I’m a Smart hater

[smokeablount]

That said, if Smart can average 12-4-5 after the all star break and into the playoffs, on at least 38-33-75 shooting splits, I'd be sad to let him go unless he gets a godfather offer. 

He's still very young, and while he'll never be a good offensive player, he still has upside to get to 40-33-75 shooting, and he already has elite intangibles, great defense, solid rebounding for a smaller guard and strong play making skills for a bench player. 

While it's not guaranteed he ever gets there, with a few years of consistent reps with improved form, not starting at the hip, those splits are achievable if he takes fewer and better shots.

[nickagneta]

I'm not a Smart hater, but he's not the third best player on the team.  His intangibles are very valuable but so is efficient scoring at decent volume, and this year, Smart vs Tatum:

Tatum: 17.6 PER, 4.8 WS, 2.8 OWS
Smart: 9.6 PER, .9 WS, -.8 OWS

Now, clearly the advanced metrics are missing something quantifying Smart, however, there is obviously an argument to be made that Tatum is already better.  In a league where the Warriors win titles by outscoring anyone and the Cavs have a poor defense but are still a clear top 3 team, Tatum is extremely valuable to keep pace, just as Smart is to slow them down.

Even at just 19, Tatum is playing like Otto Porter this season, and Porter just got a max deal.  Smart, based on his numbers this year, will be lucky to get half a max deal this summer. 

In fact, though this isn't the argument being discussed, when Tatum comes off his rookie deal, he'll likely get more $$ a year than Smart ever will.

Yeah, I think there's credible statistical evidence to claim either Tatum, Smart or Brown are the third best player on this team. I think I will rate it this way:

1. Kyrie
2. Al
3A. Smart
3B. Tatum
3C. Brown

[footey]

Smart will (probably) never be a good offensive player but tonight is a perfect example of why he’s an invaluable piece to a championship team. He makes winning plays.

TP. Perfectly stated.

[Kevins Gamble]

Smart will (probably) never be a good offensive player but tonight is a perfect example of why he’s an invaluable piece to a championship team. He makes winning plays.

TP. Perfectly stated.

I generally agree with this quote as well, but I hope the OP would concede there is a big difference between someone that will never be "a good offensive player" and someone that will never be a good offensive player but has somehow convinced himself and makes decisions like he believes he's a good offensive player.  The latter version is what we've seen a lot of from Smart this season so far.

[The Oracle]

Smart will (probably) never be a good offensive player but tonight is a perfect example of why he’s an invaluable piece to a championship team. He makes winning plays.

TP. Perfectly stated.

It would be perfectly stated had he used the word shooter instead of offensive player.  Everything Smart does offensively is fine outside of his shooting/finishing at the basket.  Calling him a poor offensive player is flat out wrong.  If the Celtics are able to accumulate enough offensive talent around him he will no longer be forced into the way to large of a role offensively that he is currently forced into.  A healthy Hayward and Morris should go a long way toward pushing Smart into a more comfortable/reduced offensive role.

[Eja117]

Smart will (probably) never be a good offensive player but tonight is a perfect example of why he’s an invaluable piece to a championship team. He makes winning plays.

Makes lots of losing plays too

[wayupnorth]

Smart will (probably) never be a good offensive player but tonight is a perfect example of why he’s an invaluable piece to a championship team. He makes winning plays.

Makes lots of losing plays too

That isn't true.

[Dino Pitino]

With droopdog giving Smart a pass after last night, is the anti-Smart crowd down to dreamgreen and eja now?

[Phantom255x]

With droopdog giving Smart a pass after last night, is the anti-Smart crowd down to dreamgreen and eja now?

Oh don't worry. Smart will have a bad game Sunday and the entire forum will become the "anti-Smart crowd" again 

[nickagneta]

I am not really a huge fan of Smart. He is an atrocious shooter and makes a bunch of terrible decisions every game in shot taking and passing.

That said, I do love his defense, clutchness and leadership.

