Marcus Smart: "Jayson and Jaylen, they don't want to pass the ball"

[robbie84]

Man I’ve been hearing for years how Tatum is the next Kobe blah blah blah. What happened y’all? Seems like everybody has flipped on him this year

7 games in is always hot take city on RealGM.

Marcus Smart is frustrated with his own poor start and is taking it out on the Jays. Brown's been good considering he had covid, and Tatum always sucks in the first 10 games.

The funny thing is they could easily be 5 wins, 2 losses after some tuuurrible play so far.

Tatum in particular is having difficulty adjusting to the physicality this year. The refs are really letting them play hard, hand check, body etc and he's getting flustered a bit like Harden.

But yeah, this is RealGM where dude goes from a top 10/15 player in previous season to a chump after a mediocre first 7 games.

[bebopdeluxe]

this is not going to make j&j happy but then again as leaders they're not taking the celts anywhere anyway

so, on nbaTV they were saying this should be kept in house.
screw that.
these guys are not children. they're grown men getting paid millions to do better

sometimes it's better to let everyone know your goals so that it forces you to make good on those goals

Agree 1,000%. This "we ONLY keep it IN HOUSE" ish is ridiculous.

You don't want your teammates or coaches to criticize you in public? PLAY BETTER.

[bebopdeluxe]

Just like with Embiid, saying it in public is just not helpful to anyone

Smart is upping Embiid's hand by throwing 2 guys under the bus

Embiid didn't throw Simmons under the bus. He was asked a question. He answered it.

And here is the thing - EVERY SIXERS FAN would have answered that question the EXACT same way. Hell, every NBA fan who watched that freaking game would have answered it the same way. I don't have the same level of knowledge about the C's situation, but the issue with Simmons - not shooting the ball and disappearing at the end of playoff games - had been a CHRONIC problem. The Sixers tried in house. They tried gentle jibes after games. NOTHING WORKED.

Oh, but we can't say anything in public! Why not? Ummm...you know...the player's code...keep it IN HOUSE...er...aahhh...

[bebopdeluxe]

I feel like this is weirdly positive.

He's definitely not wrong. The Jay's are outstanding, but Tatum loves to play 1 on 1 far too much despite having some really solid passing abilities and Brown simply doesn't have those facilitating instincts. Honestly given where they are age/experience wise, it's not like this massive critique of them, it's almost to be expected. Still though its a massive flaw in the construction of this team.

Smart is throwing gas on the fire, but I'd rather they either get their **** together and get this under control by re-focusing as a team or alternatively have this flame out rather than having to watch it slowly burn to the ground.

Either these guys are gonna take the criticism on the chin and acknowledge that they need to play differently or they're going to start pointing fingers at each other/Smart and it's going to get ugly. I just want it to come to a head sooner rather than later, so again this is a weirdly positive thing.

The bright side is that they should/could have won most of the games they've been in. It's not lack of talent, but just execution and play style (coaching as well). All very fixable, but only if guys want to.

Solid post by a Celtics fan who GETS IT.

[Chanel Bomber]

It's time we came to terms with what Tatum/Brown are. They're ball dominant , good efficiency blackholes that aren't nearly as good on defense as their reputations. They're both young and can improve their skills but their BBall-IQ needs drastic help.

They can't lead to deep into the playoffs and definitely cannot carry you to a title without a huge amount of additional help. Al Horford was the only player tonight that didn't fold under pressure and made smart plays. Tatum and Brown just shotjacked and took low-IQ fouls when they were over the limit.

It's no wonder the addition of another selfish immature shotjacker (kyrie) caused such a meltdown in Boston. The entire team is centered around two of them. Tatum needs to be a second option and Brown should have been traded for a legit star.

Tatum is only average in scoring efficiency. It's been a constant throughout his (young) career.

His game can be mesmerizing to watch at times because of the sheer talent but I don't think he plays team basketball at all. High in skill, but low in impact.

I don't think the chemistry's there between Tatum and Brown anyway, and Smart's comments just add another layer of complexity.

Oof.

[bebopdeluxe]

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FACTS

[mg]

In this case there was nothing to keep "in house" since the whole world can clearly see that the 2 J's do not pass the ball. There has already been at least one thread on this forum addressing the same issue.

