I think there's more Dwyane Wade in Smart than there is Ron Artest. Artest had mental health issues. Wade's a cheap shot artist and a flopper, but he's used those qualities to make many clutch plays for his team over the years.
I suspect that, like Wade, Paul, KG, and others, Smart will build a reputation as a guy you're happy to have on your team, but who you despise if he's on a different team.
Well put. I agreed with Ainge on most of the best players flopping or doing whatever they need to do to win. Celtics fans in particular need to realize that. I mean, people are killing Smart for a flop when the guy most of us idolize, KG, straight up punched a guy in the balls once to defend his three point shot. Lets have perspective.
Just look at the Clippers -- there's been a lot of talk about how they are a much-despised team around the league and even among fans because they constantly complain about calls, flop, and play a chippy, sometimes dirty game.
Well, that's how the KG-era Celts were. Doc has carried over that wily veteran do-whatever-it-takes mentality to his new team.
Our current Celts team hustles like crazy and has a reputation for being a scrappy team that outperforms its talent level, but I'm sure if they add one or two elite players and become a contender without losing guys like Smart, Crowder, etc, they'll start to be seen as a rowdy, aggressive team of bullies that people don't exactly like.
Nobody in Boston will care if they're winning games and contending for a title. Indeed, that might be the kind of team you need to have a shot against this great Warriors team.
Anyway, I'm not worried about Smart's personality, and I don't see it as a flaw. His flaw is his lack of offensive polish.
