New Marcus Smart comparison?

[celticsclay]

When I initially said Metta World Peace I thought it may not be PC to refer to him as Ron Artest.  I think Smart is mostly similar to Artest in how he impacts the game.  He just has that similar swagger that Artest had in his day and players hate competing against him.  The man hurts people.  Why John Wall retaliated against last week when he knocked him on his butt and got ejected.

Is that not PC?  As far as I know, he didn't change his name for religious reasons or anything.  He said it would be good "marketing"... He wanted to sell more jerseys like Chad Ochocinco.  The name choices were to make a statement, I guess.  It was ironic that the guy who started a brawl would change his name to "World Peace".   Last I heard, he had changed his name to "The Panda's Friend", because he was playing in China and wanted to sell his own licensed "Panda's Friend" clothing. 

I got the impression Ron Artest would change his name to Starbucks McDonalds if they paid him enough.

Speaking of which, if Marcus Smart continues the trajectory of being slightly better than poor man's Ron Artest, maybe we'll see him change his name to something fun like Starbucks McDonalds.  He's already got the french fry hair.

i love that you returned with nonsense. As proven previously in Smart's just completed second season he was better than Artest's second season. At this point his trajectory is equal to or above Artest's. You will get called out on this every time you send out this false information. Stop misleading people. You can revisit this if you want after we have a new data point. Until then, it is inaccurate.

smart isn't as good as artest was. Your own stats prove this if you understand how to read them.  But also, artest was already more offensively efficient with a far worse supporting cast.  We saw his efficiency rise when playing with better players.  Stick smart on a team with a poor supporting cast and he'd probably be worse than the historically bad shooting he already displayed.

I agree artest is a bad comp though.  Kirk hinrich with garbage offense is more appropriate.

Again. I ran your favorite analysis. Per 36. Artest versus smart in their second season. That is the most recent complete data we have for smart. Smart was a better rebounder, passers and had less turnovers. Artest had 1.8 more points and marginally better shooting. Again I apologize the numbers didn't  come out the way you wanted. But you were wrong. At the same point in their careers right now smart was a better player. I'm sorry for calling you out but I have to.

[LarBrd33]

When I initially said Metta World Peace I thought it may not be PC to refer to him as Ron Artest.  I think Smart is mostly similar to Artest in how he impacts the game.  He just has that similar swagger that Artest had in his day and players hate competing against him.  The man hurts people.  Why John Wall retaliated against last week when he knocked him on his butt and got ejected.

Is that not PC?  As far as I know, he didn't change his name for religious reasons or anything.  He said it would be good "marketing"... He wanted to sell more jerseys like Chad Ochocinco.  The name choices were to make a statement, I guess.  It was ironic that the guy who started a brawl would change his name to "World Peace".   Last I heard, he had changed his name to "The Panda's Friend", because he was playing in China and wanted to sell his own licensed "Panda's Friend" clothing. 

I got the impression Ron Artest would change his name to Starbucks McDonalds if they paid him enough.

Speaking of which, if Marcus Smart continues the trajectory of being slightly better than poor man's Ron Artest, maybe we'll see him change his name to something fun like Starbucks McDonalds.  He's already got the french fry hair.

i love that you returned with nonsense. As proven previously in Smart's just completed second season he was better than Artest's second season. At this point his trajectory is equal to or above Artest's. You will get called out on this every time you send out this false information. Stop misleading people. You can revisit this if you want after we have a new data point. Until then, it is inaccurate.

smart isn't as good as artest was. Your own stats prove this if you understand how to read them.  But also, artest was already more offensively efficient with a far worse supporting cast.  We saw his efficiency rise when playing with better players.  Stick smart on a team with a poor supporting cast and he'd probably be worse than the historically bad shooting he already displayed.

I agree artest is a bad comp though.  Kirk hinrich with garbage offense is more appropriate.

Again. I ran your favorite analysis. Per 36. Artest versus smart in their second season. That is the most recent complete dat we have for smart. Smart was a better rebounder, passers and had less turnovers. Artest had 1.8 more points and marginally better shooting. Again I apologize the numbers didn't  come out the way you wanted. But you were wrong. At the same point in their careers right now smart was a better player. I'm sorry for calling you out but I have to.

Well Clay for both our sakes I hope you end up right and Smart develops into a player of Panda Friend's caliber.  But frankly, I don't really want to write about this anymore.  Seeing Smart struggle like this breaks my heart.  I haven't given up on him.  I'm still allowing myself to believe he's going to make a leap.

