just the way he's wired. It is who he is. He has never ever in his two years with me had a bad practice, not been ready to go.?

One of the biggest knocks on Rondo is that if the game is a playoff game or bright lights nationally televised game, he brings it, but not for the full 82.

For that reason alone, Smart will be embraced more than Rondo. Couple that with Smart's more engaging personality, and I think it's extremely doubtful he gets "the Rondo treatment".

[Eja117]

So if you're not a big fan of Rondo because you think he coasts you pretty much have to hate Jeff Green, right?

[Mazingerz]

Rondo and Smart can co-exist IMHO. Think Dragic and Bledsoe in Phoenix.

[Celtics18]

Smart will not get the Rondo treatment for one main reason: Smart brings it every night, every game every practice, at least according to all reports, especially from his OSU coach.

?I fully understand the NBA regular season is 82 games, but [his competitiveness] will never waver. He will compete every game as if it's the championship game. It's just a unique trait. It's just the way he's wired. It is who he is. He has never ever in his two years with me had a bad practice, not been ready to go.?

One of the biggest knocks on Rondo is that if the game is a playoff game or bright lights nationally televised game, he brings it, but not for the full 82.

For that reason alone, Smart will be embraced more than Rondo. Couple that with Smart's more engaging personality, and I think it's extremely doubtful he gets "the Rondo treatment".

There's nobody in the league who brings his A game for every game of a full 82 game season.  These are unrealistic expectations for anyone. 

[BitterJim]

Smart will not get the Rondo treatment for one main reason: Smart brings it every night, every game every practice, at least according to all reports, especially from his OSU coach.

?I fully understand the NBA regular season is 82 games, but [his competitiveness] will never waver. He will compete every game as if it's the championship game. It's just a unique trait. It's just the way he's wired. It is who he is. He has never ever in his two years with me had a bad practice, not been ready to go.?

One of the biggest knocks on Rondo is that if the game is a playoff game or bright lights nationally televised game, he brings it, but not for the full 82.

For that reason alone, Smart will be embraced more than Rondo. Couple that with Smart's more engaging personality, and I think it's extremely doubtful he gets "the Rondo treatment".

There's nobody in the league who brings his A game for every game of a full 82 game season.  These are unrealistic expectations for anyone.

I'd say that KG did earlier in his career, but the players that do bring it every night re few and far between.  It's not fair to assume that Smart can give the team all he has every night, but it's not fair to assume he can't, either

[jambr380]

Why the dig on Antoine from the OP? He was a multi- time all-star and had reasonable success as the leader of the team. I get the fact that Smart brings it every night, but so did Antoine. Apparently, If Smart has trouble with his shot, but continues to launch from deep, there is no doubt you will be hear about it for decades to come - no matter what other positive impact he brings to the game.

[Celtics4ever]

There's nobody in the league who brings his A game for every game of a full 82 game season.  These are unrealistic expectations for anyone. 

No one even gives 100% all of the time either.   Just bogas coach talk.  Athletes pick moments to exert themselves.

[SCeltic34]

Smart will be a fan favorite because of his work ethic and charisma.  Most fans will love him.

However, on these boards, he will absolutely get the Rondo treatment.  Can't you see the threads now?

"Smart is a bust".  I predict we'll see this one no later than 1 month into the season.

"Smart can't shoot".  This will be a common thread in year 1, year 2, and possibly beyond.

"Smart's defense is overrated".  See: Avery Bradley threads.  If you can't play full court defense for 30 minutes a night, 82 games of the year (or, as many games as health permits), and shut down every opposing player on a nightly basis, don't expect to see much praise from the Smart-haters.

Et cetera.  As stated above, every player on the C's has a group of haters. Conversely however, you will see threads that will praise him to the extremes as well.  Anyone remember when Fab Melo got compared to Hakeem Olajuwon? 

I guess it balances out.

[Eja117]

Why the dig on Antoine from the OP? He was a multi- time all-star and had reasonable success as the leader of the team. I get the fact that Smart brings it every night, but so did Antoine. Apparently, If Smart has trouble with his shot, but continues to launch from deep, there is no doubt you will be hear about it for decades to come - no matter what other positive impact he brings to the game.

I would not call what Toine had "trouble with his shot".  He had a bad outside shot, but insisted on continuing to do it even when it was clear it was ineffective. Basically he was a promising player who went Big Baby on things.
Became a vacuum of the ball and food. Ate his way and shot his way out of the league. Hard to be ok with that.

We think of him as this old as heck guy now, but he's not. He is two years younger than Ray Allen. He is a year younger than Duncan. He is a year older than Dirk and Paul Pierce. He is a year younger than Andre Miller and KG. He is the same age as Vince Carter and Manu Ginobli.

But he hasn't played in the league since 2008. And it's not like he was all that good in 08.