What about a Marcus Smart to Derek Fisher comparison?

[Tr1boy]

What do you guys think? 

Fisher was a heck of a super role player.  He was a winner due to his blue collar style work ethic, versatile defense and ability to make jump shots when open. 

Smart has 2 out of 3 down.  He needs to keep working on that jump shot

I have pretty much given up on Smart able to replicate his NCAA type dominance at the NBA level.  Just not quick, explosive enough.   Also a key ingredient is missing ...  basically looks like he was able to bulldoze his buckets in college alot of the times. 

Doesn't mean he doesn't belong at the NBA level.   Maybe not as a starter (or key starter) but could provide an impact like Fisher did all those years

thoughts?

[green_bballers13]

Derek Fisher is 6'1, and was a decent floor manager who had a penchant for hitting a bunch of open 3's and free throws. And he played with Kobe, who I think is a top 5 player of all time.

Fisher was not as good of a defender as Smart is 2.5 years in. Marcus is bigger, probably quicker (esp as Fisher got older), stronger, and has a little nasty in him. I remember Fisher as more of a lunch pail player that you described. For whatever reason, I feel that Smart might have a little Mike Tyson fire in his gut (I'm talking about in the ring, minus the ear bite). I think Ron Artest has a similar mentality.

If Smart can shoot like Fisher, he'll be a borderline all star. Put a 30pt scoring wing next to him, and the sky's the limit.

I see Smart's realistic potential as a super-glue 2 way player similar to Jason Kidd offensively and Tony Allen defensively.

[fantankerous]

What do you guys think? 

Fisher was a heck of a super role player.  He was a winner due to his blue collar style work ethic, versatile defense and ability to make jump shots when open. 

Smart has 2 out of 3 down.  He needs to keep working on that jump shot

I have pretty much given up on Smart able to replicate his NCAA type dominance at the NBA level.  Just not quick, explosive enough.   Also a key ingredient is missing ...  basically looks like he was able to bulldoze his buckets in college alot of the times. 

Doesn't mean he doesn't belong at the NBA level.   Maybe not as a starter (or key starter) but could provide an impact like Fisher did all those years

thoughts?

As a comparison, it is of course imperfect.  However, I think it is quite apt.  Even though I've never been a huge Smart fan (especially aesthetically), I think he could be better than Fisher.  Whether he has the longevity and big shots is TBD.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

So funny that you bring this up, because just yesterday I was reflecting on how Smart reminds me of Fisher—not physically, or style of play, but in how Fisher was a pain in the butt, and despite often having statistically meh games, he often came through in the clutch—which always frustrated me to no end. The guy would do seemingly nothing for 47 minutes, then in the last minute would wind up that ugly shooting motion of his and can a crucial basket, like near the end of the 2010 Finals.

Smart's like that. We know he makes plays throughout the game, as did Fisher, but offensively can be (or at least seem) quiet most of a game, until the end.

[celtics2030]

I really do not understand why people don't just compare him to Lyndsay Hunter, they are literally basically the same type of player. One a more finess defender, but none the less a good defender just like Smart. They both are around the same height. Both shoot the 3 ball a lot. Both shot sub 40% for the first 3 years, and stats are similar. Although Smart seems more of a point guard. Lyndsay was better skills wise though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzO1NRoKjLg

[chambers]

I think he is more like Chauncey Billups than any other player.
If he develops the 3 point shot to a 35%+ mark, then he'll be Chauncey Billups 2.0

If he could shoot at 40% from 3 and 45% from 2 he'd probably be a bench All Star in his 3rd year (or at least VERY close to an All Star).

I just think we need to give him more time to perfect his shot and floaters and in time he'll be an absolute stud.

Still so much time for him to be a good shooter and work on his mechanics.

[celtics2030]

I think he is more like Chauncey Billups than any other player.
If he develops the 3 point shot to a 35%+ mark, then he'll be Chauncey Billups 2.0

If he could shoot at 40% from 3 and 45% from 2 he'd probably be a bench All Star in his 3rd year (or at least VERY close to an All Star).

