Concerned about Smart's inability to penetrate and create.

[Celticjay]

Love Smart's intensity and defence.   Really like him but right now I worry about his ability to be a point guard, he can't get into the paint and has a shaky handle.  See him being more of Joe Dumars going forward than full-time Point guard.

Thoughts?

[coffee425]

Love Smart's intensity and defence.   Really like him but right now I worry about his ability to be a point guard, he can't get into the paint and has a shaky handle.  See him being more of Joe Dumars going forward than full-time Point guard.

Thoughts?

eh. Still a rookie. Just look how far Avery's handle and finishing ability have improved, and he was miles behind Marcus when he was a rookie.

[PickNRoll]

He'll never be an elite ball handler.  Never an elite shooter.  But he doesn't have to do that much on offense to earn PT.  Just a steady 14 points + elite defense will make him a + starter on the right squad.

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

he's a 21 year old rookie with less than a season under his belt. he has show improvement consistently in all levels of his game. give it time. so many threads here that want all the answers now and overlook the allowance for development. just think of every giannis thread here pining for him and lambasting da for not picking him were based on 2/3 of the way into his rookie season people would be calling him a dud.

[Who]

Me too. It is frightening how little Smart can beat his man and get into the paint.

[Celticjay]

Problem, is there aren't many examples of point guards who suddenly learn to dribble.  They typically, all come into the league with that skill.  I hope he can develop that but it's unlikely he'll ever be more than average in that category.   

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I am not concerned about the ability, but about how the ability translates to the NBA.

In college he was a driver. He drew a lot of fouls going to the hoop. He has just not gained a feel for the slight fakes and timing that drives take in the NBA.

I really do wonder if a summer break followed by a few confidence-boosting summer leagues will help him turn the corner in this area.

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

i think he's actually improved a ton of late re: penetration. in the last few games seems like he's been going to the hoop a lot more.

from tonight's game: http://on.nba.com/1E29fR8 he misses but the move is solid.

or here in orlando: http://on.nba.com/1wVaqF4

http://on.nba.com/1wVaAwa

i feel lately he;s been way more inclined to attack the rim. part of development. obviously he came in the league relying on his defense to get minutes. his shot has developed and now he has seemingly been more steadfast about attacking defenders off the dribble and working in the paint. it takes time. adjusting to the nba from ncaa is huge. i think we'll see his driving grow with time and minutes.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Is it just me, or I don't even see him try to attack as much as he did in college?

I don't know if I should be concerned, but I mean, I rarely see him even try to attack straight up.

[inverselock]

His driving has been underwhelming, considering his college rep.   Some flashes of good moves.   http://streamable.com/2wm3


Hopefully he improves next year.

[Rondo9]

Well I guess that means Marcus Smart is a bust.

[D.o.s.]

This was one possible outcome talked about during both years he was slated to come out for the NBA -- that he wouldn't be able to beat his man off the dribble the way he did in college.

It doesn't mean he can't do other things at a pro level, but this seems to be a real, legitimate phenomenon.

[GreenWarrior]

since this scouting report has existed for so long. hopefully smart is the kind of guy that works at things to make him better and realize his flaws and want to improve on those.

I can't stand players that don't.

[chambers]

I wouldn't worry too much at this point.
He's being developed as a point guard and they are focusing on learning the offense and improving the three point shot.

His ankle is still not 100% and he's still limping every now and then in the 4th quarter.

The great thing about this kid is that he will work on every part of his game and you can bet that this will be item #1 on his summer 'to do' list.

Start with shooting fundamentals and the flow of the offense as an nba combo guard.

[Ed Hollison]

I don't understand the number of complaints about Smart on this blog. The guy is a (just turned) 21-year-old rookie. His greatest concern coming into the league was distance shooting, and he's put in a ton of work and gotten much better in a short period of time.

As far as his playmaking, quickness, and ball handling are concerned: I actually think he's already shown he is a willing passer with good vision and smarts. I also agree that he hasn't looked explosive. He is going to the hoop more lately, but not with nearly the same ferocity as he did in college. Part of that is learning the game, and part of that is that he's still probably feeling the after effects of that high ankle sprain, which is something that can linger for a long time.

Increasingly I think a good career comparison may end up to be Chauncey Billups. As some might remember, Billups was a gamer in college but fizzled in his rookie year. Pitino traded him away after something like 40 games. I distinctly remember thinking that he wasn't a playmaker and not an elite ball handler. Yet, look how his career ended up. Billups could never blow by people, but he became a tough as nails, strong, heady PG who could take and make big shots. That's kind of what I see Smart developing into, except that Smart has a better wingspan and is a much more terrifying defender, and probably will eventually prove more adept at finishing at the rim.

Until then, patience.