guess smart shut some posters up

[IDreamCeltics]

The always provocative Marcus Smart argument seems to break seems to consistently break down into two camps.

Camp 1: People who admit Smart plays great defense, but feel his impulsive shot-selection and tendency to lose focus and commit bad fouls or turnovers will make him a career bench/role-player.

Camp 2:  People who believe his offensive game is developing and that his defense and all around hustle impact the game more than his youthful mistakes.

I do think his all-out style leads to more injuries, which leads to more time rehabbing, which in turn means less time developing his skill-set, but having an elite NBA defender and hustler is just as valuable as having an elite scorer.  Especially on this team where IT is going to give you 20+ points consistently.

I don't love the kid's decision making, but you're not going to get A+ decision making from a young player who works as hard as Smart does - it might take years for that to come.  Tony Allen 2.0 though? Smart's already shown better ball handling and passing ability than Allen ever did.  While those skills are still not ready for prime-time, people who remember Allen even at his pre-knee injury scoring apecs will recall he'd either drive to the hole to throw down a vicious dunk or dribble the ball off his foot trying.             

Most importantly, everyone should step back and ask themselves how many other 22 year-old players are there playing 40 minutes and having impact playoff games right now?

 

[CoachBo]

I have to say that relatively brief snippet of clock time was a look into what Smart can be - if he decides to apply himself to the weaknesses in his game: Maturity, every single facet of his offensive game, including shooting, judgment with the basketball, the idiotic flopping, et al.

Perhaps he will, unlike the last Celtics guard this blog was bent on anointing for occasional excellence, who actually was a legend only in his own mind.

And BBall Tim's.

Unfortunately for the fans who obsess over individual players rather than teams, their beloved have to do it most of the time, not once in a while, to be great.

I get the impression that Smart isn't a self-indulgent egomaniac, so I am cautiously optimistic he will work to fill in the holes in his game.

[Vermont Green]

It's much easier to make a decent defender out of a bad one (Ray Allen for example) than it is to make a good offensive player out of a bad one.  Guys like rondo and Rubio were always just a consistent shot away from being superstars. It usually doesn't happen. Hopefully Marcus is breaking out, though.  He didn't improve in year 2, but maybe it's finally happening in the playoffs.

I am not sure how true this is, there probably have been more good offensive players that didn't/couldn't defend over the year than the other way around.  Smart is 22, he still has time to figure it out.  Plus I think that Smart is more than just a good defender.  If that was all he could do/has done, it would be different.  He lacks touch so far for sure but I think he has improved this season.  Not at the same rate as earlier but I doubt he has topped out or even close.

[lefty12]

so when do we start judging smart on his career body of work?

you know - per / shooting pct / + -  and all the other analytics some here rely on to form their opinions?

defensive/energy combo guard is the label smart has earned based on his performance in 2 seasons

anything beyond that is a projection of hope - or wishful thinking

UNTIL he establishes himself with CONSISTENCY

that's not HATE - that's reality

[Ilikesports17]

so when do we start judging smart on his career body of work?

you know - per / shooting pct / + -  and all the other analytics some here rely on to form their opinions?

defensive/energy combo guard is the label smart has earned based on his performance in 2 seasons

anything beyond that is a projection of hope - or wishful thinking

UNTIL he establishes himself with CONSISTENCY

that's not HATE - that's reality

Hes a 22 year old second year player who has battled injury throughout his career. You have to project something and 538 projects him to be [dang] good using those analytics.

[kraidstar]

smart is more than just a "good" defender, as some suggest. he is amazing.

i watch a lot of ball. you can tell on some plays that a defender has a chance to make a play. maybe the ball handler is a little loose with the dribble, maybe he has poor angles to pass.

sometimes you can sense there's at least a possibility for a turnover.

but smart makes a lot of plays completely out of the blue - i don't see them coming, and neither does the ball handler. he instills fear and uncertainty into the opponent. i remember in the game at houston harden wanted no part of him, harden looked visibly intimidated. IMO that is special. with a little maturity he should be even better.

[kraidstar]

jimmy butler struggled his first few years offensively. he turned out pretty well. IMO they are similar players, athletic, intelligent, and driven.

doesn't mean smart will drastically improve. just means he has a decent shot to do so , which would be awesome.

[GreenFaith1819]

No.

They are lurking in the shadows - waiting to strike....waiting for the next errant pass....the next  flop....the next missed jumper.....

They are circling overhead, like vultures for the kill.

Besides, we inexplicably have an "IT - Rondo" thread that popped up all of a sudden out of Area 51. "This" phenomenon has scientists and experts stumped - in that the LAST sighting of the Rondo creature was ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO.

Experts also believe that this thread is some sort of Cosmic reaction to an INCREDIBLE and TIMELY game from Marcus, and that a Black hole has now appeared over CelticsBlog called -

"Is IT better than prime Rondo?"

