...interesting that Rondo's rookie stats are a solid notch above Smart's. I love the way people keep saying Rondo is/was a bad shooter even though Smart can't shoot and Rondo had better shooting stats as a rookie.
Rondo eFG% 2006: .424
Smart eFG 2014: .512
Outside of 3 feet, Smart is a markedly better shooter in every single category. So let's cut the made-up bull
Edited. Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline., shall we?
You're right in that Rookie Rondo stats (except in scoring and shooting) are a notch above Smart's. So what? Rondo had a MARKEDLY better cast to work around. Let's face it - Rondo is a 4 time All Star and chances are that Marcus Smart (or any other player in the league) won't be. But he hasn't looked bad on the court, hasn't hesitated to take the important shot and has played with intensity and focus. Given that he's a 20 year old kid and given the changes that have taken place in the last month, I'd say the kid looks pretty [dang] good on the court.
The true test for Smart will be post-All Star break / post-trade deadline. Once the team is settled and his minutes are consistent, that's when we can evaluate not only his current skill set, but also we'll have a chance to evaluate his growth (or lack thereof). Until such time, any emphatic judgments as to his abilities are rather premature.