I just think we need to give him more time to perfect his shot and floaters and in time he'll be an absolute stud.

Still so much time for him to be a good shooter and work on his mechanics.

Chauncey was a skilled offensive player who knew how to get his shot off, just needed adjustement. He was smooth and knew how to get to his spots.

Marcus throws up three pointers , and get his shots blocked or sidetracked when he gets to the basket. They don't have much similarities. Maybe statistically early career.

[Csfan1984]

I think he is more like Chauncey Billups than any other player.
If he develops the 3 point shot to a 35%+ mark, then he'll be Chauncey Billups 2.0

If he could shoot at 40% from 3 and 45% from 2 he'd probably be a bench All Star in his 3rd year (or at least VERY close to an All Star).

I just think we need to give him more time to perfect his shot and floaters and in time he'll be an absolute stud.

Still so much time for him to be a good shooter and work on his mechanics.

Chauncey was a skilled offensive player who knew how to get his shot off, just needed adjustement. He was smooth and knew how to get to his spots.

Marcus throws up three pointers , and get his shots blocked or sidetracked when he gets to the basket. They don't have much similarities. Maybe statistically early career.

I see the post up ability, the big shots, defense and passing that Billups had. As well as the rough start. Billups improved his outside shooting but was seen as a mostly in the paint scorer early. Billups was very fast when younger however. He could fly on the break. Smart is only quick in spurts but Smart is at least longer and stronger. So it's close but of course there is never a perfect comparison.

[vjcsmoke]

Billups was a 7x all-star.
He had a horrible 3rd year shooting.  But that was mainly due to injury.

Billups stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/billuch01.html

At age 24 and in his 4th year, Billups showed significant signs of improving his shot:
42.2% FG 36.6% 3PT 48.5% eFG but still scored just 9.3 ppg.

Smart in his 3rd year so far:
36.4% FG 28.0% 3PT 42.7% eFG  and 9.5 ppg.

Keep in mind Smart is still only 22 vs Billups at 24.

Smart still has time to turn it around.  But the shot selection and the shot mechanics need to improve if he's going to get anywhere offensively.  Where's that BBIQ on offense?

[mr. dee]

Smart is a hybrid between Rondo and Billups. Marcus have natural passing instincts and would average double digit assist if he holds the ball most of the time.

[slightly biased bias fan]

I remember reading a good article on Smart's difficulties, it mainly stems from the fact that Thomas is our franchise point guard and Smart has to operate as something he's not, mostly as a secondary ball handler and a spot up 3 point shooter. I love Smart and believe he could be a future All-Star in the not to distant future but Boston might have to decide between him or Thomas.

[Celtics4ever]

isher was a heck of a super role player.  He was a winner due to his blue collar style work ethic, versatile defense and ability to make jump shots when open. 

Trouble is he shows no inclination to making that open jumper.


What he does is hit big game shots, more than usual.   I think it comes down to shot selection and shooting concentration.   A lot of why he is missing is mental.

[moiso]

I really do not understand why people don't just compare him to Lyndsay Hunter, they are literally basically the same type of player. One a more finess defender, but none the less a good defender just like Smart. They both are around the same height. Both shoot the 3 ball a lot. Both shot sub 40% for the first 3 years, and stats are similar. Although Smart seems more of a point guard. Lyndsay was better skills wise though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzO1NRoKjLg

Hunter was quick and athletic and one of the best I've seen in a one man full court press.  Other than that, I don't think he was anyway near the defender Smart is.

[Moranis]

I don't see this comparison at all.  Fisher was generally a pretty good spot up shooter that took care of the ball offensively, but was a poor on ball defender.  He is nothing like Smart who is a terrible shooter, makes terrible offensive decisions, but is a tremendous on ball defender. 

If the comparison is to find the exact opposite type player then yes you have a match.

[BudweiserCeltic]

As floppers?