Start Smart

[straightouttabahstun]

He is making the right plays and facilitating in addition to setting the tone with some mean, mean defense. If we ran more plays for him, he could easily average 14-16 ppg as well. IT looks for his shot too much. I think he's awesome and a very important part of the team, but he should be the microwave scorer. He's a hell of a sixth man and there is no shame in that. I feel with Smart's play as of late, the offense is flowing better when both him and Horford are on the floor.

[GratefulCs]

I'm just gonna say this...


And we'll probably get blasted for this


..

But i think he should start too


IT is an amazing offensive player. And personally i feel we could potentially sell high on him


I kept thinking tonight about how IT tried too hard to score on his own


I feel more comfortable with the whole TEAM when smart runs the offense

[green_bballers13]

I agree. He is def forcing his shot, but I'm fine with it as I think he needs the practice. I know a lot of people live and die by every game, so they hate all of the misses. I don't love the misses, but I know its going to take in-game shots and practice to improve. He can get his shot off and the form is ok. He can get to the rim.

Smart's defense is very good. He pairs well with IT for this reason. I think Bradley has the slight edge right now, only because he's a better shooter.

[trickybilly]

If only Smart was 2 inches taller, Crowder would be great off the bench..

[green_bballers13]

If only Smart was 2 inches taller, Crowder would be great off the bench..

Stevens has position versatility with Smart, Crowder, and Brown. I look forward to watching the switch offs, esp when Smart covers a big. Entertaining and somewhat effective in short spurts (ie Paul Milsap).

[alldaboston]

I want Smart to do well, and starting him and giving him lots of time with Horford would certainly help him.

But, while Marcus improves the defense and plays really hard and all that stuff, when he's sucking on offense, he really SUCKS. i hate seeing us get off to slow starts every game, and then force our way back to tie things up, but then run out of energy and lose. that's why i like Isaiah still starting: he's a calming force for our offense. the same cannot AT ALL be said about Smart.

[feckless]

You do know that Marcus played significant minutes tonight and took some of the stupidest shots of the evening.  Do people really not mind when he forces his shots because he needs to practice bad shots, seriously?  And just what is he facilitating when he takes forced shot after forced shot?

Please play Marcus based on the minutes he earns by playing "smart".

[alewilliam789]

I'm just gonna say this...


And we'll probably get blasted for this


..

But i think he should start too


IT is an amazing offensive player. And personally i feel we could potentially sell high on him


I kept thinking tonight about how IT tried too hard to score on his own


I feel more comfortable with the whole TEAM when smart runs the offense

Not necessarily opposed to selling high on IT for the right price, but this team isn't composed to blow up anytime soon.

Smart starting? Absolutely not. Smart has improved as a facilitator, but what about his game today showed that he can be the starting point guard for this team? You say IT looks for his shot yet Smart only took 6 less shots than him and Smart's usage rate wasn't even close to IT's.

If anything we should "sell high" on Smart before teams realize that he isn't anything more than a 6th man at best.

A good comparison for Smart is Delladova, but Delly can actually shoot.

[Celtics4ever]

The guy plays hard and has a nice basketball IQ and nose for the ball.   But here is the reality check, he shot 4-14 last night.  He was 28% from the field.   He always finds a way to make impactful plays but he still needs a ton of work on his shot.

.35% FG is too low
.30% 3p goal is too low
.58% FT is too low.

Smart is a good distributor.

He is making the right plays and facilitating in addition to setting the tone with some mean, mean defense. If we ran more plays for him, he could easily average 14-16 ppg as well. IT looks for his shot too much. I think he's awesome and a very important part of the team, but he should be the microwave scorer. He's a hell of a sixth man and there is no shame in that. I feel with Smart's play as of late, the offense is flowing better when both him and Horford are on the floor.

IT has to look for his shot, because guys like Smart can't shoot.   I agree with should play more team ball.

But with Smart's poor shooting % he would need to take over 20+ shots a game to get those 14-16 because he only makes about a third of the shots he takes.   That is not optimal.

[Greyman]

The guy plays hard and has a nice basketball IQ and nose for the ball.   But here is the reality check, he shot 4-14 last night.  He was 28% from the field.   He always finds a way to make impactful plays but he still needs a ton of work on his shot.

.35% FG is too low
.30% 3p goal is too low
.58% FT is too low.

Smart is a good distributor.

He is making the right plays and facilitating in addition to setting the tone with some mean, mean defense. If we ran more plays for him, he could easily average 14-16 ppg as well. IT looks for his shot too much. I think he's awesome and a very important part of the team, but he should be the microwave scorer. He's a hell of a sixth man and there is no shame in that. I feel with Smart's play as of late, the offense is flowing better when both him and Horford are on the floor.

IT has to look for his shot, because guys like Smart can't shoot.   I agree with should play more team ball.

But with Smart's poor shooting % he would need to take over 20+ shots a game to get those 14-16 because he only makes about a third of the shots he takes.   That is not optimal.

I like Smart enormously but if he doesn't hit his shots more consistently the other parts of his game won't help him.This team is tantalisingly close to being a contender, or two players away IMO. One way to go is to add a point guard who shoots well and can handle the ball (given TR has some developing to do). Add another decent big and make IT the sixth man and the contending team you want is just about there.

This is only one way the build could go. Any way you look at it though, for Smart to start or hold his value, he has to score more. the addition of players needed to make the Celtics a contending team means some current players will need to go. Smart is a trade worthy asset on current form

[GratefulCs]

Guys, guys, you're thinking down here (points at lower head)

You gotta think up here (points at upper head) In the impulse zone

[Rosco917]

The problem with Smart is, he hits one shot, and he think's..."ok, I'm out of the box." And takes a bunch of questionable shots. He needs to let the game come to him much more, even as a 6th man.

If he could start, and just run the offense, take mostly good shots, play his normal physical D on the opposing teams point guard, AND GET OTHER PLAYERS INVOLVED.

I feel other starters are being stifled, namely Bradley, and Crowder, because IT thinks more along the lines of getting his.   

i.e. We're not seeing enough playmaking out of out offense.
 

[footey]

The problem with Smart is, he hits one shot, and he think's..."ok, I'm out of the box." And takes a bunch of questionable shots. He needs to let the game come to him much more, even as a 6th man.

If he could start, and just run the offense, take mostly good shots, play his normal physical D on the opposing teams point guard, AND GET OTHER PLAYERS INVOLVED.

I feel other starters are being stifled, namely Bradley, and Crowder, because IT thinks more along the lines of getting his.   

i.e. We're not seeing enough playmaking out of out offense.
 

TP , I had the same reaction about Smart and shooting 3's.

Our offense has to do a better job of creating open 3 pointers for our best 3 point shooters, Smart is one of our worst. I love the guy, but he has to reign it in more.

[TheSundanceKid]

I'm not advocating for Smart starting over IT but if he did you'd have to think his shot chary would change too. He'd be the shot creator so there would be less of these pull up 3s, more PnR action and likely more shots for the other starters.

However you are then relying on the other starters to be the main options on offense and I'm not sure any of them are up to that. Horford is preferable as a secondary scorer and Bradley and Crowder are really your 4th and 5th best players on a championship team

[TrueFan]

If he starts then it's for Crowder and he's playing out of position.

I think the timing of the thread is off. I'm a Smart fan but his game last night was atrocious. It was cringe worthy. I'm giving him a pass because he's had a positive impact on almost every game we've had but you can't start a pro Smart thread after last night.