Smart, Young and Powell to Red claws Tongiht

[KeepRondo]

Geez that was a brutal game for Smart.

Multiple airballs from 3 and clunking everything else.

I thought his early poor shooting was nerves but I'm starting to have serious doubts about this pick.

Really you're having doubts about him already? Sigh

Yes. I'm watching him play now, expecting bad shooting nights. I thought at worse he would be a 40 percent shooter and would hopefully improve. But I think he's more of a mid to high 30s percent shooter. He also is a lot worse at finishing around the rim then I thought when we drafted him.

The guy barely hasn't even played ten games and is been out for weeks with an ankle injury it's a process for smart regarding his jumper be patient

well it's a project for sure. I'm just not getting my hopes up. Luckily he has the intangibles and can do other things but that shot of his is ugly. I think the frightened screams when he shoots are getting louder then when Rondo shoots.

[Chris22]

Smart bent his ankle sideways a few weeks ago.

I can't believe he is even playing now.

[Beat LA]

I have an issue watching any sport where one of the teams is called the 'Mad Ants" however, Powell plays very well. He is one of the D leagues rebounding leaders. Smart looks absolutely fine tonight, he is missing all of his shots though. Young seems like someday he'll be a legit NBA player. Fast and he plays pretty long.

D league is a relatively "defense free" zone, but fun to watch our guys on an off night. Baab is the king of D league BTW.

Half time update has our James Young with 23 points...lotta threes.

Third qtr update has Smart at 0-9 from three (lucky these games don't count huh?). He is playing most of his minutes at the two. Powell is on the bench with 5 fouls.

Frazier our PG out of Penn State is quite good. "Pressey like" small with good fundamentals...is a great shooter.I think Young has 28 points.

Smart having choppy second half. 0-12 from three. (he obviously has been instructed to chuck threes all night....his defense has been quite good though.

Powell has very good moves for his size.

Young getting assists and rebounds...kind of the "man among boys" tonight. I can't vouch for his defense as defense is not played in D league which would be better named "O" league.

Under a minute and there is a scrum under the hoop...Smart comes out of it with ball and gets it in to put the pesky Claws up by two. He has 7 assists tonight.

Powell has had a strong night with 21 points...none of them easy.

Claws win...110-106 Smart 4-6 from line as he took three fouls in last minute or so.

http://dleague.nba.com/games/20141204/FWNMNE/

That should be the box....our three guys looked great tonight.

That's Antoine-like .  Ugh.

[hwangjini_1]

agreed, young is a scorer, a very good scorer. but he still needs a lot of work on his defense...hence his time in the d league.

powell ranked up numbers, but i dont believe they will translate into nba sucess.

smart, absolutely awful shooting night, but my god, what a pass at the end of the game. i want him back with the celtics soon.

[Kane3387]

Lol I think Ainge Is good at drafting but... Man he loves to draft guards with no jumper.

Banks
TA
Rondo
Avery
Smart

I guess delonte is probably the best guard in terms of jump shooting he's drafted. 

[jr_3421]

Went to Portland to catch the game tonight. Here's a few observations

James Young

- One of the quickest releases I've seen. Had another and 1 on a 3 pointer.
- Uses up fakes and jabs like a veteran to clear space for his shot.
- Can't really dribble which limits his touches and didn't use screens well.
- For the last part of the 4th Dantay Jones locked him up and took him out of the game. He was on pace for 40+ through 3 quarters.
- The single worst defender on the floor. He either fouled or let his man score.

Marcus Smart

- The worst player for the Red Claws this game.
- Took bad shots and never got into the paint until late in the 4th.
- Defense looked good but not his usual self
- Looked out of shape

[shrinkage36]

I just saw the game and you can tell that Smart's ankle is not right.
This year what you're going to see from smart is game changing defense, and clutch points.
If you're expecting him to get his shot right this year, it's not going to happen. It's going to happen in the off season with a dedicated coach.

Smart has never been a shooter throughout high school or College, he's learning that still, and he'll be coached up. By year 3, Smart will be dominant in this league. I know people don't want to hear that, but just wait and see. He does have the mind of a guy who wants to get better on offense, and he will.

But for now, enjoy the game-changing defense, if his ankle is right.

[LarBrd33]

I just saw the game and you can tell that Smart's ankle is not right.
This year what you're going to see from smart is game changing defense, and clutch points.
If you're expecting him to get his shot right this year, it's not going to happen. It's going to happen in the off season with a dedicated coach.

Let's hope he doesn't hire Rondo's shooting coach.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Box score sure looks good for Young: 5-8, including 4-5 from the 3, 3-3 FTs, 3 RBs, 3 STLs, 17 pts in 14 minutes.

Young is going to be a really good shooter . Once he learns the defense in the NBA , I think he has Kevin Martin type potential .

Yep--up to 5-6 from the 3, 7-10 overall, and 23 points at the half.

let's hope more like Kay Thompson

[GreenWarrior]

I sure hope brad stevens isn't the reason Smart's chucking so many 3's.

[saltlover]

Lol I think Ainge Is good at drafting but... Man he loves to draft guards with no jumper.

Banks
TA
Rondo
Avery
Smart

I guess delonte is probably the best guard in terms of jump shooting he's drafted. 

Avery has a fine jumper.  His offensive limitations are in passing and dribbling.

[colincb]

Lol I think Ainge Is good at drafting but... Man he loves to draft guards with no jumper.

Banks
TA
Rondo
Avery
Smart

I guess delonte is probably the best guard in terms of jump shooting he's drafted. 

Avery has a fine jumper.  His offensive limitations are in passing and dribbling.

I'd second that. He's not the greatest finisher either or shot creator because of his handle. All these were weaknesses coming out of college. Seems to have tunnel vision and I'm not sure the game slows down for him like it does for others in the zone, but he's always had a superior midrange game. He has improved his range as a shooter and his FT shooting and  now the contract doesn't look as risky as it did when Ainge signed it.

[hwangjini_1]

i keep reading posts that say bradley is not a good shooter. let's check the stats to see how bradley stacks up as a shooter this season.

bradley   
FG%    = 46%
3pt%   = 35.8%

nba avg   
FG%    = 45.1%
3pt%   = 35%

ta da! bradley is slightly better than average as a shooter. i don't think he is able to carry any team in terms of scoring, as he is trying to do this season. but with other scorers around him i think his effectiveness will increase.

[Evantime34]

Watched the highlights of this, I would like to see Young get some run sooner rather than later. I think he should at least get Thornton's minutes sooner rather than later.