Celtics (8-6) at Nets (4-9) Game #15 11/23/16

[trickybilly]

It is funny how a certain poster is able to take the quality of the board down a few notches by himself, and is proud of it

Been posting on this blog since 06, and have never seen a poster be as intentionally irritating

Calm down. He makes a perfectly reasonable argument, basically, that Marcus was really good when he entered the league, and he is still really good, but there hasn't been a massive improvement, like many guys after year 2. He's probably just irked by all the green goggle fanboys thinking that just because his playmaking seems to have improved a little this year (which is in part due to a higher usage rate, and more time at the 1) we can start comparing him to Oscar Robertson.

I for one like reading his trollish philly/okafor/stauskas musings. You got to take it for what it's worth.

[LarBrd33]

It is funny how a certain poster is able to take the quality of the board down a few notches by himself, and is proud of it

Been posting on this blog since 06, and have never seen a poster be as intentionally irritating

Calm down. He makes a perfectly reasonable argument, basically, that Marcus was really good when he entered the league, and he is still really good, but there hasn't been a massive improvement, like many guys after year 2. He's probably just irked by all the green goggle fanboys thinking that just because his playmaking seems to have improved a little this year (which is in part due to a higher usage rate, and more time at the 1) we can start comparing him to Oscar Robertson.

TP Billy, you get it.  In the world of hyperbole you can't criticize a player without someone labeling you a hater.  Marcus is a fine role player.  If he was an undrafted player who made a name for himself in D-League, earned himself an NBA contract and was now producing like this, I'd be beyond thrilled.   Smart does a lot of positive things.  Nobody is disputing this.

My points...
 
#1 - Marcus has ALWAYS done positive things.  This isn't new.   Even this talk of his distributing being vastly improved is completely overblown.  During his rookie season he had a 4 game stretch in which he got big minutes and had 9 assist, 3 assists, 8 assists, and 8 assists.  We won 3 of those games.   Role plays a huge part in this.  Evan Turner is gone now... we always knew that Smart would get more ball handling duties without Turner (one of our primary distributors last year).   From a skill standpoint, this isn't some revelation.  He's always been a fairly competent distributor.  He showed these skills as a rookie.

#2 - He's still a garbage shooter.  2 for 10 tonight.  0-4 from three.  His shooting regressed from season 1 to season 2 and so far we aren't seeing any tangible improvement.  That's discouraging.   

Despite this, I genuinely have not given up on Smart.  I still have dreams of him someday becoming an all-star.  My expectations for him, being a #6 pick, are far greater than they would be had he been an undrafted d-leager who found himself on the Celtics with a min level contract.  It's not like I'm saying Smart's a bust.  He is going to have a long career.  We just needed to hit a home run with that pick and there are several players in the 2014 draft class that are showing real signs of improvement this year so far.     

It's only been 2 seasons and both of those were limited, because he's injury prone.  He deserves more time before anyone flips the panic switch.  Also, Kemba Walker's recent burst in shooting efficiency makes me somewhat optimistic that Smart might do the same and that it might be too early to just write Smart off as another Rondo/Rubio who never gains mediocre shooting ability.

[Celtics4ever]

Smart is a poor shooter but he is still impactful with all the intangibles he brings and his hard play.  He finds other ways to contribute.  I hope he improves in shooting because he could be a real gem if did.

It's only been 2 seasons and both of those were limited, because he's injury prone.

I think this is clearly a result of his style of play, he throws his body around.

[Redz]

I know he's doing it for a garbage team and probably best suited not playing big minutes, but Trevor Booker looked like a poor man's James Harden last night.  I really liked his aggressive on all parts off the floor. 

[GreenFaith1819]

Celtics must be butter, because they're on a roll.

[moiso]

It is funny how a certain poster is able to take the quality of the board down a few notches by himself, and is proud of it

Been posting on this blog since 06, and have never seen a poster be as intentionally irritating

Calm down. He makes a perfectly reasonable argument, basically, that Marcus was really good when he entered the league, and he is still really good, but there hasn't been a massive improvement, like many guys after year 2. He's probably just irked by all the green goggle fanboys thinking that just because his playmaking seems to have improved a little this year (which is in part due to a higher usage rate, and more time at the 1) we can start comparing him to Oscar Robertson.

I for one like reading his trollish philly/okafor/stauskas musings. You got to take it for what it's worth.

This reasonable argument required a one time post.  Not daily updates with new "per 36 minutes" stats.  Same thing every day, multiple times per day.  Boring.  "He sucks, I hope he makes the leap."

[moiso]

It is funny how a certain poster is able to take the quality of the board down a few notches by himself, and is proud of it

Been posting on this blog since 06, and have never seen a poster be as intentionally irritating

TP, brother.

You get one too, as usual.

[GratefulCs]

It is funny how a certain poster is able to take the quality of the board down a few notches by himself, and is proud of it

Been posting on this blog since 06, and have never seen a poster be as intentionally irritating

Calm down. He makes a perfectly reasonable argument, basically, that Marcus was really good when he entered the league, and he is still really good, but there hasn't been a massive improvement, like many guys after year 2. He's probably just irked by all the green goggle fanboys thinking that just because his playmaking seems to have improved a little this year (which is in part due to a higher usage rate, and more time at the 1) we can start comparing him to Oscar Robertson.

I for one like reading his trollish philly/okafor/stauskas musings. You got to take it for what it's worth.

