Why I don't like M Smart any more for the foreseeable future.

[Celtics4ever]

If Smart does not get a shot next year, we all ought to have doubts about his NBA future as a starter.   He might be a mini Ron Artest if he improves in this area but even that is doubtful to some degree.  I want him to be good, but so far the improvement in play has been underwhelming.

[Csfan1984]

Rozier is not Smart. Smart is elite at something already and may develop to be more. Rozier is a good prospect but needs a lot of development across the board. Smart is a starter for a team that needs a guard defender. Rozier is an off the bench player right now. Both are almost the same exact age.

Rozier is not Smart. But his offense is already better than Smart's, and he is better in the open court. I think that Bradley, Smart and Rozier are all complementary players.  However, there is a good chance that one of them is dealt in the offseason.  Who would gain more of a return?  I think that Smart or Bradley are part of a package.  Who would you keep?  I think it depends on who you get in return.

I think the offense is debatable based off Smart's two years not just this single one which was harsh. I also see Smart create more as he moves the ball in the open court while Rozier tends to just keep it himself. So they are different but equally affective in open court. I agree that Rozier, AB and Smart are all very similar. AB has been given the time to improve his game and is closer to a finished product but only a SG. Smart seems to have the most upside due to elite defense/instinct and good size. Smart would be better as a PG where his offense would be more about moving the ball and setting plays. Rozier is the guy who plays more of the traditional PG play focusing on ball handling and spotting up. I like all three and have no preference on who should be dealt or kept they each have strengths and flaws. I just don't like to see some people try to focus on a players negatives and dismiss another players negatives simply to play favorites. None are all stars and each are simply role players.

[jambr380]

Bradley and Rozier seem the most similar so I would say that makes Bradley the most expendable in a trade for a 'star' - he probably has the most value due to his recent accolades as a shutdown defender; Rozier may only be worth a late first at this point. The enormous caveat to this is that Rozier continue to improve as a shooter and defender and also become more aggressive. Smart (and Turner) both seem like they can play the 1-3 positions pretty solidly and would make extraordinary long-term back ups. It's just unfortunate that neither is even an average shooter from deep.

[Chris22]

Smart needs to learn to learn poise.

[CFAN38]

Rozier is not Smart. Smart is elite at something already and may develop to be more. Rozier is a good prospect but needs a lot of development across the board. Smart is a starter for a team that needs a guard defender. Rozier is an off the bench player right now. Both are almost the same exact age.

I agree with you on the smart rozier differences. Smart with his offensive issues would be a starter on a few current playoff teams. This is not the case with rozier.  I agree smart needs to grow as a player. Flopping needs to end and he needs to at least get back to the 33% from 3 her shot last season.

[celtics2030]

Ill just say it

HES NOT THAT GOOD

[crimson_stallion]

Rozier is not Smart. Smart is elite at something already and may develop to be more. Rozier is a good prospect but needs a lot of development across the board. Smart is a starter for a team that needs a guard defender. Rozier is an off the bench player right now. Both are almost the same exact age.

Rozier is not Smart. But his offense is already better than Smart's, and he is better in the open court. I think that Bradley, Smart and Rozier are all complementary players.  However, there is a good chance that one of them is dealt in the offseason.  Who would gain more of a return?  I think that Smart or Bradley are part of a package.  Who would you keep?  I think it depends on who you get in return.

I think the offense is debatable based off Smart's two years not just this single one which was harsh. I also see Smart create more as he moves the ball in the open court while Rozier tends to just keep it himself. So they are different but equally affective in open court. I agree that Rozier, AB and Smart are all very similar. AB has been given the time to improve his game and is closer to a finished product but only a SG. Smart seems to have the most upside due to elite defense/instinct and good size. Smart would be better as a PG where his offense would be more about moving the ball and setting plays. Rozier is the guy who plays more of the traditional PG play focusing on ball handling and spotting up. I like all three and have no preference on who should be dealt or kept they each have strengths and flaws. I just don't like to see some people try to focus on a players negatives and dismiss another players negatives simply to play favorites. None are all stars and each are simply role players.

