How can anyone think Marcus Smart is a good NBA basketball player?

[guava_wrench]

Under many circumstances I might agree, but he doesn't always shoot that bad, and when he shuts down an all star (Harden says hello) he's kinda worth it.

What I would say is all the folks that criticized  Rondo for not being able to shoot....pretty soon they have to make a choice between going after Smart or boarding the hypocrite train.

Rondo shot 50 percent or close to it for most of the years with the Cs.

The train is derailed. Nice try.

It's nit-picking but Rondo was a scorer not a shooter. It's pretty well documented that his jumper wasn't great. And that he rarely took it even when open. His FG% was high because of his scoring at the rim.

So he's right to say Rondo was not a great shooter and he's right to say that the Smart apologists will look like hypocrites if they take a different attitude with Smart. For the record I'm a big fan of both. Rondo made me a Celtics fan and Smart is just nasty on defence!

In terms of viability as an NBA players, there is a huge difference between someone who can't shoot but can make a layup, and someone who can't shoot OR make a layup.

I agree. I watched some old clips of Smart at OK State. He just has no lift. So these guys can't blame injuries. I still think he's smart enough to figure it out. Just has to get craftier at or around the rim. But going straight up into guys is not working for him.

Rondo definitely is a lot more athletic.

It would be great if Smart had Andre Miller's height or passing ability to compensate for the lack of athleticism.

I like Smart and his defense is good enough that he easily belongs in the NBA. He just needs to develop a lot to be a starter on a decent team. Comparisons to TA and Rondo fall short since both of those guys had a clear way they could contribute on offense while making all defense teams. Smart is still a bit inept on offense. He isn't good enough with the ball to be the primary facilitator and his shot is too suspect and his post moves inadequate to play off the ball.

[guava_wrench]

Guys like Smart need a 3 to be starters. That way you can hide them in the corner and they become one of those 3 and D guys. Without the 3, he needs to be a penetration threat like Rondo and then they can run the offense.

[jpotter33]

The two things Smart supporters are giving Marcus which he has not earned are high basketball IQ and leadership.  The game needs to be played at both ends and as high as his grades are at the defensive end they are as low on the offensive end.  He has shown no increased knowledge in his shot selection IQ nor his playmaking.  Right now he is a young Tony Allen with no real indication that he will ever be more than another Tony.  A sometime starter, role player, premier defender and unreliable, often stupid on offense.  The injuries in my mind cannot excuse his continued poor choices on the offensive end.  The dumb play the other night, and his teammates reaction, also show he is not listening to the coaches.

This is probably the most incorrect thing I've ever seen on this forum. He's so excellent defensively due to having such a high BBIQ.

[droopdog7]

The two things Smart supporters are giving Marcus which he has not earned are high basketball IQ and leadership.  The game needs to be played at both ends and as high as his grades are at the defensive end they are as low on the offensive end.  He has shown no increased knowledge in his shot selection IQ nor his playmaking.  Right now he is a young Tony Allen with no real indication that he will ever be more than another Tony.  A sometime starter, role player, premier defender and unreliable, often stupid on offense.  The injuries in my mind cannot excuse his continued poor choices on the offensive end.  The dumb play the other night, and his teammates reaction, also show he is not listening to the coaches.

This is probably the most incorrect thing I've ever seen on this forum. He's so excellent defensively due to having such a high BBIQ.

Yet he isn't that good with the ball.  I am not calling him dumb (last game not withstanding) but I would not consider him above average just yet.  Basically, high IQ isn't something that stands out to me about smart.

[fairweatherfan]

The two things Smart supporters are giving Marcus which he has not earned are high basketball IQ and leadership.  The game needs to be played at both ends and as high as his grades are at the defensive end they are as low on the offensive end.  He has shown no increased knowledge in his shot selection IQ nor his playmaking.  Right now he is a young Tony Allen with no real indication that he will ever be more than another Tony.  A sometime starter, role player, premier defender and unreliable, often stupid on offense.  The injuries in my mind cannot excuse his continued poor choices on the offensive end.  The dumb play the other night, and his teammates reaction, also show he is not listening to the coaches.

This is probably the most incorrect thing I've ever seen on this forum. He's so excellent defensively due to having such a high BBIQ.

Most incorrect thing here is a pretty high bar, but I think feckless' post is consistent with what you're saying - he's got a great BBIQ on the defensive end and when rebounding, but shows very little indication of the same ability on offense.  His shot selection was poor last year and has probably gotten worse this year.  His playmaking for others has stayed at mediocre at best.  Brilliant on D, sure, but on O he's not showing the game is "clicking" for him the way you'd expect a guy with a good BBIQ on that end to do.

[Evantime34]

The two things Smart supporters are giving Marcus which he has not earned are high basketball IQ and leadership.  The game needs to be played at both ends and as high as his grades are at the defensive end they are as low on the offensive end.  He has shown no increased knowledge in his shot selection IQ nor his playmaking.  Right now he is a young Tony Allen with no real indication that he will ever be more than another Tony.  A sometime starter, role player, premier defender and unreliable, often stupid on offense.  The injuries in my mind cannot excuse his continued poor choices on the offensive end.  The dumb play the other night, and his teammates reaction, also show he is not listening to the coaches.

This is probably the most incorrect thing I've ever seen on this forum. He's so excellent defensively due to having such a high BBIQ.

Yeah this is pretty ridiculous. Even on offense his passing and rebounding instincts indicates that he has a high basketball IQ.

As to his shot selection, he has improved in that area from last year, he's taking the ball to the hoop more and shooting less 3's (compared to percentages of shots taken from those spots last year).

His shooting is down, but he showed he was an extremely streaky shooter last year.

