Stevens wanted to start Smart but Smart rather comes off the bench

[manl_lui]

saw this on reddit just now

https://twitter.com/Marc_DAmico/status/915278609606234113

not sure how true it is but man is that guy a leader!

[PAOBoston]

Well, solves that conundrum I guess.

[droopdog7]

Regardless of what it says about Smart, I think it is the best approach to bring him off the bench.  So good for us.

[SHAQATTACK]

I think he watches the game and get reved up , he is busting at the seams to get in and do damage......

I would dread seeing Marcus coming in with a glare and full head of steam ,  at the point opponents are strating to get a bit winded .  It would be disheartening knowing he is on here s way in , like a bull in a china shop. 

[playdream]

Not a knock on them, but that's the mentally that AB.IT and Jae lacks, Sacrifice the small for the bigger, and i respect that!
Smart is the soul of our team!

[Chef Parish]

Smart's willingness to come off the bench reminds me a lot of Greg Kite's willingness to come off the bench for the Celtics in the mid 80s.

[CelticsElite]

Anyone remember when he pulled himself out of the game in the playoffs because he wasn't playing well ?

[Chef Parish]

Anyone remember when he pulled himself out of the game in the playoffs because he wasn't playing well ?

I remember like it was yesterday...1986 playoff, Game 1 at the Garden..Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks. Late 4th quarter, Celtics up 121-90...Greg Kite missed a couple of easy put backs, he asked KC to take him out which KC happily obliged.

Can't find players like that too often.

[bdm860]

Wonder if this attitude will carry over to his next contract talks.

At least he's not worried about being a starter, hopefully he doesn't think he deserves starter money either.

Not that I don't want to see Marcus get a nice pay day, but don't want him to leave the team because he thinks he deserves the $18m+ that Turner, Crabbe, KCP, Teague, George Hill, Batum, Redick, etc. all got.

Basically what seemingly derailed the Nerlens Noel contract talks with the Mavs, and possibly got IT shipped out of town, I hope doesn't happen here with Smart.  I'll take asking to come off the bench as a positive sign in that regard at least.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Not sure I buy it.  Wouldn't be shocked if he wants to come off the bench so he can chuck 3s, though.

[tstorey_97]

Smart plays the LAST minutes of EVERY game. Easy math.

[jambr380]

I mean the following could mean anything, but he sure does sound like he's changed his tune on the issue the last couple of weeks:

"Everybody wants to start," Smart said. "Everybody that plays the sport would love to hear his name being called in that starting lineup, but like I said, we all have one common goal and that's to win a championship. So whether I start or not is out of my control. And I can only control what I can control. So whatever this team, Coach Stevens and his coaching staff, want me to take on a role, whatever role that is, I'm hoping to do it."

For the record, I love Marcus Smart and want him with the Cs for a long, long time.

[Moranis]

I don't like this at all. If coach tells you to start you start. Period.

[BitterJim]

I don't like this at all. If coach tells you to start you start. Period.

And I'm sure that if Stevens had said "No, you're starting", he would have started.  That doesn't seem to be the case, though.  He just told Brad that he would prefer to come off the bench, and Brad then decided that he agreed with that and started Brown instead.

If it comes out that Smart absolutely refused to start, then, yes, it would be an issue.  But instead it seems like he was just willing to come off the bench in order for a younger player to start, which Brad may have been hesitant to do in case of any ego/respect issues.

[saltlover]

Anyone remember when he pulled himself out of the game in the playoffs because he wasn't playing well ?

I remember like it was yesterday...1986 playoff, Game 1 at the Garden..Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks. Late 4th quarter, Celtics up 121-90...Greg Kite missed a couple of easy put backs, he asked KC to take him out which KC happily obliged.

Can't find players like that too often.

Didn't know that about Kite (predates my time as an NBA fan), but my gut says CelticsElite was talking about when Smart did that vs. the Wizards this year.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19288941/boston-celtics-marcus-smart-took-game-1-series-errors