Two plays by marcus

[rollie mass]

One that just came to mind  was him lumbering down middle only too get tied up and was it a result of weight that marcus may have put on.

 Of the two plays that stood out,one was a defensive rebound while bulling with Marcieff, here his center of gravity and core strength saved an offensive board and probable Washington score.The added extra to this play was his court vision and again strength as he made another quick snap odd angle outlet pass-
This was a hidden gem of a play as the announcer got cut off in mid compliment by the speed of this transition play.
Second was defensive while he was guarding Wall  and Smart got over the top easily to continue harassing Wall .Whether this was a feint and a set up for a re screen but it seemed the screener didn't want any part of Marcus, Maybe because he is so adept at drawing offensive fouls.  Marcus makes you pay by hitting those screens like a middle linebacker.Again like the previous play his mass and strength are an asset against those perimeter screens by forwards or centers.Remember the Cousin incident and his reaction to Marcus coming over the top.
He hurts.

Marcus can get up and rip rebounds over Marcief ,block shots and get his steals but his explosiveness seems to have suffered getting to hoop but playing with Rozier may just make it seem all that more obvious.

[Smitty77]

Rollie,

As usual, some brilliant analysis and astute observations!!!

Thanks,

Smitty77

[makaveli]

Marcus is the only one fighting the picks, and he does it as well as anyone in the league, IMHO the best guy at that.
he changes the game, and energizes the whole team

[celtics2030]

This is what Smart fans have to realize


It's not that he won't, it's that he can't.

He is and always will be limited.

The Smart fans think he is better than he is.

The Smart detractors have a better grasp on reality. The reality is that they like me, appreciate his special skills and his toughness, no doubt about it. The difference is we realize his limitations and how huge they are.

[rollie mass]

As you call yourselves the smart detractors,how do you quantify intangibles,the clutch play offense or defense.How do you measure his strength,courage and ability to take pain.

That last charge he took to set up a win-was that a one dollar play or a million-if we had won wasn't that the play of the game.
The reason for this thread was should marcus thin down to add some speed or is he just two important to a weak front court and his ability to play multiple positions.
Marcus is 23,he fixed his free throw shooting mid season,what age did crowder come into his own.
Some of you detractors overlook the charges,steals,rebounds,box outs,rips and dives and the worth of enforcer guard..
Marcus is not curry-
 He is Marcus and a old school boston celtic

[cousytoheinsohn]

As you call yourselves the smart detractors,how do you quantify intangibles,the clutch play offense or defense.How do you measure his strength,courage and ability to take pain.

That last charge he took to set up a win-was that a one dollar play or a million-if we had won wasn't that the play of the game.
The reason for this thread was should marcus thin down to add some speed or is he just two important to a weak front court and his ability to play multiple positions.
Marcus is 23,he fixed his free throw shooting mid season,what age did crowder come into his own.
Some of you detractors overlook the charges,steals,rebounds,box outs,rips and dives and the worth of enforcer guard..
Marcus is not curry-
 He is Marcus and a old school boston celtic

This is exactly the point about Marcus Smart: the little things he does unfailingly are veritably huge.

I suspect a lot of the detractors are closet fans and will be emerging from those limited confines as time goes on. They're just waiting for the right reasons Marcus will continue to supply moving forward.

Ainge and Stevens love him. He's not going anywhere.

[Sketch5]

This is what Smart fans have to realize


It's not that he won't, it's that he can't.

He is and always will be limited.

The Smart fans think he is better than he is.

The Smart detractors have a better grasp on reality. The reality is that they like me, appreciate his special skills and his toughness, no doubt about it. The difference is we realize his limitations and how huge they are.

His only limitations is his shooting. Yet the "detractors" are always all over him because of that one thing. Yet there has been many games he's hit a clutch shot. His ball handling has gotten much better since he's come in, and makes good offensive plays. And his D is insane.


Something is wrong with Smart. A month, month and a half ago he was making huge plays and even shooting some what well. The last couple weeks he's off. Injured? Tommy said he's added 15lbs, but thats a lot to add just in a few weeks if there isn't some thing going on.

I'm hoping injury, my fear is something like drinking. Not starting any rumors here, but I've seen that first hand. Look at Ben Affleck, before BvS he looked good, after the breakup during interviews during BvS he was all puffy and bloated. Then it came out he was in rehab.

I'm hoping the first, thats easier to deal with. It could also be mental, something has him off. He's not the same player. Maybe there's a rumor in house of him being shipped on draft night.   

[td450]

The problem with Marcus is that after 3 years, he hasn't figured out a style of offensive basketball that he can consistently contribute with. He is still trying to be something he isn't. We can see that he has some NBA offensive skills, but there are a lot of things that he can't do well enough to make part of his regular game, but he plays that way anyway.

He can become a serviceable offensive player only if he becomes obsessive about adding one or two skills that he doesn't have now. The easiest thing for him to do would be to add a reliable bump and release fallaway from 15 ft and in, and also focus on posting up. He could be Chauncey Billups without the 3 pt shot.

He will never reach his potential if he keeps trying to play this way. He has to find opportunities he can convert at a reasonable clip. If he doesn't get his shooting percentage over 40% next year, he won't be able to keep minutes on this team.

[Celtics4ever]

I love Smart, he has moxy, grit and toughness.   He makes a ton of good basketball plays but his shooting is embarrassing at times.  I think a person can appreciate the good and acknowledge the bad.

