Is Smart the worst offensive player ever?

[Green-18]

I'm happy I'm pro-Smart, because watching the game isn't spoiled by resentment when Smart has the ball. I feel bad for anti-Smart posters, because he's going to keep shooting since Stevens gives him a green light.

Same here.  People just need to realize that Brad wants EVERY player on the team to shoot with confidence.  The constant assurance and reinforcement is only going to help the entire team in the long run.  I've posted Marcus' clutch stats in other thread.  I don't feel like doing it again but I guarantee we wouldn't see him making those shots if Brad started to reign him in. 

The poor shooting of Marcus gets magnified because he tends to have many 3 or 4 minute stretches of REALLY ugly basketball.  The other 20+ minutes are full of great defense, playmaking, and the occasional big shot when we need it. 

[Dino Pitino]

I'll be relieved when some idiot team offers him a big contract and the Celts let him walk.

And in the meantime I'll be relieved not to be someone stressed out by him. I get to be someone who enjoys whole games instead of being aggravated by the Smart parts.

[CelticD]

Smart is disgusting offensively but when he's not shot-jacking I can tolerate it. It drives me mad seeing someone who shoots so historically bad get the green light to shoot as much as Smart does, but the last couple of games he's really toned it down.

Horford should be taking a lot more shots, he's just too efficient to be taking less shots than Smart. His game is passive I get it, but when you're as good as shooter as he is, you got to let them fly. I just wished his release was quicker.

[Sophomore]

Does anybody consider any part of the offense other than shooting?

I understand why people cringe when Marcus shoots. I cringe when I see Terry bringing the ball up. He doesn't see the floor, and when he's the PG there's a lot of isolation play and bad passing. Marcus is *far* superior to Terry at seeing the floor, being in the right place, making a pass, running a pick and roll. I actually don't think Terry even tries to run P and R. If MS can limit his shots he can be a solid backup PG. Terry, so far, is a poor playmaker and a very bad shooter who makes a few spectacular plays. I will love it if he figures some of this out - at least how to finish if he gets past his man and the help comes over. I doubt he'll ever be great at seeing the game, but he might become a better backup 2 guard.

Also, for those who love Terry, can you explain his on-ball defense to me? For such an athletic guy, it's incredible to me how frequently he lets his man by him. Happens again and again. Is he playing for the steal or taking his man into the help? If you don't remember this, keep an eye out next game; he really does not  stay between his man and the rim. Really stands out next to the other Cs.

[jambr380]

So, is Smart also not a finished product? I know Smart's (11 days) older, but both are still young and have room to improve.  I'm really not sure what "arsenal" you are talking about, though - shooting poorly from more spots on the floor isn't exactly impressive, and at least Marcus can get to the line.  Neither of them should be taking as many 3 point shots as they are (4.6 3PA/game for Terry, 4.4 for Marcus).

I agree that Terry is better at getting to the hoop - the issue is that he can't finish there, and isn't very good at passing out of his drives, so it doesn't actually help.  You can love his D all you want, too, but it isn't very effective.  He gets some great steals (and does great in transition off of them), but he's far from a good overall defender. He can keep himself in front of guys for stretches, but then overcommits and gets burned.

If you want to say "Smart should pass more to Kyrie/Al/Jaylen/Jayson/Theis in a pick and roll/Morris, then yeah, I agree.  But I'm tired of people ****ting on Smart's poor shooting and then immediately praising Terry's equally awful shooting.  Neither of them should be shooting as much as they are, but at least when Smart has the ball in his hands he can run a pick and roll

I do think Smart is mostly a finished product. Unless he suddenly grows 4 inches or gains a Brown-like vertical leap, I am not sure how he becomes much better of a shooter/scorer. I do think he could make some strides as a set 3-pt shooter, but I don't want him driving to the hoop or pulling up off the dribble anymore. It almost never works.

While I think Terry has some learning to do as a shot-maker, the tools are certainly there. Maybe I am fooled by his quickness and smooth technique, but it looks like only a matter of time before he puts it all together. He can literally do anything as a scorer, he just needs to continue to work relentlessly on his finishing ability.

As a side note, I love Marcus Smart - there is nobody I want on my side more in a hard-fought playoff contest and he has fantastic playmaking ability. He needs to learn to play more like Shane Larkin and less like IT on offense, though.

[unclebay]

Maybe, and I still want him on the team over like 90% of the league.

[Rosco917]

Never mind the box score, never mind the shooting, he’s positively attrocios leading the offense.  How many times must be drive into the lane wildly and either get stuffed or throw up some wild shot.  I’ve coached recreational basketball for a number of years and Marcus reminds of the kids that never played before and just throw the ball up with their eyes closed.

My goodness.

I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know he's always on the floor at games end, he often wills his team into making defensive stands, and his intangibles and big play stats are a joy to watch.

