Marcus Smart is about to be big time

[Yoki_IsTheName]

It's just tad bit disappointing that he hasn't shown a lot of flashes to live up to the expectations. Well, I guess part of that was my fault for expecting that he's going to be very good in his first year. 

But he has a high ceiling. If his worst case scenario is a starting PG who's a streaky 3PT shooter but an all NBA type defender, then we've still got something good. His hardwork is what's keeping me to believe that he's going to be very good. It's hard not to root for a kid who puts in the work.

[PickNRoll]

Let him foul out.  He averages 22mpg.  Why sweat it when he picks up fouls?  He didn't play all the crunch time minutes anyways.  Either he's one of your best players, or he's not.  Make it clear.  In my mind, he is.

Don't necessarily agree on the "let him foul out" opinion.

You protect your players as much as possible from fouling out because this game can change in a moment's notice.  Double, triple overtimes or just the need for 3 seconds of awesome defense to prevent a game winning shot are reasons enough to do everything possible to not lose a valuable player to a meaningless last foul.

Rak

You know, I didn't really think about this point at the time.  You're right.

[Tr1boy]

MS is getting used to driving in and passing the ball. Good to see him and Zeller hook up a few times last night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOYbIU1iod4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTn-XPrKFTg

also from 2 days ago, typical MS defense

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwnFTBnaVsA

[Csfan1984]

It will be 3rd or 4th year before he really starts hitting his stride. Right now routine/consistency is what I am looking for. He at least does that in D and work ethic.

[Kane3387]

I'm disappointed he can't attack the hoop at will. He's so big and strong I thought he's be able to bully guys like tyreke evans did his rookie year.

[celtics2030]

And i get blasted for my subject titles

[KeepRondo]

And i get blasted for my subject titles

I guess we will find out. It's the first post I made regarding Smart. It's just something I saw in his game recently.

[celtics2030]

Yea, I have no problem with anyone who thinks anyone is going to become a star.....I might say a thing or two asking why would you or anyone think that...but that is because I want to discuss

the bad thing about today's forums is that the minute you say,,,,,,,,,"wait why would you say this?"people take that as an attack, and then not only take it as  an attack but then suggest that you are trying to bad mouth and start firing back in an angry manner.

[Celtics4ever]

I see a lot of good in Smart, more good than bad.   But he is a work in progress, unlike some of our prospects he has a higher ceiling than say a Sully or Olynyk.

[KeepRondo]

Yea, I have no problem with anyone who thinks anyone is going to become a star.....I might say a thing or two asking why would you or anyone think that...but that is because I want to discuss

the bad thing about today's forums is that the minute you say,,,,,,,,,"wait why would you say this?"people take that as an attack, and then not only take it as  an attack but then suggest that you are trying to bad mouth and start firing back in an angry manner.

Yeah it's all good. I don't expect that everyone will agree. I mean I'm making a prediction with no stats or anything to back it up.

[aingeforthree]

I'm throwing away the box score for these last two games and using the eye test. This dude is about to make the leap. He just looks more comfortable out there and has started to show his athletic ability more. There were a few times tonight when it was obvious that Smart was our most athletic player. And I think if he didn't pick up that fifth foul that he would had taken that game over tonight.

I didn't know he had the bball IQ that he shows. Excellent passer already and it's surprised me. I didn't see him in college a lot so I had no idea he could facilitate like he's doing now. Impressive for a 20 year old.

He's an all world defender and just a straight nat against opposing guards.

You're right. Although I think he has more of a natural feel for the game then bball iq. But I guess you could say those two things go together.

You know what, you worded it better.  Natural feel.

He's surprised me with that. Even the little things, from making that extra pass up the court in a hurry, to swing passes, etc.  He's really polished for a 20 year old kid.

[aingeforthree]

It will be 3rd or 4th year before he really starts hitting his stride. Right now routine/consistency is what I am looking for. He at least does that in D and work ethic.

I think it will take the refs that long to get used to his defense as well.  They don't know good  defense yet when they see it.  When the head honchos of the refs start re-watching games with their staff, they'll start learning his defense a bit better.

He's getting called for some ticky tack stuff that won't be called in a couple of years on him.  They'll understand his game a bit more.

[colincb]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12216347/jusuf-nurkic-nikola-mirotic-rookies-rise

The "Andrew Wiggins draft" appears to have been aptly named, as we have seen a major surge in efficient production from the No. 1 overall pick in recent weeks. But the other players hyped in the 2014 draft have been either injured or disappointing, causing the rookie class to fall short of high expectations so far. However, there recently have been some other bright spots, players who look like they can make an impact sooner than expected.

and...

Marcus Smart, Celtics: Smart continues to shine with the consistent minutes he now gets with Rajon Rondo no longer in Boston. His shooting is the brightest part of this surge. In January, he has already made 18 3-pointers on 42 percent shooting. In Monday's game against the Clippers, in which he made 4-of-7 from 3-point range, Smart also showed his abilities as a penetrator/creator and a willingness to make the extra pass to help set up easy shots. He wisely chose to pass up a likely layup for himself to give the ball to a hard-charging Kelly Olynyk for a dunk, the kind of play that helps cement a point guard's relationship with his big men, whom he relies on so heavily for screens.

Nurkic, Mirotic, Payton and Grant were also named by Thorpe.

[Tr1boy]

I'm disappointed he can't attack the hoop at will. He's so big and strong I thought he's be able to bully guys like tyreke evans did his rookie year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caU9og3ChyE

[Tr1boy]

Marcus Smart doing more things we have only seen him do in college. good to see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VplhdYY_fpA