would you be disappointed if Smart turned out to be Bowen/Tony Allen?

[LilRip]

Yes, because he's already a better overall player than either of those guys.

[Who]

Definitely.

[GreenWarrior]

Use a top 10 pick on a defensive specialist?  A passable version of that kind of player is available in free agency for less than $10 million per year pretty much every off-season.

Of course that'd be disappointing.

what if he was more Rodman like?

[HomerSapien]

Yes I would be.  I am hoping he can end up turning into a decent scorer over time, which very much remains to be seen, but he already is a better offensive player than Allen/Bowen.  He does a good job running the offense when he has the opportunity, and is a good passer. 

Unlike a lot of other guys, and in particular, point guards, Smart doesn't feel the need to have the ball in his hands for an excessive amount of time.  That's one offensive quality I actually love about him.  If there is a player with position up the court Smart will throw the ball ahead instead of dutifully dribbling the ball up the court and making the pass 2 - 3 seconds later.

Beyond that though he isn't someone who can put the defense under pressure right now because his handle is still mediocre (though improved over LY), he doesn't have an explosive first step, and his jumper is inconsistent.

Even though he's still put up a few of the "0-5" type stat lines the past 5 games, I've thought his shot has started to look a lot better lately even when he misses.  He's cut down the number of wide right, and wide left bricks.  Most of his misses lately have just been rimming out which I find encouraging.  His FT stroke also seems to be getting a bit more consistent so I hope that is also a positive sign of things to come.

I think Celtics fans are always going to have a bit of trouble defining why Marcus is a good/great player.  I think he is always going to fit a non-traditional definition of "star", but I do think that if things break right he can be the engine that drives a multi-championship team even if his box score stats are relatively unimpressive.

Here's to hoping he reaches those heights.

[Granath]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4721832/nuggets-coach-mike-malone-on-celtics-im-jealous-of-the-defenders-they-have

The opening paragraph explains why Smart is so valuable:

BOSTON -- Midway through the second quarter of Wednesday's game, Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris intercepted an errant Boston Celtics pass. Turning to examine his opportunity in transition, he found only Marcus Smart in front of him.

Harris accelerated the other way looking to attack, but Smart provided immediate resistance at the midcourt stripe. Harris went behind his back with the dribble, but before he could even collect the ball on the other side Avery Bradley had swarmed, forcing Harris to try to switch dribble hands again. By this time, Smart was back on his right hand and calmly leaned his left shoulder in while stripping the ball away.

Smart doesn't have to have big numbers on the box score to have a major impact on the game. Smart will figure out his shot eventually because, unlike someone like Rondo, his form is not that bad. He shoots better than 70% on his free throws and he will figure out how to shoot in games. In the meanwhile he'll continue to drive the opposition nuts on defense.

[Celtics17]

I dont get to see many Celtic's games, dont have cable and live in the midwest. The thing I have noticed though just by watching the stat lines is that when Smart is playing well the Celtics seem to either win a lot or are at least in a lot of games.

It's bewildering to me that defense isn't valued more then it is. It's like everyone thinks that any player is capable of great defensive play if they just 'want to' play it? From what I can tell Smart is a game changer, a player you build around, and yes to compete for titles.

I also found it interesting that someone said you don't use a top ten pick on a player like Tony Allen. Didn't Kobe say that Tony Allen gave him the most trouble guarding him of any player ever? That alone would be worth a top ten pick, I would think.

[Tr1boy]

I don't see the Bowen part.  Bowen is on defense is more like a bigger Avery Bradley. An excellent one on one defender who can shut down an assigned guy in spurts.  Smart is in another category on defense.  I think he makes more than one player at once nervous...more prone to flashes of defensive brilliance, i.e...taking the game over.  We'll see if Smart gets to Bowen's level as a three point specialist.  I'd rather see him (for now) continue to improve taking it into the paint.  It took Avery a while to improve his handle, but he has.  Once Smart improves his you'll see a big difference in his offensive impact. He's already a good passer and that will get even better once the handle improves.  I see Smart as a starting two guard back-up PG.