People love to jump to conclusions, let the kid develop point guards often take longer to develop than other positions. The player that you see now won't be the same player you see later this year.

Those of you that hate Marcus Smart now, were probably the ones crying about Bradley not being an NBA player at the start of his career and him not being worth his contract last year. Let's try to learn from our mistakes and not jump to conclusions too early like people did on Bradley.

[spikelovetheCelts]

The two things Smart supporters are giving Marcus which he has not earned are high basketball IQ and leadership.  The game needs to be played at both ends and as high as his grades are at the defensive end they are as low on the offensive end.  He has shown no increased knowledge in his shot selection IQ nor his playmaking.  Right now he is a young Tony Allen with no real indication that he will ever be more than another Tony.  A sometime starter, role player, premier defender and unreliable, often stupid on offense.  The injuries in my mind cannot excuse his continued poor choices on the offensive end.  The dumb play the other night, and his teammates reaction, also show he is not listening to the coaches.

This is probably the most incorrect thing I've ever seen on this forum. He's so excellent defensively due to having such a high BBIQ.

The whole post is like other posters have said "Wrong". Smart is top 3 d and he has no fear. Let's give him this year to Learn to be a PG. He is going to surprise us all. He is an NBA player already.

[jpotter33]

The two things Smart supporters are giving Marcus which he has not earned are high basketball IQ and leadership.  The game needs to be played at both ends and as high as his grades are at the defensive end they are as low on the offensive end.  He has shown no increased knowledge in his shot selection IQ nor his playmaking.  Right now he is a young Tony Allen with no real indication that he will ever be more than another Tony.  A sometime starter, role player, premier defender and unreliable, often stupid on offense.  The injuries in my mind cannot excuse his continued poor choices on the offensive end.  The dumb play the other night, and his teammates reaction, also show he is not listening to the coaches.

This is probably the most incorrect thing I've ever seen on this forum. He's so excellent defensively due to having such a high BBIQ.

Most incorrect thing here is a pretty high bar, but I think feckless' post is consistent with what you're saying - he's got a great BBIQ on the defensive end and when rebounding, but shows very little indication of the same ability on offense.  His shot selection was poor last year and has probably gotten worse this year.  His playmaking for others has stayed at mediocre at best.  Brilliant on D, sure, but on O he's not showing the game is "clicking" for him the way you'd expect a guy with a good BBIQ on that end to do.

Shot selection, sure, no doubt there. However, he's terrific with not turning the ball over and his passing, court vision, and offensive rebounding are much improved and very good this year, which are things that are usually associated with a high BBIQ (think Rondo).

[PhoSita]

I didn't have too many problems with Smart's shot selection last year when he was hitting >30% of his outside shots.  I felt like it was important for him to work on his jumper.  Given his lack speed and explosion, it's important that he has the threat of a jumpshot to create driving opportunities.  My patience was predicated on the belief that with time and in-game reps his shot would gradually creep upward and become more consistent, even if he'd never be deadly from outside.

You can blame injuries in large part for why that hasn't come to fruition this year.  Additionally, it seems like his inconsistent and flawed shooting mechanics contribute a great deal to his streakiness.  This year he's been cold far more than he's been hot.  I'm starting to wonder if he's just a poor shooter who had some good luck last year and maybe got left wide open a lot of the time.  This year, teams are actually defending him.


All of which is to say that I have less patience for Smart's shot selection this year.  He hasn't shown that he is willing and able to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket when the outside shots aren't falling.  The only shot he seems willing to regularly take other than the three pointer is a one dribble pull-up from mid-range.  That's a nice tool to have, but only as a complement to threes and layups. 

Smart impresses every once in a while with a really astounding, acrobat finish inside.  That's really cool -- I remember seeing such highlights before he was drafted, inspiring comparisons to Dwyane Wade.  The problem is, to actually score frequently and efficiently, Smart needs to be able to get to the rim and score without having to complete an extremely difficult, low-percentage shot.  Can he do that?  I don't know.  He might not be quick enough for it. 

This is why Brad's been posting him up a lot lately, I think -- to try and get him going with shots near the rim.   Problem: if you're 6'2'' and the only way you can consistently generate looks inside is by getting entry passes on deep post-ups, that's not a sustainable long term strategy (unless you're Andre Miller and your old-man-at-the-Y game is epic).

[Rondo9]

With all the hyperbole surrounding Smart lately, I'm surprised noone called him Banks 2.0

[Celtics18]

I don't really have a big issue with Smart's shot selection.  I think, for the most part, he is taking pretty good shots.  I just would love to see him start making some.

[PhoSita]

With all the hyperbole surrounding Smart lately, I'm surprised noone called him Banks 2.0

Oh God let's not even risk starting that up again.

[Rondo9]

With all the hyperbole surrounding Smart lately, I'm surprised noone called him Banks 2.0

Oh God let's not even risk starting that up again.

Sorry, just had to ask. 

[fairweatherfan]

I don't really have a big issue with Smart's shot selection.  I think, for the most part, he is taking pretty good shots.  I just would love to see him start making some.

It's tough to judge the whole season because he had such a long layoff, but since he's been back he seems to be forcing a lot.  Especially on 3s, he rarely looks comfortable when he's taking them.  Smart has an aggressive mentality, which is good, but on offense I think it makes him go into "make-up mode" a lot where he's trying to redeem past misses by forcing new shots. 

If he could shoot the same % from 3 as last year it'd be less of a problem, but it's his most glaring issue right now in my opinion, and if anything he seems to have regressed from last year.  Has to learn to play within himself on O which includes picking his spots carefully when the shots aren't falling.

[bostonsportsforlife]

The advanced stats demonstrate how otherworldly his defense is, and he's doing everything right on offense except hitting shots. His playmaking ability has come along nicely.