FWIW Smart has gotten off to a slow start this season but he's the vet leader on that team even though he's more of a roleplayer. I don't really think anything he said would be considered outlandish at all.

[sikma42]

Disappointing that Tatum and Brown didn't speak to the media after the game. Horrible leadership, even after the game. They aren't little kids.

[ItsDanger]

Smart has a 29.3 FG% currently. Maybe that's why they don't pass. Limited scoring talent on that roster.

[iLLmatic860]

Smart has a 29.3 FG% currently. Maybe that's why they don't pass. Limited scoring talent on that roster.

Hard to get a rhythm with no ball movement. Hes a spot up shooter

[everdiso]

Smart has a 29.3 FG% currently. Maybe that's why they don't pass. Limited scoring talent on that roster.

Seriously - pass it to who? Smart? Schroder? Richardson? Williams?

None of them can shoot.

[sikma42]

Smart has a 29.3 FG% currently. Maybe that's why they don't pass. Limited scoring talent on that roster.

when you're a great player, it's your job to get your teammates in rhythm and have them performing at an optimal level. Tatum gets more excuses made for him than any other person ive seen in a long time.

Tatum has to "create" offense. Not just pass it off and say its your turn. Kobe was out there creating with Smush Parker and Kwame Brown. You telling me that Tatum can't create with this team around him. Distort the defense and pick it apart. The game is more than chaining together isolation moves. As much Kobe scored in isolation, there was always a bigger picture in mind.

[mtcan]

It's time we came to terms with what Tatum/Brown are. They're ball dominant , good efficiency blackholes that aren't nearly as good on defense as their reputations. They're both young and can improve their skills but their BBall-IQ needs drastic help.

They can't lead to deep into the playoffs and definitely cannot carry you to a title without a huge amount of additional help. Al Horford was the only player tonight that didn't fold under pressure and made smart plays. Tatum and Brown just shotjacked and took low-IQ fouls when they were over the limit.

It's no wonder the addition of another selfish immature shotjacker (kyrie) caused such a meltdown in Boston. The entire team is centered around two of them. Tatum needs to be a second option and Brown should have been traded for a legit star.

I feel like Boston is a good landing spot for Ben Simmons.

Brown and Smart to Philly for Simmons and either Thybulle or Maxey.

[Lunartic]

It's time we came to terms with what Tatum/Brown are. They're ball dominant , good efficiency blackholes that aren't nearly as good on defense as their reputations. They're both young and can improve their skills but their BBall-IQ needs drastic help.

They can't lead to deep into the playoffs and definitely cannot carry you to a title without a huge amount of additional help. Al Horford was the only player tonight that didn't fold under pressure and made smart plays. Tatum and Brown just shotjacked and took low-IQ fouls when they were over the limit.

It's no wonder the addition of another selfish immature shotjacker (kyrie) caused such a meltdown in Boston. The entire team is centered around two of them. Tatum needs to be a second option and Brown should have been traded for a legit star.

I feel like Boston is a good landing spot for Ben Simmons.

Brown and Smart to Philly for Simmons and either Thybulle or Maxey.

Brown is far too good to be traded for a malcontent super-role player like Simmons. Throwing Smart in the deal just makes it worse.

[basketballRob]

He's Smart.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Bad-Thoma]

Smart's not wrong. The execution last night was great for 3 quarters but the J's don't trust their teammates down the stretch and the defense double and triple teams them. They're both fantastic offensive players who need to learn to move the ball whether it's for an open teammate to shoot or so they can get the ball back with a higher percentage opportunity. It'll get better, it's been a frustrating start to the season with 3 OT games (2 double OT games) and some blown chances but wins cure all and the team's not as bad as they've been.

[mtcan]

It's time we came to terms with what Tatum/Brown are. They're ball dominant , good efficiency blackholes that aren't nearly as good on defense as their reputations. They're both young and can improve their skills but their BBall-IQ needs drastic help.

They can't lead to deep into the playoffs and definitely cannot carry you to a title without a huge amount of additional help. Al Horford was the only player tonight that didn't fold under pressure and made smart plays. Tatum and Brown just shotjacked and took low-IQ fouls when they were over the limit.

