What about a Marcus Smart to Derek Fisher comparison?

[JOMVP]

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.

I don't understand this notion that Smart makes "horrible offensive decisions." Does he take bad shots now and again? Yeah, but so doesn't Thomas and every other player in the league. Smart has been at times our best ball distributor and has been great with running the offense when given that job.

[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.

I don't understand this notion that Smart makes "horrible offensive decisions." Does he take bad shots now and again? Yeah, but so doesn't Thomas and every other player in the league. Smart has been at times our best ball distributor and has been great with running the offense when given that job.

Smart takes bad shots, takes shots when he should drive or pass, and has a very high TOV% (highest on team).  He is an all around terrible offensive player.  Sure he occasionally does the right thing or makes a great pass, but those flashes are the rarity at this point.  Smart is a truly horrible offensive player. 

[mctyson]

I think we spend way too much time (me included) trying to find a comp for what Marcus can or will be.  Billups, Fisher, Payton, etc.

We just have to accept that he is Marcus Smart.  Right now that Marcus is someone who cannot shoot well or score reliably, but gives his absolute 100% best effort constantly, is an elite NBA defender, a pretty good ball handler and passer, and a rare person who makes some instinctive, ridiculous plays that win games.

I will take that from a 22 year old.

[moiso]

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?

He has a couple things that he does on offense that show a very high BBIQ in those particular areas.  He hits cutters under the basket with nice passes better than the majority of the point guards in the league.  That's a form of IQ.  Also he has better post up skills than the majority of guards in the league and it's not simply because he has a big strong body.  It's a form of IQ.

If he became a little less trigger happy from deep (which he has of late) and develops a more consistent repeatable form on his shot (it looks good when the shots go in) we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

[Donoghus]

I don't really see how Smart's game resembles Fisher's at all. 

Fisher was pretty flawed defensively and was a better playmaker on the offensive end.

[footey]

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.

Marcus will never be as good a shooter as Chauncey. Chauncey was an 80% plus free throw shooter his rookie year. He could always shoot.  I don't see this comparison at all. Nor do I see the Derek Fisher comp.

[GratefulCs]

DJ light

[Rosco917]

Smart will be fine, he is what he is. He will never dazzle you with skills, but he'll always be a guy you want to go into battle with. That's why Steven's ALWAYS has him the lineup when the game is on the line. He literally shifts into another gear when it counts.

He grabs a clutch rebound he had no business getting to, he tears the ball out of a players hands, he tips the ball back into the basket against the oppositions tallest players. He saves the ball from going out of bounds, giving his team another opportunity.   

He is very close to being the best passer on the team, much improved over when he came into the league. Little by little he's turning into a point guard...his best option. His shots need to be found in the paint...floaters, fade aways, etc. He'll find them in time. He's only 22.

Smart is the type of player that you trade, and your team suddenly begins to loose close games, and you don't know why.

Out of condition? Why because he's not tight skinned? Look at Zack Randolph, he had a great career being smooth and untoned.

If Marcus were a football player he's be a linebacker, not a defensive back.   


.

[Surferdad]

Smart is a cross between Charles Barkley and Tony Allen.

[coco]

Marcus has gotten really good at creating opportunities for other.  And in a way, better than Isiah at doing so.....or should I say, in a maybe more effective way.

He finds a way to contribute, and that's an awesome weapon to have - as a coach.

[Alleyoopster]

Smart will be fine, he is what he is. He will never dazzle you with skills, but he'll always be a guy you want to go into battle with. That's why Steven's ALWAYS has him the lineup when the game is on the line. He literally shifts into another gear when it counts.

He grabs a clutch rebound he had no business getting to, he tears the ball out of a players hands, he tips the ball back into the basket against the oppositions tallest players. He saves the ball from going out of bounds, giving his team another opportunity.   

He is very close to being the best passer on the team, much improved over when he came into the league. Little by little he's turning into a point guard...his best option. His shots need to be found in the paint...floaters, fade aways, etc. He'll find them in time. He's only 22.

Smart is the type of player that you trade, and your team suddenly begins to loose close games, and you don't know why.

Out of condition? Why because he's not tight skinned? Look at Zack Randolph, he had a great career being smooth and untoned.

If Marcus were a football player he's be a linebacker, not a defensive back.   


.

TP Well written and to the point.

Seems too many on this board must be on fantasy leagues where stats are all that matter. Or, they expect everything in life to be regimented, organized and fit in some sort of category...very left brained. If something doesn't fit their perception of the ideal, then it's not very good.

Smart does a lot of things that don't fit in the box. He could have an overall +20 and we'd still be having these debates about his abilities. 

[Eja117]

Smart will be fine, he is what he is. He will never dazzle you with skills, but he'll always be a guy you want to go into battle with. That's why Steven's ALWAYS has him the lineup when the game is on the line. He literally shifts into another gear when it counts.

He grabs a clutch rebound he had no business getting to, he tears the ball out of a players hands, he tips the ball back into the basket against the oppositions tallest players. He saves the ball from going out of bounds, giving his team another opportunity.   

He is very close to being the best passer on the team, much improved over when he came into the league. Little by little he's turning into a point guard...his best option. His shots need to be found in the paint...floaters, fade aways, etc. He'll find them in time. He's only 22.

Smart is the type of player that you trade, and your team suddenly begins to loose close games, and you don't know why.

Out of condition? Why because he's not tight skinned? Look at Zack Randolph, he had a great career being smooth and untoned.

If Marcus were a football player he's be a linebacker, not a defensive back.   


.

We wouldn't be in so many close games against teams we're supposed to beat if he could shoot

[droopdog7]

Still think that Kirk Heinrich is far and away the best comp for Marcus.

[Chris22]

Marcus Smart is Dennis Johnson.

[tankcity!]

Still think that Kirk Heinrich is far and away the best comp for Marcus.

I like him the kirk hinrich comp once Smart starts shooting better.