Edit:  still a little ticked that TA didn't get more playoff minutes.  There were times none of our aged ones could even get to a loose ball they were so cooked.  When Ray wasn't hitting it was painful not to have TA in on defense.  As much I liked TA, from the moment he arrived in Boston, I think Smart is a much better all around player.  Tony was always more of an athlete than Smart.  Tony could fly when he got to the league.

Smart has ways to go to accomplish what Bowen did.

And Bowen was a multi position defender also.

Smart has the tolls/potential to be even scarier.

[slamtheking]

must be me but since I saw both Bowen and TA during their stints with the C's, I already consider Smart to be better than either of them so I don't see the validity of the initial post.  Seems more like an axe to grind with the Smart pick than actually watching Smart's play and impact when he's on the floor.

[saltlover]

The only reason it would be disappointing is that it would mean he didn't improve at all over his career.  He's not even 22, so we have a reasonable expectation he should get better.

But Marcus Smart is not Tony Allen.  In each of his first two seasons, Smart has averaged more assists than Allen has, in any season, at a per-36 rate.  He's hit more 3-pointers in his 1.5 seasons (113) than Allen has in 12 (100).  Despite having the ball a lot more than Tony Allen, he turns it over less.  Smart may never be an offensive dynamo, but he's not Tony Allen.  The comparison is lazy.

[Rosco917]

The key to Smarts career will be, will he ever develop into an NBA point guard. He's not going to be a big time scorer, your not going to see Marcus average 20 ppg in his career, at least I don't see it.

Tony Allen and Bowen were not point guards, so the comparison is unfair. In a few years if the consensus is that he is definitely not a starting quality PG, and is relegated to being a shooting guard, then I'm not sure Marcus will be the starter on a winning team.

Will I be disappointed? Yeah, kind of.

(I also remember TA when he came into the league, he was an immediately fan favorite for me. Tony was developing into a high flier. He was robbed of his scoring ability due to two serious knee operations.) 
   

[AntoineWalkerShimmyShake]

No

[CFAN38]

I honestly think Smart is already a TA type player at 21.

TAs best statistical season was 06/07 when he was 25. Now this year was the season he only played 33 games then suffered a season ending knee injury.

Min 24 ppg 11.5 FGA 7.8 FG% 51% 3PA 1 3PT% 24% RB 3.8 AST 1.7 STL 1.5 TO 2.3

This season Smart is only 21 and has currently play 26 games

Min 27 ppg 9.0 FGA 9 FG% 34% 3PA 3.8 3PT% 22% RB 4.4 AST 3.2 STL 1.7 TO 1.2

Now just giving the stats a quick look its obvious Smart really needs to improve his shot and shot selection. Simply reverting back to his Rookie seasons 33% from three would be fine for me. Aside from the shooting Smart is a much better passer and less turn over prone then TA was. They are both good rebounders and post the same stats per 40.


At 21 Marcus is still a few years away from being in his prime as a pro basketball player. If he can make a natural progression as a shooter and PG I think its safe to envision a day where Smart is averaging 14pt 5rb 5 ast and playing all Defensive 1st team D.   

[Evantime34]

Absolutely.

He is a much better player at this age than either of those guys were at the same age. Bowen never had any offensive game, when he was at his peak the only shot he could hit was the corner 3.

[Eja117]

I would be disappointed enough that i will try to delete this very possible thread from my brain

[celticmania]

Sidenote: I don't think Smart is a point guard. Doesn't have the handle. He has a high iq and is a good passer but doesn't really create for others that well because he doesn't have the ability to break down a defender off the dribble and get to the paint. He is good off the ball and his defense is outstanding especially against 2 guards. He's a starter but he's not going to be a big scorer. Just doesn't have the skills but thats fine. I love what he brings to the team.