The Blog is imploding upon itself because of Marcus' game last night.

We're gonners if Marcus can pull this off again. I'm saying my goodbyes here shortly and I'd suggest you all do the same because Marcus is the Real Deal.

[inverselock]

Did some good things and some bad.   Let's not get carried away here.    Marcus the stunt man is still a wild beast.   

His Hero/Zero game is damm entertaining.      Nooooooooooooooo,  yeeees.  Its like a box of chocolates.

[Dino Pitino]

Last time people overreacted to a Marcus smart game was when he had his big night against Westbrook and followed it up with like two straight months of below 40% shooting.

He's shooting 38% for the series.  Until he does this consistently the completed warranted criticism will remain.  He was 1-11 in game 2.   I said it in the two other threads about him - it was a huge performance. He is still an awful shooter, but he seems to make up for it with the clutch gene.

If we combine these four playoff games with the end of the regular season, he's shot 35.5% from three for the month of April, the last 11 games. His 3pt% the 18 games prior to that was godawful. But then the 13 games prior to that was that excellent stretch of 3pt shooting. He was a 35-39 percent three point shooter in 24 of his last 42 games, sandwiched around an atrocious funk.

[walker834]

I think Marcus is talented.  He is being called on to step up and is. Put him on any other team where he is the man and watch him become an allstar player.  The issue is we have Isaiah and Avery who have been our two main scoring guards this year.   It's not that easy for some players to get in a rhythm coming off the bench.  Some players thrive at it.  Marcus contributes in other ways. Offense isnt his strong suit that way. He's perfectly capable of scoring imo if he is allowed the opportunity.  He was a volume scorer in college and put up offensive stats because he was the guy.

I think it's good for him to be developing the way he is.   He will become more efficient. He's a perfectly capable scorer. Just look at guys like Kawii Leonard or Jimmy Butler.  Marcus will be that in time.

I don't think it's a matter of if with him as so much as when.  He's talented.  It's apparent every time he steps on the court.

[droopdog7]

Last time people overreacted to a Marcus smart game was when he had his big night against Westbrook and followed it up with like two straight months of below 40% shooting.

He's shooting 38% for the series.  Until he does this consistently the completed warranted criticism will remain.  He was 1-11 in game 2.   I said it in the two other threads about him - it was a huge performance. He is still an awful shooter, but he seems to make up for it with the clutch gene.

If we combine these four playoff games with the end of the regular season, he's shot 35.5% from three for the month of April, the last 11 games. His 3pt% the 18 games prior to that was godawful. But then the 13 games prior to that was that excellent stretch of 3pt shooting. He was a 35-39 percent three point shooter in 24 of his last 42 games, sandwiched around an atrocious funk.

He shot 25% for the year.  Why are we ignoring anything?

[Eja117]

I don't  think he shut up anybody. Instead people are opening their mouths to proclaim the one whole incredibly good game he had like it's some sort of national holiday. "Ooh! Look! Look! Lookie! Smart had a great game! Smart had a great game!" 

Folks.  He was the 6th pick in the draft. He is supooooooossssssed to have good games! Let's see him have like 8 in a row. Then we can talk.

[LarBrd33]

I don't  think he shut up anybody. Instead people are opening their mouths to proclaim the one whole incredibly good game he had like it's some sort of national holiday. "Ooh! Look! Look! Lookie! Smart had a great game! Smart had a great game!" 

Folks.  He was the 6th pick in the draft. He is supooooooossssssed to have good games! Let's see him have like 8 in a row. Then we can talk.

12.  He has to have 12 good games in a row.   We've been burned too many times by the DaJuan Wagners, Jeremy Lins and Flip Murray's of the world who were able to string together 11 exceptional games.   

lol.  Smart has potential.  He's still a shakey shooter at best, but he definitely got hot at the right time last night.  It was huge.    This thread was doomed right from the title.  Don't dare critics to criticize. 

[walker834]

The difference between Marcus and guys like Wagner and Lin is Marcus actually has an nba body and is a defensive player first and foremost. Wagner and Lin are offensive players who get hot sometimes. Neither of those guys has Marcus's overall talent.

Marcus is an elite athlete.  He might not be a prototypical one in some peoples minds but the  guy is built like jim brown.  You dont have that kind of physical talent and a defensive mindset and not end up good. Yeah Marcus has some shooting woes but he can score. Over time he is going to become more consistant just because of playing the game and his physical tools. Plus he has a mindset for the game.

He isnt even Tony Allen.  Tony allen is probably the 2nd or 3rd best Oklahoma St guard but Marcus is the best one they ever had.

he might struggle at times due to role and what not but he's going to be good.  He already is good. We are a good team and Marcus has something to do with that.

He shot like garbage during the regular season and still managed to be a top 100 player in the nba just because of other stuff he does coming offf the bench as well. His percentages and scoring and role increase he is a top 30 player easy.