I very strongly disagree about Smart having more upside then Rozier.

Rozier has shown very strong signs of potential as a defensive player, a ball handler, a passer, a shooter, a rebounder and a slasher.  With that 'all round' skill set combined with his elite physical gifts, his potential is very high.  There aren't really any glaring fault in Rozier's game at this point in time, which is very impressive given his lack of experience and playing time.

Smart has shown good signs of potential as a defensive player and a passer, along with decent potential as a ball handler and rebounder.  He's yet to show us any real signs of potential as a shooter or a slasher, despite two years of experience getting regular minutes on a playoff team.  Given his current skill set combined with this physical abilities, I would say Smart has above average potential. 

Rozier's game is refining to the point where he's starting to look just as effective as Smart, and that's extremely impressive given that he has played only 1/10 of the minutes Smart has played. 

Obviously a small sample size, but the kid has some very serious upside - don't be surprised if he is performing at a borderline all-star level by the end of next season.

I also disagree that Smart is a starter on any play-off calibre team.  This Celtics team started the season with Smart as our starter, and for a lot of the way we were really struggling.  The instant we put Thomas into our starting lineup (and moved Smart to the bench) we started playing outstanding basketball. 

Smart is probably going to give more consistent production then Rozier right now based purely on the fact that he has more experience, but it is already pretty clear that Rozier has a far higher ceiling.  He's been an effective contribute in the playoffs despite only playing 300 career minutes which is very impressive.  I doubt there would be many playoff teams who would consider starting Smart unless injuries required it.

For example, if you look at the Sacramento Kings (who missed the playoffs) I don't think they would start Smart over Collison, let alone Rondo.  I don't know if Orlando would start Smart over Payton or Jennings.  I don't know if the Lakers would start Smart over Russell.   I doubt the Jazz would start Smart over Exum or that the Bulls would start him over Rose.

Not saying that Smart isn't as good as some of those guys, just saying that he certainly isn't an obvious starting calibre talent.  He is very much a fringe starter at this point in his career, mostly due to his offensive limitations and occasional attitude concerns.  He's still a nice player though, and I'm sure that he's going to improve offensively to the point where he will have a nice long career as a quality starter. 

I just don't see star potential in Smart - I see it in Rozier.   

[alldaboston]

Rozier is not Smart. Smart is elite at something already and may develop to be more. Rozier is a good prospect but needs a lot of development across the board. Smart is a starter for a team that needs a guard defender. Rozier is an off the bench player right now. Both are almost the same exact age.

Rozier is not Smart. But his offense is already better than Smart's, and he is better in the open court. I think that Bradley, Smart and Rozier are all complementary players.  However, there is a good chance that one of them is dealt in the offseason.  Who would gain more of a return?  I think that Smart or Bradley are part of a package.  Who would you keep?  I think it depends on who you get in return.

I think the offense is debatable based off Smart's two years not just this single one which was harsh. I also see Smart create more as he moves the ball in the open court while Rozier tends to just keep it himself. So they are different but equally affective in open court. I agree that Rozier, AB and Smart are all very similar. AB has been given the time to improve his game and is closer to a finished product but only a SG. Smart seems to have the most upside due to elite defense/instinct and good size. Smart would be better as a PG where his offense would be more about moving the ball and setting plays. Rozier is the guy who plays more of the traditional PG play focusing on ball handling and spotting up. I like all three and have no preference on who should be dealt or kept they each have strengths and flaws. I just don't like to see some people try to focus on a players negatives and dismiss another players negatives simply to play favorites. None are all stars and each are simply role players.

I very strongly disagree about Smart having more upside then Rozier.

Rozier has shown very strong signs of potential as a defensive player, a ball handler, a passer, a shooter, a rebounder and a slasher.  With that 'all round' skill set combined with his elite physical gifts, his potential is very high.  There aren't really any glaring fault in Rozier's game at this point in time, which is very impressive given his lack of experience and playing time.

