Marcus Smart needs to leave Boston or his career will never get better

[celtics2030]

IT is back and Marcus smart looks like he will go back to being the inconsistent player he has always been, sometimes non existent. The writing looks to be on the wall for Smart as a Celtic.
 
36.7 %  33.5 % from deep
34.8 %  25.3 % from deep
36.8 %  26.8 % from deep

3rd year, still the same and in some cases worse. The good ? Solid point guard, better than I originally thought. Solid playmaker. Can run the team well. Gets a lot of hustle stats. Easily a 10 , 5 and 5 guy when give the duties.

The bad? Can't drive and finish well, can't get to the line, inconsistent to downright pretty bad shooter. Not that great of a shot selection. Not as bad as the first 2 years. The way hes played by the coaching staff also has a little to do with it.

For him to be a impact player on the Celtics in many games shows how defense and toughness do matter.


But if he is to become a good player soon, it can't happen in year 5 or 6 , i doubt he wants to become a jerryd bayless or Gerald Green.

This team is just to cemented in the guards position.

But this is not Ray Allen in front of him.

Tony Allen had to wait a while to get a shot. The Celtics were winning division title and going deep into the playoffs.

I doubt Marcus will want to take that type of route on this team lol.

Has it been enough of watching Marcus Smart improve so little?

[droopdog7]

Marcus' issues aren't the team.  It's that he is a terrible offensive player with little reason to believe he'll get much better.  That's been pretty obvious from the get go.  Anyone thinking differently is basing it only on hope and prayer.

Anyway, going to another team won't change any of that.

[Ilikesports17]

Hes really bad at scoring. Like really awful at it.

When he plays within himself on offense he can be a really good role-player. That seems to be his future in Boston or wherever he goes.

I dont think hes being blocked by anyone really as I dont really see us dishing out like 50 mil to AB and IT in two years.

He may be helped by another coach (one that benches him when he takes Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.ty threes).

[iadera]

I believe, as soon as the trade (big one) comes, he'll be included. Personally, I'm happy that he's on the team, but if good oportunity comes up, I'll welcome his trade for a star.

[tarheelsxxiii]

In before jpotter goes Boogie Cousins on you guys.

[jpotter33]

In before jpotter goes Boogie Cousins on you guys.

TP for the Boogie reference. Dude is legit crazy, and I don't even care. I want him!

However, I've made an early New Years Resolution to try and not spend as much time arguing with people over trivial things, like basketball, so I'm going to sit this one out. 

[crimson_stallion]

Marcus Smart infuriates me.

He is a 22 year old version of the 33 year old Gerald Wallace that we spent 4 years trying to offload.

Except 33 year old Gerald Wallace was a better shooter, was probably a tad more athletic, and didnt collect flopping fines like a Mario chasing magical mushrooms.

[crimson_stallion]

Hes really bad at scoring. Like really awful at it.

When he plays within himself on offense he can be a really good role-player. That seems to be his future in Boston or wherever he goes.

I dont think hes being blocked by anyone really as I dont really see us dishing out like 50 mil to AB and IT in two years.

He may be helped by another coach (one that benches him when he takes ****ty threes).

Part of me hopes we do spend whats needed to keep Tthomas abd Bradley,  because they have been our two best players two years running now...if they leave we are screwed.

[Ilikesports17]

Marcus Smart infuriates me.

He is a 22 year old version of the 33 year old Gerald Wallace that we spent 4 years trying to offload.

Except 33 year old Gerald Wallace was a better shooter, was probably a tad more athletic, and didnt collect flopping fines like a Mario chasing magical mushrooms.

see there are so many reasonable ways to Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. on Marcus Smart and this is not one.

[Adelaide Celt]

Marcus Smart infuriates me.

He is a 22 year old version of the 33 year old Gerald Wallace that we spent 4 years trying to offload.

Except 33 year old Gerald Wallace was a better shooter, was probably a tad more athletic, and didnt collect flopping fines like a Mario chasing magical mushrooms.

Wallace was with Boston for 2 years only.

[crimson_stallion]

Smart-alec-ness aside (pun not intended), Smart's scenario is identical to Sully's in that his ability to be a difference maker depends entirely on his mental make-up.

Smart isn't an especially gifted player and doesn't have a huge amount of natural talent,  but he has some attributes that (if utilised intelligently)  could make him a very good bench player or 6th man for many years.

His defensive ability could be special if he improves his disciplines and stops with the rediculous flopping - seriously, most of them would struggle to trick a WWF fan.

His court vision is solid,  and if he slows things down and tries to make the simple play,  he could be a solid playmaker.

He has a solid midrange game and some potential as a post-up guard, but he needs to completely give up on the three ball and limit himself to maybe 2 attempts per 30 at most.  Even those should only be taken when wide open with no defender within 10 feet.

