off season-marcus in perfect place

[rollie mass]

marcus is in the perfect spot with the best of his peers and  the big boy stars
hopefully this is the year marcus takes the next step and puts it together with some consistency on offence and we get help in the paint -the perimeter guys are putting in hard mileage

[trickybilly]

so rollie, how much higher do you think Smart's ceiling is? How much better than Tony Allen?

[rollie mass]

don't know but i know he suffered three serious injuries that effected his growth,ability to get into paint and his shot-so his stats to me are meaningless with the amount of comeback time
 areas to work on flopping ,shot selection and consistency , finishing and getting to foul line
like to see him play more often like in OKC

[playdream]

so rollie, how much higher do you think Smart's ceiling is? How much better than Tony Allen?

Westbrook with elite defense

[Boris Badenov]

We should be hearing that he's taking 500 3s a day from his 2-3 favorite spots.

There are other areas that could use work but that is #1 by so far that he really shouldn't be doing much else other than keep in shape for training camp.

[Dedalus]

His finger looked so nasty when it broke in Summer League (which he'd been dominating). Maybe planter fasciitis or whatever leg/foot injuries he has, paired with the US Select team, he'll return as a faster player physically & mentally. Did Tony Allen or AB play on the Select squads when they were younger?

[PAOBoston]

so rollie, how much higher do you think Smart's ceiling is? How much better than Tony Allen?

Westbrook with elite defense

I think that is slightly unrealistic. Westbrook is a freak athletically. Smart doesn't haver that kind of athleticism. They are two very different players in my book.

This upcoming season is a very big one for Smart. He needs to show that he can improve his shot. He may never be an elite scorer but he doesn't really have to be one. He just has to be an average/above average shooter. He's already a very good defensive player and brings a lot of grit n' balls types intangibles.

[Celtics4ever]

His lack of shooting improvement concerns me, if he could do that, all his other warts would not look so bad.

[dreamgreen]

so rollie, how much higher do you think Smart's ceiling is? How much better than Tony Allen?

Westbrook with elite defense

I think that is slightly unrealistic. Westbrook is a freak athletically. Smart doesn't haver that kind of athleticism. They are two very different players in my book.

This upcoming season is a very big one for Smart. He needs to show that he can improve his shot. He may never be an elite scorer but he doesn't really have to be one. He just has to be an average/above average shooter. He's already a very good defensive player and brings a lot of grit n' balls types intangibles.

Slightly? Completely!! Westbrook is an MVP candidate and Smart hopes to be an NBA starter. Westbrook is probably the most explosive player in the league right now, Smart hasn't proved he can take it to the basket at anytime. People on here need to be realistic about Smart. He's still young with plenty of time to get better but right now he is an injury prone kid that can't shoot or take it to the hoop.

[__ramonezy__]

so rollie, how much higher do you think Smart's ceiling is? How much better than Tony Allen?

Honestly, I think his ceiling is a Butler or Kawhi Leonard type... they develop defensively first and then figure out how to score after 3-4yrs in the league

[kozlodoev]

The proof is in the pudding. Everything else is hogwash.

[timpiker]

I like Smart a lot and hope he stays....  big upside IF he works his ass off

[DefenseWinsChamps]

so rollie, how much higher do you think Smart's ceiling is? How much better than Tony Allen?

How about Tyreke Evans with intangibles and elite defense?

[chiken Green]

Chauncey Billups with Elite D.

[alldaboston]

so rollie, how much higher do you think Smart's ceiling is? How much better than Tony Allen?

Honestly, I think his ceiling is a Butler or Kawhi Leonard type... they develop defensively first and then figure out how to score after 3-4yrs in the league

I'm hoping for that too. Hopefully the scoring comes soon enough.