If the C's pass on him, for reasonable money it will be a huge mistake, because organizations in need of a heart, will grab him in a New York minute.

This infatuation with only one side of the basketball court, that some of us have is childish.

[droopdog7]

Never mind the box score, never mind the shooting, he’s positively attrocios leading the offense.  How many times must be drive into the lane wildly and either get stuffed or throw up some wild shot.  I’ve coached recreational basketball for a number of years and Marcus reminds of the kids that never played before and just throw the ball up with their eyes closed.

My goodness.

I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know he's always on the floor at games end, he often wills his team into making defensive stands, and his intangibles and big play stats are a joy to watch.

If the C's pass on him, for reasonable money it will be a huge mistake, because organizations in need of a heart, will grab him in a New York minute.

This infatuation with only one side of the basketball court, that some of us have is childish.

Childish?  Listen, I understand that there are two sides of the game.  And that marcus tries really really hard.  But offense is more important.  And for every defensive stop or lucky shot he makes, he's killing us.  Not just his shooting stats (or the volume), but his playmaking is pretty [dang] bad too. 

We'd be a WHOLE lot better off with a 3 and D guys that knew his limitations.  As it is, there is not a single thing he does well on offense.  Not his playmaking, not his shooting, not his driving, not his finishing, not his posting.  Nothing.

[Fafnir]

Not at all. He's a fine PG for running a team.

His shooting is so poor and that's a huge problem for a PG, especially with how the NBA game has evolved.

[Fafnir]

The fact that ALL of our backup guards have sub .500 TS% is a big reason our offensive is merely average right now.

Thankfully with Morris return we can put Nader/Larkin back on the bench for good except for garbage time or extreme foul trouble.

[CelticD]

The fact that ALL of our backup guards have sub .500 TS% is a big reason our offensive is merely average right now.

Thankfully with Morris return we can put Nader/Larkin back on the bench for good except for garbage time or extreme foul trouble.

TP this is a great point. The Celtics have one of the worst shooting benches in the NBA. The bench shoots 39% from the field, 30% from 3. Their only saving grace is that they play good enough defense that they don't allow massive runs and can maintain leads.

[PhoSita]

Smart is good at lots of things offensively, just not finishing.

This makes him a far better offensive player than, say, Bismack Biyombo.

[mctyson]

I'm happy I'm pro-Smart, because watching the game isn't spoiled by resentment when Smart has the ball. I feel bad for anti-Smart posters, because he's going to keep shooting since Stevens gives him a green light.

Why would any be pleased with this?

Marcus shooting is literally the worst thing about our team by miles. He's taking almost as many shots as Brown and more than Tatum. His shooting, and to a lesser degree Rozier's, is the biggest weakness we have.

The 2 or 3 hustle plays and the defense he gives us isn't worth the perpetual 2 for 9 shooting. I'll be relieved when some idiot team offers him a big contract and the Celts let him walk.

It is one thing to say he is not a good offensive player (right now, he is not) but it is another thing to say he is the worst thing on the team.

He is basically playing like a typical backup rotation PG in the NBA, with worse shooting.

I think we still have to remember he is only 23 years old, and he still has room to grow and get better.  Maybe that won't be with the Celtics after this season - I hope not - but it is not like his career is over.

[GreenFaith1819]

I get the concerns about Marcus' offense but I was reminded once again that Marcus Smart impacts winning - just last night in OKC.

Dude was repeatedly called a pest by Hubie Brown.

Dude was on the floor for the critical last 2-3 min as we closed OKC out.

Dude was in the middle of nearly EVERY scrum under the basket...there was one time where I couldn't even see him but he shot up like a rocket and grabbed an offensive rebound - right in vicinity of Steven Adams...

He lost weight in the off-season but is STILL strong (and aggressive) as ever...

Look I understand if Danny is trying to play hardball BUT if we somehow let Marcus walk it will hurt this team.

By the time I finished watching this game in OKC I left confident that with the team AS CONSTRUCTED NOW Marcus Smart needs to be a part of this going forward.

[Ogaju]

He handicaps the entire team. When we go into an offensive drought, one of the reasons is often because MS dribbles the shot clock down and has to force a bad shot. Yes, one of the reasons his shooting % is so unbelievably poor is because he often has to take shots as the clock expires, but frequently, that's through no one's fault but his own because he tried to penetrate for the entire possession when nothing was there.

He's poison to us offensively, he's unquestionably the worst shooter I've ever seen. The only thing I hate about this team is Marcus with the ball in his hands. He has a little hot streak every few games that lasts about 5 minutes, then he goes back to being unable to throw it in the ocean. He needs to have more of a 2 role, let Rozier have the ball, and stop shooting 3s, Marcus, you're all time bad at doing it.

And yes, Rozier is far from a great shooter, but 38% is champion compared to Marcus.

Marcus Smart is the worst shooter you have ever seen? When did you start watching the NBA?