He needs to try to model his game after Dwyane Wade.  Wade has a similar body, a similar skill set, and many similar personality traits (toughness, desire to win,  leadership). Wade has been effifiebt his whole career because he plays the game smart,  plays to his strengths, doesnt take shots he cant make or attempt plays he can't convert.

Instead Smart tries to emulate Jordan Crawford....and it's not helping his cause.

[Ilikesports17]

Smart-alec-ness aside (pun not intended), Smart's scenario is identical to Sully's in that his ability to be a difference maker depends entirely on his mental make-up.

Smart isn't an especially gifted player and doesn't have a huge amount of natural talent,  but he has some attributes that (if utilised intelligently)  could make him a very good bench player or 6th man for many years.

His defensive ability could be special if he improves his disciplines and stops with the rediculous flopping - seriously, most of them would struggle to trick a WWF fan.

His court vision is solid,  and if he slows things down and tries to make the simple play,  he could be a solid playmaker.

He has a solid midrange game and some potential as a post-up guard, but he needs to completely give up on the three ball and limit himself to maybe 2 attempts per 30 at most.  Even those should only be taken when wide open with no defender within 10 feet.

He needs to try to model his game after Dwyane Wade.  Wade has a similar body, a similar skill set, and many similar personality traits (toughness, desire to win,  leadership). Wade has been effifiebt his whole career because he plays the game smart,  plays to his strengths, doesnt take shots he cant make or attempt plays he can't convert.

Instead Smart tries to emulate Jordan Crawford....and it's not helping his cause.

I agree with everything in this post, except I think he already is a good bench player. If he does these things he can be an elite one or a 4th or 5th guy.

[crimson_stallion]

Marcus Smart infuriates me.

He is a 22 year old version of the 33 year old Gerald Wallace that we spent 4 years trying to offload.

Except 33 year old Gerald Wallace was a better shooter, was probably a tad more athletic, and didnt collect flopping fines like a Mario chasing magical mushrooms.

see there are so many reasonable ways to **** on Marcus Smart and this is not one.

While I exaggerate in jest, it's actually not far off the truth.  He and Wallace are very, very similar players.  If you look ar both players closely you'll see that their strengths and weaknesses are pretty much identical.

Wallace earned his way in the league with outstanding defense, toughness and physicality.  He was a relentless rebounder,  very strong,  quite long.

Wasnt the most skilled player (in terms of shooting, ball handling,  passing,  etc)  but made up for that with his intangibles.

If smart can ever be as good as Gerald Wallace in his prime,  he should be very happy.

But there are two key differences    Wallace was a near-elite athlete and attacked the basket with wreckless abandon (hence the nickname  "crash").  Smart is an average at best athlete and is almost completely ineffective at the basket.

Hence why I compare him to old Wallace when he was here - the heart was still there, but he just just didn't have the physical ability anymore.

Anyway the whole point is that Marcus Smart isn't as gifted as other young point guards,  so for him to excel he needs to play work harder and play smarter then everbody else.  The "work harder" part is there, but he's a long way away from reaching the "play smarter" part.

Like Sully, Smart has the ability.  He just needs to play within himself and so trying to be something he's not.

[Moranis]

Marcus' issues aren't the team.  It's that he is a terrible offensive player with little reason to believe he'll get much better.  That's been pretty obvious from the get go.  Anyone thinking differently is basing it only on hope and prayer.

Anyway, going to another team won't change any of that.

then why does the team keep pushing him to shoot. 

[D Dub]

Marcus' issues aren't the team.  It's that he is a terrible offensive player with little reason to believe he'll get much better.  That's been pretty obvious from the get go.  Anyone thinking differently is basing it only on hope and prayer.

Anyway, going to another team won't change any of that.

then why does the team keep pushing him to shoot.

Other than hope and prayer, there is work ethic and character.  Those are the things the c's staff probably are a bit closer to than we are. 

I don't get the hate for Marcus.  Especially considering nearly everyone here has spent the last five years watching AB blossom from defense-only specialist, to a legit 3pt threat and competent ball handler.  That happened from age 21-25 for AB. 

Why can't Marcus see a similar slow growth in his offensive game?  Seems like a hard worker, in a good environment. 

Considering how much of an asset he is in ANY switch heavy defense, it'd be silly to hold him back at this point in his career.  And for it's worth, he's looking a lot better initiating offense.  One sequence in particular stood out to me last night.  I think it was early in the 4th when we were mounting our comeback.  In the half court, he got drove into the paint, ended up posted -- which is normally a good spot for him-- but the defense collapsed from all directions.  No panic at all.  Found the right play by weaving a perfect bounce pass right into Kelly's shooting hand for a three.