StojkoVrankovic wrote:Outside of his lack of aggression, he is playing exactly like he did in college. He is taking the same questionable 3 point shots that he did in college, you don't have to tell him to focus on that aspect. That is his game.
My issue if that the team doesn't seem to know what to do with him. He can't shoot to save his life and isn't a PG regardless of how desperate people want that to be true.
sam_I_am wrote:The only shot Smart can take is an uncontested 3. And they will remain uncontested because he is a dreadful shooter. The idea that he isn't driving because he is being coached that way is BS. He just can't do it at NBA level.
Stop making excuses based on theories that make no sense. If you call it like you see it, you must come to conclusion that Marcus Smart has no NBA caliber scoring ability yet. He has a lot of development to do. But like Avery Bradley, he will get playing time because he can play defense at a superior level.
Slartibartfast wrote:
The 80% 3Pr likely doesn't mean much to the coaches because of how low his overall shot volume is.
He's playing like he's Derek Fisher - a defensive specialist who moves the ball and shoots 3's and only drives when the lane is wide open. Only he's not shooting anywhere near as well as Fish.
This is not the player we want him becoming and it's concerning that he's spending all of preseason playing like it.
And this is not normal. He's the first lottery rookie I've seen come into preseason who has completely abandoned the supposed strength of his offensive game.
Per 36 this preseason he's putting up 9/6/3 on 27% shooting - that's worse than what Phil Pressey put up last year in preseason. He's looked really good defensively, but he's been a turd as a scorer both in terms of efficiency and aggressiveness.
While BfB may ultimately be right on this one--that early season prerogatives and preestablished pecking order are coloring our perception of Marcus' game--all you guys are making super solid points. This isn't the guy we saw in college and it's troubling because that guy we saw in college is somebody we could use RIGHT NOW.
A couple points to add:
1. The
Avery Bradley Corollary: when you're smart, humble, work hard, and have strong character traits--you tend to succeed, not only in basketball but in life. So while everything Sam, Slart, and Stoyko are saying rings true, I'm not worried--this kid will get it. He works too hard not to get it. He's too smart not to get it. His shot will improve and he'll start getting into the lane. Whether that's because the coaching staff starts to ask more of him or because a light eventually comes on for Marcus, that's debatable. We don't know his true position--he might not even have a position, who knows--but none of that matters, this kid will be fine.
2. I don't mind all the 3s. That's the way the game is now--3s and layups and abstinence education. I'd prefer he get into the lane more, not even as a scorer but as a prober of the defense, but I think that'll come. I see a lot of caution in his game now. A lot of trying to be a technical PG and not enough of letting his instincts dictate what he does.
3. He's still not a PG, though his ability to resemble one is a fine trick. But that trick is making some forget what this kid does well--SCORING. The neutered Marcus Smart who plays like Derrick Fisher and runs offense and shoots 3s has convinced people like Humble that he's got natural PG skills but all it's convinced me is that we're working with a highly intelligent and highly coachable young man. I had concern about his attitude and self-destructive anger issues last year this time and thru the first month those concerns have not once resurfaced. This kid gets it, and he'll do what you tell him. I also think--based on his college tape--that he's more than able to improvise and play free too. He's not one of these players who needs structure to thrive (like the protypical role player) or who needs chaos to blossom (like a Ricky Davis). He can do both; hell, he can do it all. His versatility is not only his greatest strength, it's what spawns 20 page threads about him and causes all kinds of confusion about who he is and what the Cs have in him as a player. Well, let me set the record straight--we're talking about a guy who can fit a lot of roles on a lot of teams. What he's doing as a 20 year old rookie on this team just doesn't begin to explain the kind of player he'll be in his prime.
4. What BfB is getting at shouldn't be ignored though: Brad seems to have created a preseason role with Marcus that does 2 things: gets him much needed work on the mundane PG things like pace setting, facilitation, initiated offense in a timely manner while also getting him lots of spot up looks from deep. What he's not getting is scoring plays run for him, either in the post or around screens. And also: no P&R reps. When you're busy being the PG on a team that's stressing ball movement, pace, and defense, and you're not getting P&R opportunities, well, it's going to be difficult to generate penetration...because penetration involves one of two things: either a pick or 5-10 seconds to dribble the ball. He's getting neither right now.
5. Why is his role so circumscribed? Because when Rondo gets back Marcus will be off the ball. There's no point prepping Smart as the isolation scoring PG everybody wants him to be when that role just isn't available. Not only is Rondo in his way, Evan Turner is a much better PG option as well. Whether Smart can EVENTUALLY be that guy is a debate for another day--he's not getting the opportunity right now. What he's being groomed as is a defensive game changer, a 3 point bomber, and EVENTUALLY a secondary P&R player who works from the wings. This classic PG training is invaluable right now because it lays the groundwork to get him thinking about better shot selection down the road--something he'll need to work on if he wants to become a scoring PG.
***
A coda:
I'll disagree with Bill on one point--Rondo and Turner won't be staggered in their substitutions. I think they'll play a lot together, and that Rondo/Smart/Turner will be one of our best offensive lineups. Before people saying SPACING let me add that if you play with pace and share the ball then space isn't a concern. Pace creates space, and having 3 P&R players playing at a high pace is very difficult to defend if you surround them with knockdown shooters like KO, Sully, Green, or rolling bigs like Zeller. Plus, I think Rondo/Turner/Smart will all hit enough open 3s to keep the defense honest.
I'm loving this team right now--loving their attention to detail, willingness to play with pace, and the cohesion and adherence to what Brad's laying down. Assuming good health, they will surprise people.
The leaks are real...the news is fake.
I'm just here for the memes.