Why does Smart get so many shots?

[Spilling Green Dye]

After watching the game last night, and then checking the box score, I am still shocked to see that Marcus Smart was allowed (and encouraged?) to shoot 14 times.. tied for highest on the team with Kyrie and Tatum.  Can anyone explain why?  Defenses are clearly okay with letting him shoot.  And to top it off, there was even an end of the 3rd quarter ISO play for him to run down the clock.  Why???  Tatum, Rozier, and others were still in there I think.

Here are the effective field goal percentages:
Smart:  eFG% - 41.2% 
All other Celtics who play at least 18 minutes per game:  eFG% - 53.5%

A 12.3% difference is enormous, especially since Smart takes the 4th most shots on the team.

I love what Smart brings on the defensive end, and definitely believe he's a big positive to have on the court.  But wouldn't it make sense to distribute most of his shots to other players?  I doubt the other players' FG% would drop anywhere close to 12% due to the increased load.

[Csfan1984]

You watched that game and had a problem with Smart taking shots?

I ask because it was pretty clear Smart was just being aggressive to keep Cavs honest. The bench played a lot and when guys missed a few in a row they got timid until Smart got aggressive. Then everyone was more relaxed hit or miss. Sometimes it's not making shots that helps teammates but showing them not to fear.

[Snakehead]

You watched that game and had a problem with Smart taking shots?

I ask because it was pretty clear Smart was just being aggressive to keep Cavs honest.

Yes.  He was running pick and roll and the offense and they were leaving him wide open and going under every screen.  He should punish them.

Being aggressive and looking for and being able to get into a shot are all skills and talents.  Someone has to shoot. It's the same thing that keeps a Jeff Green from being a more impactful player.  Smart has never been afraid to.  If he keeps working on his shooting its part of what could make him that much better.

[SHAQATTACK]

Be.....cause .......he is smart ?

[Big333223]

Because a player who doesn't shoot is worse than a player who shoots a low percentage.  And Smart earns his playing time with defense, running the offense well, and hustle. If he's on the court, he has to shoot sometimes and when he should be on the court because the team plays better with him there.

The shot at the end of the third was ugly but I think those plays are a lot fewer and farther between than many would have you believe. He shoots poorly but he's a smarter player than he's given credit for.

[KGBirdBias]

I've been asking this question ALL SEASON. Not only Smart, but Baynes and Theis. The defense wants them to take shots and the ball just ends up finding them. Too many PnRs are run with Smart and a big. For the umpteenth time I would run more PnRs with Tatum and Rozier.

Bad shooters wonder why they're always open and their first instinct is to shoot. The opponent says, they took the bait...don't take the bait. Drive and dish, make the defense rotate again and get a better shot from a better shooter. Smart shot well last night, it's when he's not shooting well that scares me.

[bellerephon]

Smart was 6-14 last night and 3-6 from 3. He was on last night and should have been looking for his shot. It’s on the nights that he’s missing that he ought to shoot less.

[mctyson]

You watched that game and had a problem with Smart taking shots?

I ask because it was pretty clear Smart was just being aggressive to keep Cavs honest.

Yes.  He was running pick and roll and the offense and they were leaving him wide open and going under every screen.  He should punish them.

Being aggressive and looking for and being able to get into a shot are all skills and talents.  Someone has to shoot. It's the same thing that keeps a Jeff Green from being a more impactful player.  Smart has never been afraid to.  If he keeps working on his shooting its part of what could make him that much better.

Completely agree.  In Stevens' first year, with Rondo, the offense was considerably painful to watch because Rondo legit refused to shoot the ball, even layups.  Their offense is about getting the 'best look' and if people are going to go under screens and leave Smart wide open for threes, he has to take them.

[cman88]

For people saying he should take the open shots, wouldnt those shots going to a better offensive player like Tatum/Irving lead to higher offense?

not saying he shouldnt shoot, but he shouldnt shoot 14 times in a game. Too many times I see the ball never go to tatum when Smart is on the floor and hes looking for his own shot.

Only difference is one guy shoots 30% and the other 49%

hes great at passing/defense but he needs better shot selection...

[Fafnir]

First of all he doesn't take that many shots, his usage is 19.4. That's really low for a player who runs the point a lot of his time on the floor.

But sure some games he gets quite a few shots, largely by design of the opposition. Other teams want Smart to shoot for the most part.

They give him the space to shoot on drives (the lob play is probably their number one concern in the P&R involving Smart), if they rotate on perimeter passing he's the guy the choose to leave open when they can, they run under screens in pick and rolls on the perimeter, etc.

There is a reason he gets a lot of wide open 3s on kick outs, teams help off him especially when he's at the 2 or 3 and off ball.

[CF033]

The thing I wonder is what's going on behind the scenes. For all we know Smart could be shooting lights-out in practice and Brad is trying to get him up to that level in games, who knows.

I just remember when those videos of Smart swishing 35 foot shots came out before the season we had all thought he was going to be a majorly improved shooter this year and that he 'fixed' his shot.

Whether that ever really translates into games with any consistency I guess we'll see.

Overall I like him as a player, especially when he's annoying the crap out of the opposition with his D. But agreed he does shoot a lot.

[coffee425]

Every coach will tell you they would rather he be aggressive and miss shots than not even look to attack.

Ask how teams guard Andre Roberson. And we all know how much we hated Olynyk's passivity.

[Fafnir]

For people saying he should take the open shots, wouldnt those shots going to a better offensive player like Tatum/Irving lead to higher offense?

not saying he shouldnt shoot, but he shouldnt shoot 14 times in a game. Too many times I see the ball never go to tatum when Smart is on the floor and hes looking for his own shot.

Only difference is one guy shoots 30% and the other 49%

hes great at passing/defense but he needs better shot selection...

I disagree, Smart largely takes good shots within the offense most of the time. He's just overall a bad shooter. FWIW Smart's usage is not very high and he's only shooting 11 shots per 36. That's not a lot.

Same reason I like Theis and Baynes taking a few 15 foot shots when they are open, or the occasional 3 point shot. You have to make other teams treat all 5 players like threats if you want ball movement to work.

[Eja117]

They leave him undefended which results in wide open shots. I have no problem with him taking a wide open shot, especially if we have a good presence under the rim.

[apc]

That’s the only way to get over a 2 year shooting slump.