How does Marcus fit in when he comes back?

[littleteapot]

edit: misread previous post. deleted

[Evantime34]

Does it really matters who starts? Bradley, Thomas and Smart will all play close to 30 minutes and they all will probably be in the game in crunch time.

Long term I think the best thing for the team would be to move Thomas back to the bench. However, after how he has played as a starter you risk losing him if you move him back to the bench.

[Ilikesports17]

This thread is so predictable. Bloggers freak out when it's suggested a guy should come off the bench (oh no!) or maybe even be traded, if the right deal could be struck, in a league where roster turnover is more typical than any other major sport.

There's also the typical 'intangibles are more important than results' posts. Seems like we should just cut-and-paste these threads from previous players but fill "Smart" in the blank where a departed player has been.

I get it -- Marcus is a guy who folks like to identify with. But he's hardly above being a bench player in the NBA at this point, especially considering he's struggled to stay on the court for a team that's playing very good basketball.

He's the third best guard on this team right now. It might actually HELP his development to only be tasked with 22-24 minutes a night.

I would argue this thread is more predictable in the sense that we overreact to a few weeks of basketball and all decide that Marcus smart doesn't really matter any more and we should trade him for Jordan clarkson if we can get LA to bite

[ssspence]

This thread is so predictable. Bloggers freak out when it's suggested a guy should come off the bench (oh no!) or maybe even be traded, if the right deal could be struck, in a league where roster turnover is more typical than any other major sport.

There's also the typical 'intangibles are more important than results' posts. Seems like we should just cut-and-paste these threads from previous players but fill "Smart" in the blank where a departed player has been.

I get it -- Marcus is a guy who folks like to identify with. But he's hardly above being a bench player in the NBA at this point, especially considering he's struggled to stay on the court for a team that's playing very good basketball.

He's the third best guard on this team right now. It might actually HELP his development to only be tasked with 22-24 minutes a night.

I would argue this thread is more predictable in the sense that we overreact to a few weeks of basketball and all decide that Marcus smart doesn't really matter any more and we should trade him for Jordan clarkson if we can get LA to bite

The Cs don't really need any one single player on their roster -- they're not built that way. This is a largely flat (i.e. horizontal) group. They've played good basketball when IT4 has been out, and when Bradley has been out, too.

I'm commenting more on the desperate desire to cling to Smart as a 'star' or 'cornerstone'. I think it has less to do with Marcus the player, and more to do with where he was drafted by comparison to other Ainge picks.

[droopdog7]

SMH at people always wanted to trade guys they are down on.  Honestly, Smart is not a very good player.  If he wasn't the sixth pick in the draft, we would not be trying to find ways fit him into the lineup.  We would not give a second thought about a defensive role player with no offensive position or skill.

Guys bust all the time in the NBA.  Just because a guy was picked high does not mean he will be a good player.  Fans will have to come to the realization at some point that Smart is a bust in waiting.  He is indeed Marcus Banks 2.0 and will never even be a starter in this league.

Hyperbole?  That's what you think.  But we shall find out soon enough.

[spikelovetheCelts]

SMH at people always wanted to trade guys they are down on.  Honestly, Smart is not a very good player.  If he wasn't the sixth pick in the draft, we would not be trying to find ways fit him into the lineup.  We would not give a second thought about a defensive role player with no offensive position or skill.

Guys bust all the time in the NBA.  Just because a guy was picked high does not mean he will be a good player.  Fans will have to come to the realization at some point that Smart is a bust in waiting.  He is indeed Marcus Banks 2.0 and will never even be a starter in this league.

Hyperbole?  That's what you think.  But we shall find out soon enough.

Marcus Smart will be a top 50 player in this league one day. He has the work ethic and talent to do so. He already guards in the top 5 in the league.

[Celtics18]

SMH at people always wanted to trade guys they are down on.  Honestly, Smart is not a very good player.  If he wasn't the sixth pick in the draft, we would not be trying to find ways fit him into the lineup.  We would not give a second thought about a defensive role player with no offensive position or skill.

Guys bust all the time in the NBA.  Just because a guy was picked high does not mean he will be a good player.  Fans will have to come to the realization at some point that Smart is a bust in waiting.  He is indeed Marcus Banks 2.0 and will never even be a starter in this league.

Hyperbole?  That's what you think.  But we shall find out soon enough.

Ouch!!  Somebody's clearly not a fan. 

[Vox_Populi]

I hope Ainge keeps on drafting guards because at some point he'll draft one that some fans will be unable to complain about. And that guy will probably have to be a 6'4 version of Chris Paul.

[droopdog7]

SMH at people always wanted to trade guys they are down on.  Honestly, Smart is not a very good player.  If he wasn't the sixth pick in the draft, we would not be trying to find ways fit him into the lineup.  We would not give a second thought about a defensive role player with no offensive position or skill.

