Free Smart!

[jpotter33]

It's time for IT to go back to the bench. His forcing the issue and lack of defense is less noticeable and hurts us a lot less when he's coming off of the bench. He puts up nice offensive numbers, but how much does he give up on the defensive end - not only losing his own man but others having to help off for him?

Smart is the future of this team, and he looks primed and ready for a larger offensive and ball-handling role. It's time to free Smart, start him, play him big minutes, and make him more than the fifth option on offense.

[Ogaju]

as soon as he develops a jump shot.

[Rondo9]

Bad game by Thomas he's not an All Star, merely a sixth man. Overreactions......

[jpotter33]

Bad game by Thomas he's not an All Star, merely a sixth man. Overreactions......

It's a running trend with IT. Bad turnovers, stupid forced shots, and a major defensive liability. Which one of those can you seriously disagree with? He's the prototypical sixth man.

[KeepRondo]

This team would fall on it's face without IT.

[__ramonezy__]

Bad game by Thomas he's not an All Star, merely a sixth man. Overreactions......

It's a running trend with IT. Bad turnovers, stupid forced shots, and a major defensive liability. Which one of those can you seriously disagree with? He's the prototypical sixth man.

The issue isn't IT per se, but what's behind him. He's our only scorer and he's expected to be aggressive... this will come with ill-advised shots... some of which do score. (see curry, lbj, kobe, mj, lowry, butler)

IT's defense is acceptable if we have Dwight Howard as a C behind him... this is not saying we should get Dwight, just giving an example. Our weakness is that our perimeter defenders have no deterrent once they are passed.

[mctyson]

This team would fall on it's face without IT.

it's a .500 team with him.

[jpotter33]

This team would fall on it's face without IT.

Who said to get rid of IT? Because I sure didn't. I merely said move him to his natural role.

[Rondo9]

Bad game by Thomas he's not an All Star, merely a sixth man. Overreactions......

It's a running trend with IT. Bad turnovers, stupid forced shots, and a major defensive liability. Which one of those can you seriously disagree with? He's the prototypical sixth man.

A player who averages 21 and 7 is a sixth man? This team will be in the lotto if it weren't for Thomas.

[KeepRondo]

This team would fall on it's face without IT.

it's a .500 team with him.

Subtract 5-6 wins and we are 16-26 or so without him.

[jpotter33]

Bad game by Thomas he's not an All Star, merely a sixth man. Overreactions......

It's a running trend with IT. Bad turnovers, stupid forced shots, and a major defensive liability. Which one of those can you seriously disagree with? He's the prototypical sixth man.

A player who averages 21 and 7 is a sixth man? This team will be in the lotto if it weren't for Thomas.

Uh, yeah. Put those numbers into context: 42% fg%, 34% 3PFG%, 3 TO's a game, no defense. That's the classic volume scorer, who is traditionally associated with the sixth man role - Lou Williams, Jamal Crawford, etc.

[KeepRondo]

This team would fall on it's face without IT.

Who said to get rid of IT? Because I sure didn't. I merely said move him to his natural role.

I just don't understand the thinking of limiting your best player. I'm sure Curry could be amazing off the bench also.

Just makes no sense to put your most impactful player on the bench to start the game.

[Rondo9]

Bad game by Thomas he's not an All Star, merely a sixth man. Overreactions......

It's a running trend with IT. Bad turnovers, stupid forced shots, and a major defensive liability. Which one of those can you seriously disagree with? He's the prototypical sixth man.

A player who averages 21 and 7 is a sixth man? This team will be in the lotto if it weren't for Thomas.

Uh, yeah. Put those numbers into context: 42% fg%, 34% 3PFG%, 3 TO's a game, no defense. That's the classic volume scorer, who is traditionally associated with the sixth man role - Lou Williams, Jamal Crawford, etc.

Has Lou and Crawford ever averaged 7 assists a game? And to the numbers in context, Thomas also averages 6 free throw attempts a game and is their only scorer. Who on this team besides thomas can score like can? Besides some terrible turnovers, Isaiah had 21 and 10 against the Raptors, he's not even a big part of the problem why the Celtics lost, it's their defense that failed them.

[flybono]

7  16  vs playoff teams

Free Stevens, so he can return to the College game

[jpotter33]

This team would fall on it's face without IT.

Who said to get rid of IT? Because I sure didn't. I merely said move him to his natural role.

I just don't understand the thinking of limiting your best player. I'm sure Curry could be amazing off the bench also.

Just makes no sense to put your most impactful player on the bench to start the game.

It worked all year for us last year, why wouldn't it work again? You say impactful, but how many points has he cost us on the defensive end the last several games due to his man scoring or others having to help and cover his man?

With Smart's improvements in handling the ball, passing, penetration, and finishing, the lack of offense is less of a worry now. Hell, the last four games or so the ball has moved the best when Smart was initiating the offense. When IT or Turner are initiating the offense, everyone stands around and waits for them to drive and kick.