How does Marcus fit in when he comes back?

[SHAQATTACK]

I want Noel on the Celtics ,  but not for the price of Smart , Mickey and Hunter.

I don't think I d let Smart go in a deal for Cousins either.

[Eja117]

Defensive specialist off the bench. He would have helped against curry.

Basically this. I would expect him to be in the 6th man spot similar to what Bradley was before Bradley started playing all star basketball

[Ogaju]

Bench him, don't mess with team chemistry.

So you'd prefer James Young in the rotation over Smart?

Absolutely not. Where did you get that from. James Young is not starting, is he?

[PAOBoston]

Not sure why people don't think Smart is a big part of this team? And IT/AB backcourt won't work long term. Move one of those guys back to the 6th man role. Ideally, I think Smart/IT and Bradley/Turner works better. Gives you a ball handler/scorer and a defensive minded player on the court at all times.

[IDreamCeltics]

Let IT and Bradley start, bring Rozier and Smart off the bench together.  Those are our two best 1-2 guard combo's in my opinion.

But whatever you do don't breakup the IT Bradley combo, those guys just play better together...

[obnoxiousmime]

Even though we're playing well enough to be in the mix for playoffs, I don't think any moves should be made too hastily. Smart still has 2.5 years on his deal and we don't know what he definitely can or can't be yet. At this point you wouldn't even be selling high, so why not keep him around? I have my concerns about his durability and ability to improve his shot, but what could we realistically get for him now anyway?

Keeping Smart, Thomas, and Bradley in the guard rotation should keep them happy enough for now. In another year or two, maybe one will want to be the unquestioned starter but we're not at that point yet.

As much as Isaiah needs to be hidden on defense, Smart is a liability on offense. Since we really lack offense right now Thomas is looking to be more essential, but that may not be the case in the future. At some point Smart has got to at least be able to make an open jumper consistently though.

[IDreamCeltics]

I want Noel on the Celtics ,  but not for the price of Smart , Mickey and Hunter.

I don't think I d let Smart go in a deal for Cousins either.

Don't forget too that Noel has spent his first two NBA seasons learning to be the opposite of a pro.  There's no veteran mentors in Philly and nothing even close to resembling consequences for bad habits.  Noel's gotten worse in his second year and may soon be unsalvageable as anything other than a defensive role-player. 

[jpotter33]

Boy how short our memories are...

[hwangjini_1]

Boy how short our memories are...

i know. look at all the threads that waxed orgasmically over smart and his defense and toughness and steal-of-the-draft and more.

now? trade him. bench him.

cb at its short-memory best. 

[MJohnnyboy]

Bench him, don't mess with team chemistry.

So you'd prefer James Young in the rotation over Smart?

Absolutely not. Where did you get that from. James Young is not starting, is he?

I got that from your phrasing. The words "Bench him, don't mess with team chemistry" comes off like "he shouldn't play because the team is playing well without him". You see, the words "Bench him" means "put him on the bench and not have him play". I'm guessing what you really meant was, "Have him come off the bench because the starters have great chemistry together." That would have been a more positive viewpoint on Smart's place on the team when he returns. You didn't say anything about "starters". You said "team chemistry". There's a big difference.

No James Young isn't starting, but he's in the rotation thanks to Smart's (and Hunter's) injuries. I think everyone knows Smart should get at the very least Young's minutes when he comes back.

[playdream]

AB and IT pair is really good , but not good enough to win Spurs/Warriors game
If we had Smart those will be Ws

[MJohnnyboy]

Brad will know best when Smart is healthy. Frankly I like the IT/Smart and Bradley/Turner combos. When Smart's fully healthy, I see him getting the starters spot back at the 2 next to IT because I think he has phenomenal defensive chemistry with Crowder because their D is very similar. That, and I've seen Bradley and Turner be assassins off the bench together this season.

But again, Brad knows best.

[Denis998]

I think its best for Smart to come of the bench for the near future. I think it will give him a better opportunity to hone in on his offensive game. 

[Ogaju]

Bench him, don't mess with team chemistry.

So you'd prefer James Young in the rotation over Smart?

Absolutely not. Where did you get that from. James Young is not starting, is he?

I got that from your phrasing. The words "Bench him, don't mess with team chemistry" comes off like "he shouldn't play because the team is playing well without him". You see, the words "Bench him" means "put him on the bench and not have him play". I'm guessing what you really meant was, "Have him come off the bench because the starters have great chemistry together." That would have been a more positive viewpoint on Smart's place on the team when he returns. You didn't say anything about "starters". You said "team chemistry". There's a big difference.

No James Young isn't starting, but he's in the rotation thanks to Smart's (and Hunter's) injuries. I think everyone knows Smart should get at the very least Young's minutes when he comes back.

Okay my bad, I just assumed when talking about IT/Smart/Bradley the debate was about who comes off the bench and who starts. There is no way I would relegate Smart to the end of the bench. For him, the debate is starter or first man off the bench. He is not in James Young project territory.

[ssspence]

Boy how short our memories are...

i know. look at all the threads that waxed orgasmically over smart and his defense and toughness and steal-of-the-draft and more.

now? trade him. bench him.

cb at its short-memory best. 

Maybe some of the people who aren't overatting Smart now are the same one who didn't overrate him before.