[feckless]

I fully appreciate Marcus's abilities on defense, the boards etc.  I do not consider myself a detractor.  But I cannot think of another Celtic Guard whose play was as limited and poor on offense as Marcus.  His choices are just too often wrong.  Whether it is a drive that isn't there or a shot that isn't there or a forced pass--and his improvement in this area is very slow.

Looking back --defensive comparisons are = DJ , KC Jones, Don Chaney, Tony Allen-- but all, even Chaney & Allen, were significantly better at running the offense and finishing their own offense than Marcus.  Satch Sanders may have been as limited as Marcus on offense but he was not a guard and never a PG.

Marcus is young enough to improve his decision making on offense but his progress is slow and as much as he helps on one end he really hurts us on the other some games.

[Smitty77]

I fully appreciate Marcus's abilities on defense, the boards etc.  I do not consider myself a detractor.  But I cannot think of another Celtic Guard whose play was as limited and poor on offense as Marcus.  His choices are just too often wrong.  Whether it is a drive that isn't there or a shot that isn't there or a forced pass--and his improvement in this area is very slow.

Looking back --defensive comparisons are = DJ , KC Jones, Don Chaney, Tony Allen-- but all, even Chaney & Allen, were significantly better at running the offense and finishing their own offense than Marcus.  Satch Sanders may have been as limited as Marcus on offense but he was not a guard and never a PG.

Marcus is young enough to improve his decision making on offense but his progress is slow and as much as he helps on one end he really hurts us on the other some games.

I think that despite his infamous 8 turnover game, he has run the offense as well as almost ANY Celtic in the playoffs as evidenced by his 2.4 assist to turnover ratio in the playoffs.  Compare that to IT's 1.7 assist/TO ratio for the playoffs!!!  Yes, Horford, Crowder, and Rozier have better ratios, but they don't initiate the offense and dribble nearly as much as Marcus!!!

Let's give this kid a break!!!!

http://www.espn.com/nba/team/stats/_/name/bos

Smitty77

[Ilikesports17]

This is what Smart fans have to realize


It's not that he won't, it's that he can't.

He is and always will be limited.

The Smart fans think he is better than he is.

The Smart detractors have a better grasp on reality. The reality is that they like me, appreciate his special skills and his toughness, no doubt about it. The difference is we realize his limitations and how huge they are.

this is a stupid thing to say. Everyone believes that their opinion is rooted in reality. They wouldnt believe it otherwise.

[Ilikesports17]

I fully appreciate Marcus's abilities on defense, the boards etc.  I do not consider myself a detractor.  But I cannot think of another Celtic Guard whose play was as limited and poor on offense as Marcus.  His choices are just too often wrong.  Whether it is a drive that isn't there or a shot that isn't there or a forced pass--and his improvement in this area is very slow.

Looking back --defensive comparisons are = DJ , KC Jones, Don Chaney, Tony Allen-- but all, even Chaney & Allen, were significantly better at running the offense and finishing their own offense than Marcus.  Satch Sanders may have been as limited as Marcus on offense but he was not a guard and never a PG.

Marcus is young enough to improve his decision making on offense but his progress is slow and as much as he helps on one end he really hurts us on the other some games.

the idea that Tony Allen was better than Marcus Smart at running the offense is ridiculous.

[feckless]

I fully appreciate Marcus's abilities on defense, the boards etc.  I do not consider myself a detractor.  But I cannot think of another Celtic Guard whose play was as limited and poor on offense as Marcus.  His choices are just too often wrong.  Whether it is a drive that isn't there or a shot that isn't there or a forced pass--and his improvement in this area is very slow.

Looking back --defensive comparisons are = DJ , KC Jones, Don Chaney, Tony Allen-- but all, even Chaney & Allen, were significantly better at running the offense and finishing their own offense than Marcus.  Satch Sanders may have been as limited as Marcus on offense but he was not a guard and never a PG.

Marcus is young enough to improve his decision making on offense but his progress is slow and as much as he helps on one end he really hurts us on the other some games.

the idea that Tony Allen was better than Marcus Smart at running the offense is ridiculous.

  You are right on that, did not want to get too wordy breaking down each player, Tony was a better scorer and finisher but seldom allowed to run the offense.  And Marcus has run the offense better this year but still makes bad choices too often  --and it does hurt us.

[rollie mass]

I'm sure everyone saw marcus check the clock before taking and making a long three-
he takes the shots end of quarters with no time and in the last game another heave in an attempt to beat the 24 second clock.
He knows that a play can't develope at a certain time and puts up shots after its touched three hands.
Sometimes he pulls a heat check after a make.
The second team has no reliable creator yet.

I also think Isaiah's sister death opened up some areas of emotional pain for Marcus or he that hard knock did more  damage than anyone has been told.
Subbing himself, can be a positive. As he was out of control and his loss of temper at Jaylen is an indicator of the standards he holds himself too and maybe a little sibling rivalry.
Brad is just the right coach to teach Marcus how to harness himself.
Marcus is 23, had three years of playoff exposure and three years of the guillotine of trade rumors and disruption to team.

We don't know his private life or what he eats or drinks but if we ever get a front court and a center Marcus could slim down-
Right now the Celts need his mass  and toughness under the boards and against other teams tough guys-
The only other is Crowder and he has his hands full.