On a more positive note

[walker834]

Here's marcus with a nice steal and dish against the grizzlies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlcc70sS23Q

He also made an absurd play falling out of bounds that made Scal break out the Cobra nickname.  I was more looking for that one.

Sure he had some ups and downs this game on the offensive end. He got swatted at the end by 3 guys got mad and lost the game.  But to me these are all learning experiences.  His offense was going to take time.  I think the difference is I knew this.

Marcus is a freak athlete who is a strong defender and plays with a lot of good energy.  Even he loses his head at times. He's young but has the makings of a great leader. He has the ability to do a lot of positive things on the offensive end.  He has shown the ability to pass the ball, drive and hit 3 point shots which is more than a lot of players can say.  He's also shown the ability to use his size and tenacity on putbacks and around the rim.  He just isn't doing it with any efficiency right now.

If you watched him in college a lot of his offense was due to the speed of the game and he was coming off screens jacking up shots and bullying people inside.  The College game is so different and such a mess right now there isn't a player in his class that hasn't struggled with the transition.

Marcus is still a prime athlete.  He was picked at 6 for a reason. He's still a great defender. And he's still a great leader potentially.  His offense we've seen glimpses of what he can do.

He's been what I've expected. He's been what the Celtics expected. Stevens said he was nba ready defensively but his offense woud take time.  He's basically still a rookie.  What did people expect?  There is no lie except from those expecting the world from him right out of college.

He's still outplaying most other people his age. I never bought the hype on guys like Wiggins and Parker and Embiid while people were hyping them up here.  The draft was very young and overhyped. Ainge said this. So did I at the time. I just felt that way.  I wanted Smart that draft.  I watched him quite a bit and OKlahoma state is a great place to find big defensive guards and Smart is the best one they've ever had.

[KG Living Legend]

 I don't see a freak athlete. Based on his combine Numbers and his tape in college, expected a LOT more.

[KeepRondo]

When Smart gets it going he can be dynamic on offense. He needs his three point shot going and a floater or pull up in the paint to this.

[celtics2030]

hes not really a freak athlete

hes a freak hustler who plays hard at all times and isnt scared to put his body on the line

imo he has to slow it down in his head for his offense to become fine tuned

i compared him to Elfrid , who is a more athletically skilled player. Elfird already has found his niche so it will be easier for him to get bettter as he has.

Smart is out there just being a guy who plays hard. His offense is pretty bad right now. Although id start him.

[walker834]

People didn't see freak athlete with Pierce either. Pierce actually was a freak athlete. Just a different kind.

Smart is a freak athlete.  I see it. He's like a linebacker player guard in the nba. I bet his combine numbers are right in tune with that too.

[KeepRondo]

hes not really a freak athlete

hes a freak hustler who plays hard at all times and isnt scared to put his body on the line

imo he has to slow it down in his head for his offense to become fine tuned

i compared him to Elfrid , who is a more athletically skilled player. Elfird already has found his niche so it will be easier for him to get bettter as he has.

Smart is out there just being a guy who plays hard. His offense is pretty bad right now. Although id start him.

If I was running this team, I'd clear out some guys so Smart could get more touches.

[walker834]

Pierce slid down to us a few spots because some people have it in their heads what freak athlete is. Pierce was a blue chip freak athlete and should not have lasted that long.  Smart is worthy of his draft slot as well.

[max215]

hes not really a freak athlete

hes a freak hustler who plays hard at all times and isnt scared to put his body on the line

imo he has to slow it down in his head for his offense to become fine tuned

i compared him to Elfrid , who is a more athletically skilled player. Elfird already has found his niche so it will be easier for him to get bettter as he has.

Smart is out there just being a guy who plays hard. His offense is pretty bad right now. Although id start him.

If I was running this team, I'd clear out some guys so Smart could get more touches.

Absolutely. If we dump Turner, Smart and Hunter (and possibly Rozier) could get time to develop.

[KeepRondo]

hes not really a freak athlete

hes a freak hustler who plays hard at all times and isnt scared to put his body on the line

imo he has to slow it down in his head for his offense to become fine tuned

i compared him to Elfrid , who is a more athletically skilled player. Elfird already has found his niche so it will be easier for him to get bettter as he has.

Smart is out there just being a guy who plays hard. His offense is pretty bad right now. Although id start him.

If I was running this team, I'd clear out some guys so Smart could get more touches.

Absolutely. If we dump Turner, Smart and Hunter (and possibly Rozier) could get time to develop.

I like RJs game and Roz could be good but I'm really more interested in just getting Smart a ton of minutes. He is still the hope at this point. Even as bad as he's been.

[jpotter33]

hes not really a freak athlete

hes a freak hustler who plays hard at all times and isnt scared to put his body on the line

imo he has to slow it down in his head for his offense to become fine tuned

i compared him to Elfrid , who is a more athletically skilled player. Elfird already has found his niche so it will be easier for him to get bettter as he has.

Smart is out there just being a guy who plays hard. His offense is pretty bad right now. Although id start him.

If I was running this team, I'd clear out some guys so Smart could get more touches.

That's going to have to happen at some point if they ever want him to reach his full potential.

[walker834]

Smart has a lot of potential that's the thing. What guard has his combination of size, rebounding, passing, and defense?  plus can shoot with range? Smart's percentages are down but he's still averaging close to 9, 4, 4 with plus steals and a 3 a game. Players like MCW and Tyreke Evans come to mind but they don't play near the defense Smart does MCW also doesnt shoot 3's.  A lot of the best pg's don't even have that combination.  They might score more and demand the ball more but they don't have that combination of intangles while not dominating the ball.

I feel like we haven't even scratched the surface on what Marcus can be.

[Chris22]

I think Marcus is playing out of position.
He is not a point guard.

[walker834]

I think he is a rotation guy who can play multiple positions. I don't think eh is playing out of position. He just has to develop.  HAving a rotation at guard with Bradley, Isaiah, Smart is what we want. He can play all over the place.

I still think he'll be our starting pg someday.  Averaging like 15, 6, 6 with like 2 or 3 steals a game and a couple 3's.

[Future Celtics Owner]

If Marcus is destined to play sg then I want him out. I do not believe this is the case and he def got better since last year with dribbling and taking it in, but the development at the pg spot is just not there for him now.

He could take a bit. But we should be developing him in the post and having him take it to the hoop.

[moiso]

Pierce slid down to us a few spots because some people have it in their heads what freak athlete is. Pierce was a blue chip freak athlete and should not have lasted that long.  Smart is worthy of his draft slot as well.

Pierce was a blue chip freak basketball player.  Nothing about him athletically was freak level.