Smart has shown good signs of potential as a defensive player and a passer, along with decent potential as a ball handler and rebounder.  He's yet to show us any real signs of potential as a shooter or a slasher, despite two years of experience getting regular minutes on a playoff team.  Given his current skill set combined with this physical abilities, I would say Smart has above average potential. 

Rozier's game is refining to the point where he's starting to look just as effective as Smart, and that's extremely impressive given that he has played only 1/10 of the minutes Smart has played. 

Obviously a small sample size, but the kid has some very serious upside - don't be surprised if he is performing at a borderline all-star level by the end of next season.

I also disagree that Smart is a starter on any play-off calibre team.  This Celtics team started the season with Smart as our starter, and for a lot of the way we were really struggling.  The instant we put Thomas into our starting lineup (and moved Smart to the bench) we started playing outstanding basketball. 

Smart is probably going to give more consistent production then Rozier right now based purely on the fact that he has more experience, but it is already pretty clear that Rozier has a far higher ceiling.  He's been an effective contribute in the playoffs despite only playing 300 career minutes which is very impressive.

Whoa. That's quite the prediction. I am really starting to like Rozier, but I'll definitely be surprised.

Good post nonetheless. TP

[Roy H.]

He hasn't been as good as I expected, but I love the defense, fire and confidence. The Tony Allen comparisons really seem apt to me right now. I hope he'll become more, but if he can give a decade of elite defense, it's hard to complain.

[loco_91]

I could not disagree more with OP. You can call it "punk", but physical hard-nosed play is this teams identity, and Smart is a huge part of that.

[Chief]

He hasn't been as good as I expected, but I love the defense, fire and confidence. The Tony Allen comparisons really seem apt to me right now. I hope he'll become more, but if he can give a decade of elite defense, it's hard to complain.

Tony Allen's shooting form was never going to allow him to be a good shooter. I honestly don't think Smart's looks that bad. Hopefully,  he can make a slight adjustment and those shots will go in more often. That would easily put him at all-star level.

[Roy H.]

He hasn't been as good as I expected, but I love the defense, fire and confidence. The Tony Allen comparisons really seem apt to me right now. I hope he'll become more, but if he can give a decade of elite defense, it's hard to complain.

Tony Allen's shooting form was never going to allow him to be a good shooter. I honestly don't think Smart's looks that bad. Hopefully,  he can make a slight adjustment and those shots will go in more often. That would easily put him at all-star level.

Well, let's hope so.  Form is one thing, but results matter, too.  To date, he's been historically bad.  He's got a long way to go before he's even "below average", let alone competent.

[guava_wrench]

I'm not impressed by Rozier/Smart comparisons. Smart has an elite skill. Rozier is a dime a dozen player at this moment. He might improve greatly, but he is pretty generic right now. Smart gets more minutes because the coach thinks he will have a bigger impact on the game than Rozier. The players are the exact same age, 22 and born in March 1994, which makes it a little simpler when forecasting the future.

I'm not sure why people are bringing the term 'all-star' into discussions about Rozier. I suppose every single young player in the NBA could one day be an all star. But he is so far from differentiating himself. I feel like he will be a rotation guy by next season, but that is a very low bar.

[Eja117]

I could not disagree more with OP. You can call it "punk", but physical hard-nosed play is this teams identity, and Smart is a huge part of that.

There was nothing physical or hard nosed about his flop the other night, or some of his other shenanigans, and while I'd like to say those things are unusual for him, sadly it has become the norm.

Avery, Jae, and Rozier play physical hard nosed defense. Smart just hits you and then flops and acts like you fouled him. There's nothing physical or hard nosed about that. It's just punk bad boys Pistons bs.

He was an embarrassment to himself the other night.

[Evantime34]

Smart's shooting has been truly awful this year. On the bright side, he has really made strides running the pick and roll. I think he will eventually find a way to finish in the paint and that will help his field goal percentage.

In college he got most of his offense off finishing in the paint and getting to the free throw line. My hope is that he can do that offensively as he develops. If he can learn to finish in the paint he won't take as many 3's and he'll end up a better player for it.