Marcus Smart Appreciation Thread

[BK_2020]

Was listening to Bill Simmons latest podcast and he mentioned that Marcus Smart is really hurting right now/been off social media for a couple of weeks ago.

Makes me so sad, he won't read this, but I do wish I could reach out and tell Marcus he will always be a Celtics fan favourite and I wish we could give him an honorary ring.

This is the only part of #18 I honestly feel bad/sad about, we had to do that deal (Bill also explained to help with the growth of Jaylen and Jayson) but it still does hurt.

I so wish Cobra could have been a part of our championship team.

I still love him and will always respect him and I hope he finds some happiness and success in the future with the Grizz (or any other team)

As infuriating as Marcus was, we wouldn't have win many playoff games and series in the past without him.

Wait he's hurting because we won?

[24istheLAW]

Was listening to Bill Simmons latest podcast and he mentioned that Marcus Smart is really hurting right now/been off social media for a couple of weeks ago.

Makes me so sad, he won't read this, but I do wish I could reach out and tell Marcus he will always be a Celtics fan favourite and I wish we could give him an honorary ring.

This is the only part of #18 I honestly feel bad/sad about, we had to do that deal (Bill also explained to help with the growth of Jaylen and Jayson) but it still does hurt.

I so wish Cobra could have been a part of our championship team.

I still love him and will always respect him and I hope he finds some happiness and success in the future with the Grizz (or any other team)

As infuriating as Marcus was, we wouldn't have win many playoff games and series in the past without him.

I love Marcus Smart as much as the next guy, but this is really why we needed to trade him in the first place. Too high and too low, and the team suffered from the decision-making and basketball inconsistency that resulted from his giant emotional swings.

Instead of moping, Marcus should learn how to be more like Jrue. Poise, decision-making, more controlled intensity, learn how to get out of the way of the scorers. Then he can be someone's missing piece too.

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

Full episode:

Watch on YouTube

[lon3lytoaster]

Wish I could say I missed Marcus.. but not really. I will say i do think Udoka did maximize him better than Mazzulla or Stevens but that’s not a sleight on either of them specifically.

Having Jayson take over as your main leader on the court, and Jaylen growing into the spiritual leader of the team obviously did wonders and that got them over the hump against a good Dallas team they dog walked together.

Just painfully clear Marcus had way too much of a leadership stake on this roster and with his mood swings and decision making, it was more than time to let go.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Smart should have been a backup PG not a full time starter. I loved what Smart stood for which was hustle, playing hard and having his teammates back but his zero conscience approach to shooting killed me. His three point shooting got old especially when a typical night for him would look something like 3-14. (all while leading the team in three point shot attempts)

On top of that Smart getting traded was the best thing to happen to White who is a superior player in every way. Also, you have Smart and not Holiday Boston does win the title this year. Yes Holiday had some bad games in the playoffs but Smart would have absolutely shot them out of the playoff this year.

[hugepatsfan]

I think the "problem" with Smart is that he's a PG. He's not a SG. It's just not his game. He's not a natural off ball player. Even going back to college, Smart was a 20 PPG point guard. Holiday was an off ball guard playing next to Darren Collison and then early in his NBA career he played PG but Iggy was really the main ball handler. People love to compere them and there are some similarities to their games, but also differences.

The best offensive version of Smart is as a PG. That's the role Udoka put him in and why he flourished that year. The problem with that though is that while it's his best offensive position, he's not good enough to be the primary on ball player for a championship team. You're always going to deal with offensive stagnation if he's in that role. And if you try to play him off the ball, that presents challenges as well because he's not great there.

Mazzulla came in and really embraced Tatum and Brown in on-ball roles even more than Udoka did. That pushed Smart back to an off ball role and he regressed individually. Holiday and White are great fits with Tatum and Brown because while each can run point, they really developed their off ball skills. They each came from an off ball background and learned running point at the NBA level. Cutting to the rim is natural for them. Jrue excels in the dunker spot. They made themselves into reliable shooters. Smart's innate skillset is on ball and he's had to try and learn off ball. He isn't a natural shooter. Cutting to the rim doesn't come natural.

I think MEM is going to really struggle if they try to put him in lineups with Ja Morant. I don't see that working.

IMO, Smart's best fit on a title team is going to be off the bench where he can be the lead ball handler with bench groups, paired with a good off ball scorer from the starting lineup. I don't think his offensive game off ball is starter caliber on a title team and I don't think he's good enough to be on ball. Sort of stuck in no man's land.

