Marcus Smart...what an animal.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Liked seeing the aggressiveness out of him on both ends.

LarBrd33 complemented Smart in a non-snarky/backhanded way!

He played really well.  Almost as good as Julius Randle tonight.

Took Smart three fewer shots to reach 17 points, and as a forward Randle is averaging three times as many TOs as the point guard Smart. In fact, outside of fg% and rebounds Smart has superior averages across the board so far. Booyah - cherrypicking stats for the win!   

i would be fine with either of them, the only reason people don't like randle is because he plays for lakers and a reason some love him is because he isn't a celt/picked after smaht.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I was pro-Randle that draft, but if Smart can elevate his game to the numbers commonly thrown around here, I'll be happy. And he definitely seems capable.

[LarBrd33]

Smart and Randle are both really good prospects with bright futures.   I was mostly making a joke since there's a couple threads prematurely comparing them.   Smart was solid tonight. 

Zach Lowe ‏@ZachLowe_NBA 3h3 hours ago

Marcus Smart was freaking everywhere. That dude is so much fun.

[oldtype]

Not to be overly pessimistic, but if he's going to reach the all-star level while only averaging in the low teens in points, this is the sort of defensive impact he's going to have to have every night.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Smart and Randle are both really good prospects with bright futures.   I was mostly making a joke since there's a couple threads prematurely comparing them.   Smart was solid tonight. 

Zach Lowe ‏@ZachLowe_NBA 3h3 hours ago

Marcus Smart was freaking everywhere. That dude is so much fun.

I agree. I don't get why they are being compared anyway, they play 2 totally different positions. I liked both for our pick, I don't wish him ill and hope he plays well (while the lakers stink... unless we meet in the finals, then I want us to destroy them).

[max215]

Not to be overly pessimistic, but if he's going to reach the all-star level while only averaging in the low teens in points, this is the sort of defensive impact he's going to have to have every night.

When was the last time he didn't have a defensive impact like tonight? I mean he doesn't always have 4 steals, but he's virtually always this impactful. If he can average something like 16 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, with lockdown defense, I don't see why he couldn't be in the consideration for the All-Star game year in and year out.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Not to be overly pessimistic, but if he's going to reach the all-star level while only averaging in the low teens in points, this is the sort of defensive impact he's going to have to have every night.

When was the last time he didn't have a defensive impact like tonight? I mean he doesn't always have 4 steals, but he's virtually always this impactful. If he can average something like 16 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, with lockdown defense, I don't see why he couldn't be in the consideration for the All-Star game year in and year out.

steals or a lack of them make people think that's how well someone defended. I have seen so many people get steals while actually stinking on defense.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Not to be overly pessimistic, but if he's going to reach the all-star level while only averaging in the low teens in points, this is the sort of defensive impact he's going to have to have every night.

When was the last time he didn't have a defensive impact like tonight? I mean he doesn't always have 4 steals, but he's virtually always this impactful. If he can average something like 16 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, with lockdown defense, I don't see why he couldn't be in the consideration for the All-Star game year in and year out.

I think he can average those numbers and even better. But his problem is that we have other ball handlers on the team and he is usually defending other positions besides the point.

I would love to see Smart given the reigns at the point. It would bode well for him and increase his numbers on both ends. It would also be a great situation to have a shooting guard and sf that are shooters next to him......also able to defend their positions and have the height.

[chambers]

Not to be overly pessimistic, but if he's going to reach the all-star level while only averaging in the low teens in points, this is the sort of defensive impact he's going to have to have every night.

I think if he can get 16ppg 5 rebounds 5 assists +be an all NBA defender then he'll be an All Star.
It's a lot to ask though haha and you're right, but I think he's shown a genuine potential to get there.

I said in another thread I thought his ceiling offensively was something like Chauncey Billups. To get that good on O he'd have to shoot 40% from 3 point land.

From other thread...The next step in the development of his NBA game is to start driving and drawing fouls.
in College it was his staple.
He,
*drew fouls at a 65% rate in college
*got to the free throw line 6 times a game and converted them at 75%

As an NBA rookie he
*drew fouls at a 26% rate
*only got to the line 2.5 times a game and converted them at 64%

Those numbers will improve, as will his 3 point %

Some stats of Billups I put up in another thread:

Chauncey Billups prime:

in 2004 and 2005 when they won the championship and made the finals he averaged:

Championship year in 2004- his 7th year in the NBA
16.9 points
5.8 assists
3.5 rebounds per game
39.4% FG
38.8% from 3 point land
1 steal

2005 his 8th year in the NBA
16.5 points
5.7 assists
3.4 rebounds
44.2 FG%
1 steal
42.6 3 point%

his best year in the NBA which was his 9th season (2006)
18.5 points
8.6 assists
3.1 rebounds
1 steal
41.8 FG%
43.3 3 point %


He also shot 31% from 3 as a rookie and 36% as a sophomore.
Just some food for thought.

[MJohnnyboy]

Not to be overly pessimistic, but if he's going to reach the all-star level while only averaging in the low teens in points, this is the sort of defensive impact he's going to have to have every night.

When was the last time he didn't have a defensive impact like tonight? I mean he doesn't always have 4 steals, but he's virtually always this impactful. If he can average something like 16 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, with lockdown defense, I don't see why he couldn't be in the consideration for the All-Star game year in and year out.

steals or a lack of them make people think that's how well someone defended. I have seen so many people get steals while actually stinking on defense.

*After reading* "Who's he talking about?"

[LilRip]

Marcus Smart is the most enjoyable player to watch on this team for me, hands down. I have high hopes for him and I think he could be one of the best PG's in the league soon, particularly if he begins to develop a real offense.

[IDreamCeltics]

The only thing that worries me about Smart is how hard he plays.  The guy hits the floor at every opportunity.

Playing with the sort of reckless abandon that he does for 82 games is going to lead to a lot of injuries which will stunt his growth.  Hopefully as he matures he'll learn to pick his spots and not play every single game like it's a game 7.

 

[Donoghus]

Love the passion he plays the game with. 

Kid was all over the place yesterday.  Been extremely impressed with his play these first 3 games.

[Fafnir]

Love the passion he plays the game with. 

Kid was all over the place yesterday.  Been extremely impressed with his play these first 3 games.

Yeah he's been impressive. I just want to see him create more with the ball  .

[Timdawgg]

The only thing that worries me about Smart is how hard he plays.  The guy hits the floor at every opportunity.

Playing with the sort of reckless abandon that he does for 82 games is going to lead to a lot of injuries which will stunt his growth.  Hopefully as he matures he'll learn to pick his spots and not play every single game like it's a game 7.

Man that sounds exactly what everyone used to say about Rondo...its crazy how things can change so much in a few years..