It's no wonder the addition of another selfish immature shotjacker (kyrie) caused such a meltdown in Boston. The entire team is centered around two of them. Tatum needs to be a second option and Brown should have been traded for a legit star.

I feel like Boston is a good landing spot for Ben Simmons.

Brown and Smart to Philly for Simmons and either Thybulle or Maxey.

Brown is far too good to be traded for a malcontent super-role player like Simmons. Throwing Smart in the deal just makes it worse.

Therein lies the problem. Fans complain about how these guys look too much for their own and it is leading to a poor chemistry and losing...so are they really too good to trade or would a change of personnel be warranted? So which is it? Are Tatum and Brown part of the problem?

Don't overvalued your assets. I'm not a Ben Simmons and I would hate him on the Raptors but for a team like the Celtics who have reliable 2 first scoring options...you can afford to deal one of them in exchange for the defence and playmaking that Simmons provides.

[Lunartic]

I feel like Boston is a good landing spot for Ben Simmons.

Brown and Smart to Philly for Simmons and either Thybulle or Maxey.

Brown is far too good to be traded for a malcontent super-role player like Simmons. Throwing Smart in the deal just makes it worse.

Therein lies the problem. Fans complain about how these guys look too much for their own and it is leading to a poor chemistry and losing...so are they really too good to trade or would a change of personnel be warranted? So which is it? Are Tatum and Brown part of the problem?

Don't overvalued your assets. I'm not a Ben Simmons and I would hate him on the Raptors but for a team like the Celtics who have reliable 2 first scoring options...you can afford to deal one of them in exchange for the defence and playmaking that Simmons provides.

I understand your point - my issue is that trading someone of Brown's caliber should net you more than Simmons. Simmons isn't reliable in the playoffs and the Celtics have playoff dreams.

Trading away a solid defending, efficient scoring two-way player for someone significantly worse than him isn't a recipe for winning. Trading All-stars for non-stars isn't a good move. Talent > Fit

Any team that plays the C's in the playoffs would just ignore Simmons and double Tatum.


Brown is an all-star and should be packaged for a supertstar-tier player along with picks/Smart/whatever.

[mtcan]

Brown is far too good to be traded for a malcontent super-role player like Simmons. Throwing Smart in the deal just makes it worse.

Therein lies the problem. Fans complain about how these guys look too much for their own and it is leading to a poor chemistry and losing...so are they really too good to trade or would a change of personnel be warranted? So which is it? Are Tatum and Brown part of the problem?

Don't overvalued your assets. I'm not a Ben Simmons and I would hate him on the Raptors but for a team like the Celtics who have reliable 2 first scoring options...you can afford to deal one of them in exchange for the defence and playmaking that Simmons provides.

I understand your point - my issue is that trading someone of Brown's caliber should net you more than Simmons. Simmons isn't reliable in the playoffs and the Celtics have playoff dreams.

Trading away a solid defending, efficient scoring two-way player for someone significantly worse than him isn't a recipe for winning. Trading All-stars for non-stars isn't a good move. Talent > Fit

Any team that plays the C's in the playoffs would just ignore Simmons and double Tatum.


Brown is an all-star and should be packaged for a supertstar-tier player along with picks/Smart/whatever.

But Ben Simmons is also an all-star...multiple time all-star.

My point is that Ben gives you something elite but different than what Brown or Tatum bring...and as long as you keep one of Brown or Tatum...Simmons' playmaking might bring out a bit more from Schroeder, Nesmith, Richardson, etc...something you are not seeing when Tatum and Brown are taking all the shots.

Simmons is probably best as a 3rd or 4th option on offense but the defence and playmaking is valuable...something that Brown isn't giving you enough of.

[bebopdeluxe]

Smart has a 29.3 FG% currently. Maybe that's why they don't pass. Limited scoring talent on that roster.

Seriously - pass it to who? Smart? Schroder? Richardson? Williams?

None of them can shoot.

Look at the Sixers roster that beat the Blazers last night. No Embiid. No Simmons. No Harris. Green gets hurt midway through the game. The team started ANDRE DRUMMOND - and he had SEVEN assists last night. SEVEN.

Maxey is still learning PG. They went 10 deep without their three best players and had THIRTY FOUR assists.

PASS THE FREAKING BALL.