This reasonable argument required a one time post.  Not daily updates with new "per 36 minutes" stats.  Same thing every day, multiple times per day.  Boring.  "He sucks, I hope he makes the leap."

that's the thing. It just gets old. Someone new takes the bait every now and then, but it's just puking out the same bot response


Also, i'm really hoping the "nobody has more respect for marcus smart" comment is a reference to trump's "nobody respects women more than me" comment

[tankcity!]

Jaylen's minutes have been in sharp decline.  What do you make of it?

You don't blame Stevens for this partially? I mean how is he supposed to prove himself in 4 minutes? Stevens has really hurt the development of all our young players. Mickey, Young, Hunter, go down the list. Players only improve playing against NBA competition. Takes time to get used to the speed. Look at D Russel last year. Took him some time to improve over the course of the year. Just sucks as a Celtics fan because we need a backup SF. There really is no reason he shouldn't be thrown out there and receive consistent minutes.

[tankcity!]

I guess marcus doesnt care about his shooting percentage lol

Haha for real. Between stuff like that and shooting at the end of the shotclock all of the time, he unnecessarily kills his shooting percentages.

His shooting is as bad as it was last season.  His minutes are a little up this year.  Actually, if you look at his Per-36 numbers over the past 3 years it shows basically no improvement.  Maybe he'll make a leap though.  Still waiting.

Also Koz already posted great stats where he actually statistically rarley shoots at the end of the shot clock. I guess you missed that. It's in 82 games. I advise you to check it out Potter.

[Redz]

Has anyone ever seen more steals off of passes in a game than last night?  Celts had to have had a dozen "interceptions" many leading directly to breaks and layups.

[tankcity!]

Omg this is insane to me. First people here were complaining about Crowder?!?!? The dude shot 6-11 and was plus 13 for the game. It's funny how Bradley was plus 20, and Smart was plus 13, but yeah Smart is amazing and the energy right!!! I mean first, we played against a freaking scrub team. This is like a college basketball game for these players. Second, the Lbrrd bashing is uncalled for. Everything he is saying is pretty much true. I think it is pretty clear there is a lot of bias talk going around here.

The funniest thing was the end of shot clock talk for Smart. I mean KOZ HAS ALREADY POSTED STATS TO DISAPPROVE THIS MYTH.

I mean some people here just come up with stuff out of their butt. If you really want me to prove this, I can look for Koz's post.

My god, people now want Smart to start over Bradley. It's like I'm living in bizarro world. Smart has 8 assists tonight, and only tonight. It's not like he is averaging it. Also, he handles the ball a lot this year, and is averaging 33 minutes a game. So there isn't an excuse for him not to average it, but no. Let's bench Bradley for Smart?

Like what is going on? My head is about to explode because I really can't figure this out rationally. This is like Rajon Rondo all over again, except Rondo was a better player haha. 

[MBunge]

It's clearly time for a reality check.

LarBrd is one of the guys who decided several years ago that the rebuild was going to take a long time and were caught off guard when Ainge turned it around so quickly.  They were expecting this team to suck for a long while and set themselves up as the "smart" fans who were going to rain on the parade of "dumb" fans who got too excited over players who really weren't any good.  It took them a while to realize they were wrong and throw their wet blankets in the dryer and, even now, some of them still reflexively find fault to soothe their wounded egos.

LarBrd, however, set himself apart by combining pessimism about the Cs with irrational optimism about his man-crush Hinkie and the Sixers.  So he spent the last few years badmouthing the Cs at every opportunity while simultaneously slobbering over one of the worst teams in league history.  That paradox led him straight into troll territory and I'm not sure he's ever going to get out.

Mike

[tankcity!]

It's clearly time for a reality check.

LarBrd is one of the guys who decided several years ago that the rebuild was going to take a long time and were caught off guard when Ainge turned it around so quickly.  They were expecting this team to suck for a long while and set themselves up as the "smart" fans who were going to rain on the parade of "dumb" fans who got too excited over players who really weren't any good.  It took them a while to realize they were wrong and throw their wet blankets in the dryer and, even now, some of them still reflexively find fault to soothe their wounded egos.

LarBrd, however, set himself apart by combining pessimism about the Cs with irrational optimism about his man-crush Hinkie and the Sixers.  So he spent the last few years badmouthing the Cs at every opportunity while simultaneously slobbering over one of the worst teams in league history.  That paradox led him straight into troll territory and I'm not sure he's ever going to get out.

Mike

What does that have to do with his points about Smart? He has actually been positive this year. You clearly have an axe to grind because you haven't been paying attention to anything he writes. He said we're a 55 win team this year....Also he said we're right there with Philly in terms of our future prospects...

Making a post like this is nonsensical and you clearly are getting emotional.

[Vermont Green]

This is like Rajon Rondo all over again, except Rondo was a better player haha.

Hmmm, I am not so sure about that.  Rondo got to play on much better teams but I think both are very good players and both have glaring flaws.  I do think that Smart has a better chance of developing a consistent shot than Rondo ever did.

He can impact the game even without taking (or making) a shot but his shooting is a weakness.  Teams don't sag off him like they did Rondo because he is more of a threat as a shooter than Rondo ever was.  Rondo was more of the true PG but Smart is much more versatile.  Last night he impacted the game playing SF in the first half when Crowder was struggling.

My biggest concern with Smart is durability.  I think if Smart can stay healthy (a big if) he will develop enough of a shot to be better than say IT or Rondo (fringe all stars) in say 2-3 years.  He will always be the type of player that you need to look beyond the box score which means there will always be differences in opinion on his impact.

And if durability is ultimately his downfall does that mean he was a bad pick?  Was Oden a bad pick?  I am sure the debate will continue.