Will Smart ever be as good as Avery is now? (Poll)

[ederson]

I think AB had more than e few injuries in his first 2-3 seasons and had to fight for play time with RR and RA.

[moiso]

I am not sure Smart will ever be as good as Bradley is now and I believe Bradley is going to get even better. He comes back from every off season as a better ball player with some part of his game much better than it used to be. Bradley still hasn't reached his peak as a player, IMHO.

This is so true. I cannot remember ever tracking a player who has steadily made improvements every single year. Danny Ainge is going to have some difficult decisions to make, particularly if they land Fultz.

Yep.  Avery has improved more this year at his older age than Smart has.  Avery is improving more rapidly.

But I would say that Smart is better today than Avery was at the same age.

Yes, true.  But Bradley had so much untapped athleticism.  Still does.  If he could ever tighten his handle, he could blow guys left and right.

[nickagneta]

I am not sure Smart will ever be as good as Bradley is now and I believe Bradley is going to get even better. He comes back from every off season as a better ball player with some part of his game much better than it used to be. Bradley still hasn't reached his peak as a player, IMHO.

This is so true. I cannot remember ever tracking a player who has steadily made improvements every single year. Danny Ainge is going to have some difficult decisions to make, particularly if they land Fultz.

Yep.  Avery has improved more this year at his older age than Smart has.  Avery is improving more rapidly.

But I would say that Smart is better today than Avery was at the same age.

Yes, true.  But Bradley had so much untapped athleticism.  Still does.  If he could ever tighten his handle, he could blow guys left and right.

Bradley is already starting to do that, especially from the corner when he fakes the three and drives baseline for dunks and lay ins.

[wdleehi]

The value of the outside shot to go with the ability to defend is huge in today's NBA.




Smart has to develop a more reliable three point shot to match AB's value.

[crimson_stallion]

He'll never be as good of a shooter as Bradley but he's already a better ballhandler and playmaker and he's more versatile on defense.

fwiw, I think Smart is better at 22 than Bradley was at 22.

Better playmaker, yes.

Better ball handler - extremely debatable. Bradley has improved a lot as a ball handler, and Smart is a terrible one for a PG.  I'd argue Bradley is a better ball handler at this point.

More versatile on defence? I'm not so sure about that.  Smart can only defend slow guards and small wings.  Bradley can defend all guards and some wings.

[crimson_stallion]

I am not sure Smart will ever be as good as Bradley is now and I believe Bradley is going to get even better. He comes back from every off season as a better ball player with some part of his game much better than it used to be. Bradley still hasn't reached his peak as a player, IMHO.

This is so true. I cannot remember ever tracking a player who has steadily made improvements every single year. Danny Ainge is going to have some difficult decisions to make, particularly if they land Fultz.

Yep.  Avery has improved more this year at his older age than Smart has.  Avery is improving more rapidly.

But I would say that Smart is better today than Avery was at the same age.

I disagree. 

Avery Bradley stole Ray Allen's starting spot in his second year, and he shot 40% from three that year while also being an elite defensive player.

Smart was not that good in his second year.

[crimson_stallion]

I remember when Avery was younger and they would have him try to bring the ball up the court and run some point.  As soon as the opposing coach saw Bradley was going to be bringing the ball up the other team would start pressuring him full court and Bradley was like a deer in headlights.  He was so bad at it that I was genuinely embarrassed for him.  He knew the other team smelled blood when he dribbled the ball.

He's still a very bad ball handler but now he doesn't get put into positions that make it so obvious.  Smart is a far better ball handler.

Yeah, because I see Smart pulling killer crossovers and eurosteps every night, right?

Smart's only dribble move is a straight dribble.  He has no dribble moves.  Bradley has actually added some decent dribble moves to his arsenal and is a much more skilled ball handler then Smart.  Smart's only saving grace as a ball handler is his ability to using his large frame to shield the ball from defenders, which makes it harder for opponents to press him and get to the ball for steals/deflections. 

But in terms of actual handles, Smart dribbles the ball like a PF - Bradley is much better.