Why did Smart and Rozier have good games last nite?

[mobilija]

I didn't get to watch the game last nite. But both players have good looking box scores. As the resident whipping boys (esp Rozier), what transpired to help them have good games? Is there something Brad and the team can look to moving forward to make this a trend? Perhaps instead of focusing on how "bad" Rozier is, we can focus on what helped him to be successful... ditto Smart. Any thoughts?

[ederson]

People do that especially for Smart. But he keeps doing things he shouldn't . It's not that he misses shots but he takes bad shots all the time.....

[colincb]

When it comes to shooting, Smart has been a much bigger problem than Rozier. Last night Smart didn't force anything and took good shots. Let the game come to him (something that Tatum does well and Pierce excelled at.) Rozier OTOH took his usual shots and hit them.

[chiken Green]

The Smart and Especially Rozier crushing on this board is unwarrented. Both players are vital and have actually been really good for this 18 - 3 team..  They played their regular games and this time (as CBS always says) the law of averages were in their favor..

When you are slumping in the nba you shoot your way out of it.. You dont become meek and start looking for better passing options.. (And JB was out.. how many of us really thought Smart was NOT going to have a better offensive game.. We all know he is a gamer..)

[timpiker]

The Smart and Especially Rozier crushing on this board is unwarrented. Both players are vital and have actually been really good for this 18 - 3 team..  They played their regular games and this time (as CBS always says) the law of averages were in their favor..

When you are slumping in the nba you shoot your way out of it.. You dont become meek and start looking for better passing options.. (And JB was out.. how many of us really thought Smart was NOT going to have a better offensive game.. We all know he is a gamer..)

I agree.  There's not a problem with the # of shots Smart takes, he should just take better shots.  Sometimes shots go in, sometimes not.  Both players mean a lot to this team.

[mobilija]

Agree that both guys are contributing to the teams success as rotation players.

Smart started. Anything change in his game because of that? Did he get easier looks w the focus on Kyrie? Did Smart and Rozier play less minutes together?

[KGs Knee]

Why did they have good games last night?

Luck, I guess. They say the sun will even shine on a dog's behind every now and then.

 

[cman88]

rozier is streaky, we have already seen that this season. he will have games like the last 2 and then go cold. for a few. That is expected with rotation players. but would be nice if one of them can have a decent game each night. because it is what we really need.

[Csfan1984]

Pacers played soft and were not matching the physical play of Smart or Rozier. Pacers want a shooting battle running up and taking threes as soon as possible they don't want a grind. Smart and Rozier are much more comfortable when they know they control the contact and have the physical edge on both sides of the court. It was like watching a college team that retreats on D to entice a shot so they can get out in transition asap.

[Eja117]

Why did they have good games? Law of averages.

[trickybilly]

Just my crazy theory, but it felt like Rozier made more strong decisive moves earlier in the shotclock, whereas Marcus limited his own; making extra passes, pulling the back out of a well defended pick and roll. Both subtle scheme changes seemed to suit the game, the players individual strengths and the team...

Just a theory.

[YoungOne87]

smart just hit shots, there where some tough fade aways that he usually probably misses.

[SHAQATTACK]

I put the reverse hex on them by declaring they would have another terrible shooting night in the game thread . 

Murphys law 1.865-234

[PaulAllen]

For the most part its the entire team catching into a groove and shooting better.. The only two consistent from the start were Tatum and Horford (Theis, but doesnt shoot much) .. Kyrie was at 42% and now 48%, Brown 43% to 46% .. Baynes up as well..  Smart CAN shoot .. his pscyhological makeup may be off.. commits too many turnover driving to the rim, sometimes uncontrolably.. Rozier doers this better... Smart can back down smaller players and bully them inside .. both can shoot threes ... they just need a little more time than the rest of the team... I remember watching Smart in warmups not missing a single three and he was shooting them deep so there is something there..

[mobilija]

Why did they have good games? Law of averages.

Thanks for the obvious snark answer. But surely your basketball mind can come up with some reason behind this game and circumstance that aided the law of averages to swing in their favor.