Forget Tony Allen ... is Smart a guard version of Draymond Green?

[PhoSita]

See title.

Smart's been compared to Tony Allen around here, and not exactly as a compliment.

Unfortunately, that comparison fails because Tony's total lack of shooting means that as much as he helps a defense, he has a tendency to hurt an offense almost as much on the other end. 


Is Draymond Green, the guy who probably shoulda won DPOY last year, a better comparison?  Smart can shoot, and drive, just well enough to have the occasional big game and keep opponents honest.  On the other end, he can completely change games with his mix of toughness, strength, and versatility.

My guess is we'd all like Smart to turn into a guard version of the actual reigning DPOY -- Kawhi Leonard -- a guy who played a complementary offensive role on a great team before blossoming into a star scorer.  That would be awesome, but even if Smart never advances beyond scoring 12-14 points a game with adequate efficiency, if he remains a defensive monster, he'll still be a star.  A Draymond Green style star.


Now we just need to find our Steph Curry ....

[snively]

I think Ron Artest is still the best comp if you go wing.

Draymond is well above average rebounder as a small forward and an excellent playmaker for combo forward. The shooting (in)ability and defensive acumen/versatility are similar, but Smart is a good but unexceptional rebounder at the 1 and only an okay playmaker as a combo guard. I don't think he creates the same 2-way match-up advantages as Green. And on D, I think he plays with significantly more aggression.

I think it's more likely that Smart develops into an inefficient but occasionally effective scorer like Ron than a Swiss Army Knife like Green.

[PhoSita]

I think Ron Artest is still the best comp if you go wing.

Draymond is well above average rebounder as a small forward and an excellent playmaker for combo forward. The shooting (in)ability and defensive acumen/versatility are similar, but Smart is a good but unexceptional rebounder at the 1 and only an okay playmaker as a combo guard. I don't think he creates the same 2-way match-up advantages as Green. And on D, I think he plays with significantly more aggression.

I think it's more likely that Smart develops into an inefficient but occasionally effective scorer like Ron than a Swiss Army Knife like Green.

I'm pretty sure Smart's not nearly as crazy as Artest / MWP, so that comparison is OK with me.

[Ilikesports17]

Love the comp even think smart has a bit more offensive potential then dray.

[KG Living Legend]

I like the Green Comp because he's really only 6'5.75" tall, but plays much bigger with his 7'1" wingspan, toughness and strength.
 
 They both have a 7" plus differential height to wingspan. With Marcus 6'2" height and 6'9" arm lengt. Both players play much bigger.

[libermaniac]

See title.

Smart's been compared to Tony Allen around here, and not exactly as a compliment.

Unfortunately, that comparison fails because Tony's total lack of shooting means that as much as he helps a defense, he has a tendency to hurt an offense almost as much on the other end. 

Huh?  Marcus Smart is a horrible shooter.  He misses long, he misses short, he misses left, he misses right.  He shoots the ball way too high and it comes down very heavy.  It's too bad, because he'd be dominant if he could shoot, but I'm sorry to say it but I think both Tony Allen and Rondo are/were better shooters than Smart.

[Celtics18]

I don't know, but if we continue playing the kind of defense we'e been playing as a team, both Marcus and Jae will be in serious conversation for first team All NBA defense, possibly even DPOY. 

[jambr380]

I sure hope Smart can be the guard version of Green and Artest - he certainly has the potential. But we have to remember that Tony Allen was becoming quite the offensive force before tearing his acl. He has since settled into his role as elite defensive player while leaving the offensive load to more efficient players.

One thing Tony Allen could definitely do better than Smart was take it hard to the hoop. I know Smart is better this year than last, but he really needs his offensive game to be a bit more dynamic than it is now if he is to become a star. Regardless, he should have a major role in the NBA for some time.

[max215]

Definitely makes some sense. Both are excellent passers and adequate shooters, but really make their mark with intense and versatile defense.

[otherdave]

And this is why C's shouldn't include Smart in any trade.  Not for Norlens.  Not for Boogie.

[SHAQATTACK]

Jason Kidd with muscle .....court presence like CP3 .....he wants to lead the charge .


Not the go to guy like Pierce or Westbrooke for knocking down 30 points a game . 

But Smart must not be traded away for ANY BIG .......PERIOD .

he has the will to,succeed and brings everybody else along with him.

He is th player like CP3 that will hold ALL the other great Skilled men on the team to a high standard.

[positivitize]

Smart is KG in a point guard's body. He's the closest thing to untouchable this Celtics team has.

The shooting will come along. This kid is just barely old enough to drink. He's going to be a great player for a long time.

[BitterJim]

See title.

Smart's been compared to Tony Allen around here, and not exactly as a compliment.

Unfortunately, that comparison fails because Tony's total lack of shooting means that as much as he helps a defense, he has a tendency to hurt an offense almost as much on the other end. 

Huh?  Marcus Smart is a horrible shooter.  He misses long, he misses short, he misses left, he misses right.  He shoots the ball way too high and it comes down very heavy.  It's too bad, because he'd be dominant if he could shoot, but I'm sorry to say it but I think both Tony Allen and Rondo are/were better shooters than Smart.

You can think whatever you want, but stats and reality point to Smart being a better shooter.  Maybe not as good at finishing inside, but a better shooter

[guava_wrench]

While it is true that Smart is currently a bad shooter, he is both willing to shoot and willing to play the role the coach wants him to play. Smart's regular shooting in games will help him improve. He is not shy to pull the trigger, and that is what the coach asks of him. TA and Rondo both took a long time to get comfortable shooting from any distance.

Last season Smart looked like was always deferring to teammates. This season, he looks aggressive and confident. That is a major development. He is still only 21, so I expect him to continue to figure out how he can score. With his defense and teamwork, it is okay if he never becomes a first scoring option. That is what we have IT for.

[DarkAzcura]

See title.

Smart's been compared to Tony Allen around here, and not exactly as a compliment.

Unfortunately, that comparison fails because Tony's total lack of shooting means that as much as he helps a defense, he has a tendency to hurt an offense almost as much on the other end. 

Huh?  Marcus Smart is a horrible shooter.  He misses long, he misses short, he misses left, he misses right.  He shoots the ball way too high and it comes down very heavy.  It's too bad, because he'd be dominant if he could shoot, but I'm sorry to say it but I think both Tony Allen and Rondo are/were better shooters than Smart.

You must be forgetting how bad of shooters Rondo and Allen were. Smart's release, form, and follow through are light years beyond Rondo and Tony Allen, and the numbers reflect that. Neither Rondo nor Allen ever took the volume of 3s that Smart took last year, and if they did, they would shoot ~20% from 3 most likely. Smart shot it 33-34% from 3 in his rookie year, which is average for the league (or very close). Completely different level of shooters, and that's not even to say Smart is great or even good. Rondo and Allen are/were just that bad.