we have a new Marcus Smart isn't that a gift

[rollie mass]

The heat check off the dribble is forced just be patient your teammates will get you the ball in rhythm and on your spot
Just drop the heat check the several times i have seen him shoot that its just another miss and wasted opportunity.

[Sophomore]

The heat check off the dribble is forced just be patient your teammates will get you the ball in rhythm and on your spot
Just drop the heat check the several times i have seen him shoot that its just another miss and wasted opportunity.

He still does it sometimes, but so much less than he used to, don't you think?  The improvement to 36.7% on the season is so unexpected and incredible, I still can't quite believe it's real.

[hwangjini_1]

right. and since late november of last year he is shooting at over 40% from three point land.

i am glad ainge had him sign his new contract before this. 

[jambr380]

Yeah, rollie, I agree with the Marcus Smart improvement and those dang heat checks. He is a spot up shooter, not Kyrie off the dribble. He needs to never do that again - it was so egregious last game.

But, yeah, the fact that he is draining 3s is awesome!

[Chris22]

Squaring up for a three point shot....what a concept!

[manl_lui]

i wonder if him taking a lot of end of the shotclock 3s and half time half court bomb skews his percentages in the past, this year I see him taking a lot less of those, i guess you can also say it's just better shot selection

[tstorey_97]

He's 41.8% for three in his last 12 games.

If he keeps this up?

The other team might actually start covering him!

[jambr380]

i wonder if him taking a lot of end of the shotclock 3s and half time half court bomb skews his percentages in the past, this year I see him taking a lot less of those, i guess you can also say it's just better shot selection

A big part of that is just substitution patterns. Since he is now starting, he is never in the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters and he is hardly ever going to be the guy taking the last shot in the 4th.

I don't think those shots affected his percentage all that much - it seems he is just taking better shots and in rhythm - but they certainly didn't help. I always thought they should just not count long end of quarter shots as a shot attempt (unless it goes in) to encourage more guys to toss one up there instead of half-heartedly dribbling and putting it up after the buzzer.

[trickybilly]

Better than Durant at .367 !!!!

Seriously though, we started the year stone cold from deep. Everyone, literally everyone, is shooting better now, and the wins have followed.

Still tempted to write off this Marcus Smart as an aberration, the exception rather than the rule, but one has to admit his form looks nice (as it always has). Good luck to him. Sorry for underpaying you at least 10 million.

[iadera]

The heat check off the dribble is forced just be patient your teammates will get you the ball in rhythm and on your spot
Just drop the heat check the several times i have seen him shoot that its just another miss and wasted opportunity.

He still does it sometimes, but so much less than he used to, don't you think?  The improvement to 36.7% on the season is so unexpected and incredible, I still can't quite believe it's real.

Yes, but now we have Morris who just can't resist taking every single shot. I like his role, he's a good guy, but there's just the word ''overthink'' in his vocabulary.

[gouki88]

The heat check off the dribble is forced just be patient your teammates will get you the ball in rhythm and on your spot
Just drop the heat check the several times i have seen him shoot that its just another miss and wasted opportunity.

He still does it sometimes, but so much less than he used to, don't you think?  The improvement to 36.7% on the season is so unexpected and incredible, I still can't quite believe it's real.

Yes, but now we have Morris who just can't resist taking every single shot. I like his role, he's a good guy, but there's just the word ''overthink'' in his vocabulary.

He's definitely cooled off from the start of the year, but in 2019 he's shooting 44% from the field and 36% from 3. So not exceptional, but he's definitely still a very strong piece to complement Kyrie and Al

[Androslav]

I think that Kyrie absolutely enjoys playing with Marcus.
He is so different than previous guards by his side (most notable JR, Waiters).
Also, Marcus is the guy that is willing to sacrifice, provide toughness and unselfishness,
and even though Kyrie has little left to master regarding any skill requiring the ball in his hands, I feel like thinks he has some things to learn from Marcus (vice versa too).

It is like a Barbarian and Sorcerer teamed up.

[gouki88]

Has mid-20's Marcus Smart become a mid-20's Michael Cooper type player?

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_select=Marcus+Smart&y1=2019&player_id1=smartma01&idx=players&player_id2_hint=Michael+Cooper&player_id2_select=Michael+Cooper&y2=1983&player_id2=coopemi01&idx=players

Marcus started younger and Cooper played 3 games in his rookie season, so I tried to find a middle ground, but the numbers are incredibly similar. Cooper was a much better 2 point scorer and rebounder at this stage, Smart a much better 3 point scorer, better at generating assists and a little less turnover prone, but the similarities are there.

Hopefully Marcus can get some All-Defensive recognition like Cooper did

[rollie mass]

Marcus is still 24 years old seems like more as he is the longest tenured Celtic.Marcus is a defensive force but since Kyrie has arrived he has learned how to navigate the paint using his strength to wall off his defender on his hip..
Marcus also understands how Boston fans credit a good pass like a great one..
But KYRIES influence has ratcheted up the degree of difficulty and showmanship.Marcus didn't pull a heat check last night and was again hitting his three's but he got carried away with being tricky with some passes where just a good one would do.
He is starting to develop a soft touch on his runners after watching that effect on Kyrie's always rim friendly adventures .Unfortunately his danced on the rim went in and out..
.

[johnnygreen]

If Marcus can keep this up, then his new contract almost looks like a bargain. I hate to say it, but Smart may have to be one of the main pieces (along with Tatum) in any potential Anthony Davis deal. Obviously, the fact that his contract would get the Celtics closer to matching salaries, would be the main reason for his inclusion but his level of play now will help from New Orleans' perspective too.