He was playing well as a starter. Was shooting close to 50 percent and improving in other facets.
I don't want to gang up on Marcus (I tend to see more hope for him than others) but that is just not factually true.
As a starter, he has shot 40% FG% this year. It's true that that is better than the the 33.3% he has shot from the bench, but it's a long way from 50%. Overall, even as a starter his true scoring efficiency is still an awful 48.7% TS (league average is around 53-54%).
That isn't really playing "well" on offense. It's just not as bad as his numbers off the bench.
All that said, I've seen positive signs in recent games. He has dramatically reduced the number of threes that he is shooting -- so that is not hurting the team as much. And when he has been on the floor, Brad has had Marcus handle the ball more -- even sometimes when Thomas is also on the floor -- which removes the need for him to be an outside shooter. And to be fair, Smart is not bad at all as a ball handler and passer. His TO rates are not as low as Thomas', but they are low. And the other positive thing is that when they do want Marcus to score, more and more they are using mid-and-short-range post-ups and simple floater shots from the mid-paint area. Places where he actually has semi-decent touch on his shots and he can use his body to create a shot for.
To me, for Marcus to succeed on offense, it is all about needing to play within himself first. I think it was a mistake to try to turn him into volume three point shooter when he came out of college with such a visibly broken 3PT shot. Right now, Smart needs to play a more Rondo-style of point in order to have value on offense.
I just more meant he has stretches where he shoots close to that particularly as a starter. He isn't there yet but has some stretches where he reaches his 15, 5, 5 potential and shoots close to 50 percent. He's not there yet and is still young and developing. He's more of a good compliment to IT that way and a good roleplayer.
The last two weeks before he went back to the bench hes was averaging 11, 5, 5 and shooting 47 percent. He's done that before but then usually dips back down again. And when he went back to the bench he was shooting 38 percent again or whatever he does. He misses a few more shots and just needs to work on being a play maker and better shot selection off the bench. Knowing when to do what. He is capable of that imo and just being a good basketball player regardless of if he starts or not or where he plays.
He has stretches. The consistency is not there. He's more consistent as a starter but that's to be expected.
I'm really fine with Marcus. And IT for that matter. I think Marcus needs to focus on what I'm saying. I'm glad we have both. Players get injured etc. It's not a bad problem to have.
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And no I wouldn't take Fultz or guys like that in a heartbeat. I've already said that though. I don't take a guy just because he's supposedly westbrook if it doesn't fit into what we are trying to do.
I'd much rather get a star somewhere else. Fultz isn't larry bird. He's good. So is Smith but I'm not touching those guys if it doesn't fit what I want.
We have IT. We have Horford. We are developing MArcus and Rozier. What do we need those guys for.
If we traded one and got a star maybe I'd take a shot on one of those guys but they aren't jumping out at me.
They are young players. Sure if we have a great team everywhere else and want to pull a Rondo and draft a guy but that's not what I'm seeing.
I like Josh Jackson so far this draft but it's still very early depending on what else is out there and what we try to do. Also like Giles and a few other guys. Fultz is good too but I'm not jumping up and down like we have to take him even if we had the #1 pick. Same with Tatum, Smith etc, etc.. All nice players but young.
Topic: Marcus Smart needs to leave Boston or his career will never get better (Read 37691 times)