When Marcus Smart shoots well from deep

[action781]

In 19 games where Marcus hits four or more 3-pointers in his pro career, the Celtics have a record of 4-15.  In each of those 19 games he not only drills a few, but also shoots a respectable percent -- over 40% from beyond the arc in each of them.

I've been mentally noting this for a while and decided to dig into the stats and find out.  Crazy stat, huh?

Tried googling it to see if this was already out there, but haven't seen it.  Just this article and a similar one about a year ago.  http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21589757/nba-more-bricks-better-marcus-smart-celtics

I can't get over how odd this is.

[keevsnick]

In 19 games where Marcus hits four or more 3-pointers in his pro career, the Celtics have a record of 4-15.  In each of those 19 games he not only drills a few, but also shoots a respectable percent -- over 40% from beyond the arc in each of them.

I've been mentally noting this for a while and decided to dig into the stats and find out.  Crazy stat, huh?

Tried googling it to see if this was already out there, but haven't seen it.  Just this article and a similar one about a year ago.  http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21589757/nba-more-bricks-better-marcus-smart-celtics

I can't get over how odd this is.

Marcus is a bad shooter, but he is also streaky. When he hits a few to start a game he often takes more and because he is streaky can make them. As for why we lose, its because the very fact that Marcus Smart is getting threes up means that whatever we were doing offensively probably wasn't working all that well. If it was, Smart isn't taking a lot of threes.   

[action781]

In 19 games where Marcus hits four or more 3-pointers in his pro career, the Celtics have a record of 4-15.  In each of those 19 games he not only drills a few, but also shoots a respectable percent -- over 40% from beyond the arc in each of them.

I've been mentally noting this for a while and decided to dig into the stats and find out.  Crazy stat, huh?

Tried googling it to see if this was already out there, but haven't seen it.  Just this article and a similar one about a year ago.  http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21589757/nba-more-bricks-better-marcus-smart-celtics

I can't get over how odd this is.

Marcus is a bad shooter, but he is also streaky. When he hits a few to start a game he often takes more and because he is streaky can make them. As for why we lose, its because the very fact that Marcus Smart is getting threes up means that whatever we were doing offensively probably wasn't working all that well. If it was, Smart isn't taking a lot of threes.

It's not about taking a lot of threes though -- its specifically about making them. 

For example, consider last season all the games in which Smart attempted 7 of more 3s.  Check out his shooting percentages in those games and the result:

6/12 - loss
2/11 - win
4/10 - loss
5/9 - loss
6/9 - loss
3/8 - loss
3/7 loss
1/7 - win
1/7 - win
0/7 - win

We won whenever he shot poorly and lost every time he shot respectable or well.

[action781]

Eh this all could just be random chance and an overreaction I suppose.  I just found it odd.   Maybe something to check back on down the road though.

[moiso]

It is pretty interesting.  Smart's shot selection seems much better this year so lets see if this stat holds up.

[JSD]

The good shooting gives him irrational confidence down the stretch maybe? I'd be curious how Smart shoots in the 1st half verse the 2nd half in the sample size you provided. Very interesting. TP

[Who]

He seems to step up and knock down shots when the rest of the team is playing badly.

[Celtics4ever]

I can't get over how odd this is.

It just coincidence.

He seems to step up and knock down shots when the rest of the team is playing badly.

Agree, TP

[smokeablount]

In 19 games where Marcus hits four or more 3-pointers in his pro career, the Celtics have a record of 4-15.  In each of those 19 games he not only drills a few, but also shoots a respectable percent -- over 40% from beyond the arc in each of them.

...

I can't get over how odd this is.

I think the only thing we can really interpret from this data is something that we all already know: that Marcus Smart's contribution to winning has little to do with his scoring, and especially not his sharpshooting.  I know that's very broad, but that is a conclusion I can draw from the data.

[rondofan1255]

He seems to step up and knock down shots when the rest of the team is playing badly.

my thoughts too, fueling comebacks.