I won't mind resigning him but it has to be at a number that doesn't put future import decisions in jeopardy like resigning Kyrie, Brown and Tatum or a free agent that might be more valuable elsewhere on the team than Smart. Rozier can give us about 90% of what Smart brings, for the most part. So no sense in a massive overpay for Smart.

[Neurotic Guy]

Smart will (probably) never be a good offensive player but tonight is a perfect example of why he’s an invaluable piece to a championship team. He makes winning plays.

TP. Perfectly stated.

It would be perfectly stated had he used the word shooter instead of offensive player.  Everything Smart does offensively is fine outside of his shooting/finishing at the basket.  Calling him a poor offensive player is flat out wrong.  If the Celtics are able to accumulate enough offensive talent around him he will no longer be forced into the way to large of a role offensively that he is currently forced into.  A healthy Hayward and Morris should go a long way toward pushing Smart into a more comfortable/reduced offensive role.

I'd be interested in the stats comparing Marcus' shot attempts/makes and assist when he is on the court with scorers (2nd half of the 4th) v. on the court when HE is expected to score.  At the end of games he seems to know his role.  And frankly, he is not only an effective defensive player but also (in his role) an effective offensive player.  He can hit his FTs, he knows when the lane is open for him, and he doesn't over-shoot.  Last night he finished a key drive, made a key pass, and the 3-attempt was the correct shot (he missed, but he was correct to take it).  I realize last night was an exceptional game for Marcus, but take away the defense and he still helped the cause offensively.  He has been a better player in general since his horrendous shooting drought earlier in the season.

[Eja117]

Smart will (probably) never be a good offensive player but tonight is a perfect example of why he’s an invaluable piece to a championship team. He makes winning plays.

Makes lots of losing plays too

That isn't true.

No. It is actually. Not last night, necessarily. His offensive line last night is excellent.

But if you're the worst shooter in the league and you jack up a bunch of shots and you miss them.....those are losing plays.   So then all of a sudden you've made 7 losing plays but your teammates bail you out night after night, and then in the last few seconds of a game you make a well timed spectacular game winning play.  That's more losing plays than winning plays. It happens a lot.

[wayupnorth]

Smart will (probably) never be a good offensive player but tonight is a perfect example of why he’s an invaluable piece to a championship team. He makes winning plays.

Makes lots of losing plays too

That isn't true.

No. It is actually. Not last night, necessarily. His offensive line last night is excellent.

But if you're the worst shooter in the league and you jack up a bunch of shots and you miss them.....those are losing plays.   So then all of a sudden you've made 7 losing plays but your teammates bail you out night after night, and then in the last few seconds of a game you make a well timed spectacular game winning play.  That's more losing plays than winning plays. It happens a lot.

No it doesn't.

Smart missing a 3 pointer is not a losing play.

That is disingenuous.

[IDreamCeltics]

Jeeze, Smart gets two calls in front of a home crowd that he wouldn't get in any other arena in the U.S. and his apologizers go bananas.
 

[Eja117]

Smart will (probably) never be a good offensive player but tonight is a perfect example of why he’s an invaluable piece to a championship team. He makes winning plays.

Makes lots of losing plays too

That isn't true.

No. It is actually. Not last night, necessarily. His offensive line last night is excellent.

But if you're the worst shooter in the league and you jack up a bunch of shots and you miss them.....those are losing plays.   So then all of a sudden you've made 7 losing plays but your teammates bail you out night after night, and then in the last few seconds of a game you make a well timed spectacular game winning play.  That's more losing plays than winning plays. It happens a lot.

No it doesn't.

Smart missing a 3 pointer is not a losing play.

That is disingenuous.

Let's say you shoot 1 for 9. You're team is down by two points and you finally hit a 3. Now you're 2 for 10.   

If you're Smart this is what happens. You get credited with a game winning play. Which it is. Clutch 3. Game winning play.

However had you just shot 3 for 9 (which is a pretty bad shooting night) your team wouldn't have needed that clutch 3.

So you get credit for the game winning play and free passes on the game losing ones and anyone that says anything about it is a hater.

Fine by me.

Credit where credit is due but criticism where criticism is due