Guys bust all the time in the NBA.  Just because a guy was picked high does not mean he will be a good player.  Fans will have to come to the realization at some point that Smart is a bust in waiting.  He is indeed Marcus Banks 2.0 and will never even be a starter in this league.

Hyperbole?  That's what you think.  But we shall find out soon enough.

Ouch!!  Somebody's clearly not a fan.

Love his defense and passion.  But skill level on offense is atrocious.  That will keep him off the court in crucial situations and prevent him from ever being anything more than a role player.

Sorry to say.

[Vermont Green]

I had been saying all along that Thomas is best off the bench but he has showed me (and everyone) that he is a legit starting PG for a good team.

Even if Thomas did not play so well, when Smart first comes back, I think he will be eased in by playing off the bench.  I suspect that the starting PG is Thomas' until Smart beats him out.  If Thomas keeps playing like he has, Smart may not be able to beat him out.

I don't see this as a problem.  Both are good players.  The coach will get them both on the court.

[Ed Hollison]

This thread is really two discussions at the same time. The first discussion is whether or not Marcus Smart is any good at all. The second discussion is whether or not it would benefit the team with him in the starting lineup. Related but different conversations.

On how good this guy has been and is likely to be... He's 21, has played a bit more than one year in the NBA. It can be argued that he's already the best backcourt defender in the NBA. And yes, he struggles on the offensive end, but sheesh, not many players light it up in year 1 or 2. Give him some time.

I think Isaiah is best off the bench. That leaves Marcus and Avery to start. The only question is whether or not you put Turner or Crowder with them at the SF. I'd actually lean towards Turner, given his ballhandling, and then you come in with a second unit that features Isaiah and Crowder.

[ssspence]

SMH at people always wanted to trade guys they are down on.  Honestly, Smart is not a very good player.  If he wasn't the sixth pick in the draft, we would not be trying to find ways fit him into the lineup.  We would not give a second thought about a defensive role player with no offensive position or skill.

Guys bust all the time in the NBA.  Just because a guy was picked high does not mean he will be a good player.  Fans will have to come to the realization at some point that Smart is a bust in waiting.  He is indeed Marcus Banks 2.0 and will never even be a starter in this league.

Hyperbole?  That's what you think.  But we shall find out soon enough.

Ouch!!  Somebody's clearly not a fan.

Love his defense and passion.  But skill level on offense is atrocious.  That will keep him off the court in crucial situations and prevent him from ever being anything more than a role player.

Sorry to say.

the phrase, his "offense is atrocious", has really gained steam on this blog this season. it's allzee rage.

[The One]

SMH at people always wanted to trade guys they are down on.  Honestly, Smart is not a very good player.  If he wasn't the sixth pick in the draft, we would not be trying to find ways fit him into the lineup.  We would not give a second thought about a defensive role player with no offensive position or skill.

Guys bust all the time in the NBA.  Just because a guy was picked high does not mean he will be a good player.  Fans will have to come to the realization at some point that Smart is a bust in waiting.  He is indeed Marcus Banks 2.0 and will never even be a starter in this league.

Hyperbole?  That's what you think.  But we shall find out soon enough.

Marcus Banks was NEVER considered an extraordinary perimeter defender...sorry...

[Celtics18]

SMH at people always wanted to trade guys they are down on.  Honestly, Smart is not a very good player.  If he wasn't the sixth pick in the draft, we would not be trying to find ways fit him into the lineup.  We would not give a second thought about a defensive role player with no offensive position or skill.

Guys bust all the time in the NBA.  Just because a guy was picked high does not mean he will be a good player.  Fans will have to come to the realization at some point that Smart is a bust in waiting.  He is indeed Marcus Banks 2.0 and will never even be a starter in this league.

Hyperbole?  That's what you think.  But we shall find out soon enough.

Ouch!!  Somebody's clearly not a fan.

Love his defense and passion.  But skill level on offense is atrocious.  That will keep him off the court in crucial situations and prevent him from ever being anything more than a role player.

Sorry to say.

I disagree.  I think that his skill level on defense will keep earning him playing time.  And, I think this in turn will allow him to continue to improve his offensive skills. 

I do agree that he's been fairly bad offensively thus far, but at the same time, I see some rudimentary skills that I absolutely think he can build on as he matures.  He'll probably never be an offensive superstar, but at his peak, I believe he'll be considerably better than he is now. 

[ssspence]

I think Isaiah is best off the bench. That leaves Marcus and Avery to start. The only question is whether or not you put Turner or Crowder with them at the SF. I'd actually lean towards Turner, given his ballhandling, and then you come in with a second unit that features Isaiah and Crowder.

So you're going to remove two starters to get Marcus in there... why? why is there a fear of bringing Smart off the bench?