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

Marcus Smart, on and off the court:

[Hal14]

Happy for Marcus! I'm sure last year was tough for him..getting traded..then sitting out most of the season and being on a bad team.

But now things are looking up for Memphis..they've got everyone healthy, they added Edey, brought everyone else back and last year their young guys like GG and Vince were able to develop. They're in good shape this season for a top 6 seed and now Marcus is expected a baby so things looking up for him.

Hope he crushes it this season. That memphis team will be very interesting if they can stay healthy.

[Bad-Thoma]

Smart should have been a backup PG not a full time starter. I loved what Smart stood for which was hustle, playing hard and having his teammates back but his zero conscience approach to shooting killed me. His three point shooting got old especially when a typical night for him would look something like 3-14. (all while leading the team in three point shot attempts)

On top of that Smart getting traded was the best thing to happen to White who is a superior player in every way. Also, you have Smart and not Holiday Boston does win the title this year. Yes Holiday had some bad games in the playoffs but Smart would have absolutely shot them out of the playoff this year.

Man I thought I was done with this nonsense when Marcus was traded. "A typical night would look like 3-14". His last two seasons here as a starter playing 32 min a game he averaged 10 shots a game of which roughly 5.5 were 3s. I don't get why people need to make **** up and state it like it's fact.

[cl2117]

Happy for Marcus! I'm sure last year was tough for him..getting traded..then sitting out most of the season and being on a bad team.

But now things are looking up for Memphis..they've got everyone healthy, they added Edey, brought everyone else back and last year their young guys like GG and Vince were able to develop. They're in good shape this season for a top 6 seed and now Marcus is expected a baby so things looking up for him.

Hope he crushes it this season. That memphis team will be very interesting if they can stay healthy.

Will be interesting to see how Smart fits this season. Memphis needs a lot more shooting, which Smart won't/shouldn't try to provide. If they're going to win I think we'll see them bring back the true grit n' grind Grizzlies, which has always been one of my favorite team identities even if it's not the flashiest. Fits Smart like a glove though.

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

[Sweet Serenity]

Kind of crazy he went from being the heart & soul for a championship contender to what looks like completely forgotten about in less than two seasons.

[Fierce1]

Kind of crazy he went from being the heart & soul for a championship contender to what looks like completely forgotten about in less than two seasons.

The Celtics gave him special treatment.

Smart had his chance to prove doubters wrong when he ended up with Memphis.

But going off script and low % shooting were not tolerated by the Griz.

[Sweet Serenity]

Kind of crazy he went from being the heart & soul for a championship contender to what looks like completely forgotten about in less than two seasons.

The Celtics gave him special treatment.

Smart had his chance to prove doubters wrong when he ended up with Memphis.

But going off script and low % shooting were not tolerated by the Griz.

To be fair he was injured a lot in Memphis.

It’s an awkward situation though because everybody knows (including players, coaches, front office etc ..) we were never going to win a chip with him in the role he was.

Loved him for his hustle but Marcus Smart as your 3rd offensive option can only get you so far regardless of the talent around you.

[Fierce1]

Kind of crazy he went from being the heart & soul for a championship contender to what looks like completely forgotten about in less than two seasons.

The Celtics gave him special treatment.

Smart had his chance to prove doubters wrong when he ended up with Memphis.

But going off script and low % shooting were not tolerated by the Griz.

To be fair he was injured a lot in Memphis.

It’s an awkward situation though because everybody knows (including players, coaches, front office etc ..) we were never going to win a chip with him in the role he was.

Loved him for his hustle but Marcus Smart as your 3rd offensive option can only get you so far regardless of the talent around you.

True.

Smart is best suited coming off the bench, like what Iguodala was to GSW.

[31to6]

hope there's another act to his NBA career. He turns 31 in like 10 days. Not ready for youngamechanger's NBA days to be past-tense! (but in WAS they won't be tense)

No, I don't want him back here. I love him, but unless it were like a Joe Johnson total cameo, it would be too sad to have him around all season as a shell of himself as a player but still the same personality.

Good news for him personally is that he's guaranteed $21.5M next year. WAS probably just sits on that and then he's looking to latch on with someone like ... LAC? or similar tier as a vet min guy at age 32 for the 2026-27 season

[celtxman]

Marcus will have made over $140 million in the NBA after next year's contract. If he still has the fire he will probably be looking at a Russell Westbrook contract or less. He has to accept this and find tge right opportunity. I'm not sure there are any realistic 3 team deals that could work out