[Spicoli]

Why can't Marcus be considered a "super role player" along the lines of Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, or even current Tristan Thompson. These super role players can swing series and win you championships. Marcus may never be a superstar or even an all star, but he's certainly not your typical role player either. Last year against the Hawks he was fantastic. I'm happy with Marcus being a super role player for us even though he was drafted at 6.

[wayupnorth]

Smart is an excellent player. Stats are for losers.

He isn't even 23 yet and already a leader of this team, one of the biggest defensive impact players in the league, plays the game with 100% effort 100% of the time, and his only huge weakness is shooting, which he is clearly improving.

But yet Nik Stauskas is doing well.....some people need to lay off the NBA 2K.

[CFAN38]

Marcus is nearly impossible to comp to another player. The best I have ever heard is to compare him to the Guard version of Draymond Green. Both are undersized for their base positions Smart (SG) Green (PF) but are skilled enough to play down a position Smart (PG) Green (SF) and have the strength/length to play up a position Smart (SF) Green (C). They both also possess the edge and the "it" factor that helps teams win games. Outside of the high end super stars there are no two players I would want on the court in crunch time.

[IDreamCeltics]

The Artest comps are wrong, totally different players.

22 year old Marcus Smart is about as good as 22 year old Chauncey Billups was.

And by the way, at 22 Chauncey was playing 2 guard for Denver... Out of position... just like Marcus Smart.

[Ed Hollison]

The impossible trinity of Marcus Smart:

1) Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the league.
2) Marcus Smart is a disappointment.
3) Brad Stevens plays Marcus Smart 32 minutes per game on a team expected to win ~50 games.

Help me understand.

[LarBrd33]

The impossible trinity of Marcus Smart:

1) Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the league.
2) Marcus Smart is a disappointment.
3) Brad Stevens plays Marcus Smart 32 minutes per game on a team expected to win ~50 games.

Help me understand.

Showcase mandate for potential trades.

[Spicoli]

Marcus is nearly impossible to comp to another player. The best I have ever heard is to compare him to the Guard version of Draymond Green. Both are undersized for their base positions Smart (SG) Green (PF) but are skilled enough to play down a position Smart (PG) Green (SF) and have the strength/length to play up a position Smart (SF) Green (C). They both also possess the edge and the "it" factor that helps teams win games. Outside of the high end super stars there are no two players I would want on the court in crunch time.

That edge and IT factor is enough for me to justify his draft slot even if his shooting never comes around. The guys' intangibles are off the charts. He's my favorite Celtic by far.

And on the topic of his shooting, as far as i can tell his shot mechanics look fine. His shot is not broken, and he's typically a good free throw shooter. These are all indicators of eventual success shooting the ball. Anyhow, his percentage would probably increase if he didn't hoist so many desperation threes to beat the shot clock. He has as least two of those per game.

[wayupnorth]

The impossible trinity of Marcus Smart:

1) Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the league.
2) Marcus Smart is a disappointment.
3) Brad Stevens plays Marcus Smart 32 minutes per game on a team expected to win ~50 games.

Help me understand.

Showcase mandate for potential trades.

What a joke.

[GratefulCs]

The impossible trinity of Marcus Smart:

1) Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the league.
2) Marcus Smart is a disappointment.
3) Brad Stevens plays Marcus Smart 32 minutes per game on a team expected to win ~50 games.

Help me understand.

Showcase mandate for potential trades.

What a joke.

take that back!

No one respects marcus smart more than andy kaufman

[lefty12]

The impossible trinity of Marcus Smart:

1) Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the league.
2) Marcus Smart is a disappointment.
3) Brad Stevens plays Marcus Smart 32 minutes per game on a team expected to win ~50 games.

Help me understand.

easy - smart is one of the best 6 players on the team
stevens trying to win games
injuries have forced smart to play 30+ mpg (up from 27mpg his first 2 seasons)

all this means is coach has flawed roster and is using his best players to win

if celts had a better option - smart would play less

amir Johnson playing 20mpg - and he sucks.

what does that prove?

[Chris22]

Marcus Smart comparison?
Dennis Johnson.
Tough, physical, whatever it takes to win.

[jbp126]

The Artest comps are wrong, totally different players.

22 year old Marcus Smart is about as good as 22 year old Chauncey Billups was.

And by the way, at 22 Chauncey was playing 2 guard for Denver... Out of position... just like Marcus Smart.

I hope he progresses into a player like Chauncey.  Smart is already starting to emerge as a emotional/energetic leader for this squad.

[SHAQATTACK]

Early Kidd , before he could shoot .  He made all the right plays and hustle