Marcus Smart

[DarkAzcura]

I like Turner a lot. Seems like a great teammate and he helped us a ton, but handing over the reigns to Smart was long overdue, IMO. It's fine though. Smart is only in his third year, and he seems to be developing very well now.

[TheOGJabroni]

Make sure he keeps this haircut and never goes back to that floppy crap he had earlier this year.

Look good, feel good, play good.

[sam_I_am]

The Cobra is on the rise, he's the heart and soul of this ball club.

Where did this nickname come from? Seems like the Python makes more sense given his suffocating defense.

Thx.

[Slartibartfast]

I like Turner a lot. Seems like a great teammate and he helped us a ton, but handing over the reigns to Smart was long overdue, IMO. It's fine though. Smart is only in his third year, and he seems to be developing very well now.

Statistically I don't see Marcus developing much at all.

His 3-point shooting is up marginally, helping him match his rookie year TS% and his assists are up post-Evan, but his turnovers are too. He's having a great February, but he was totally within his norms in every other month this season.

He has been a positive impact guy from day 1, but he hasn't developed much at all.

[djFan71]

Anyone tracking data on Smart faux hawk vs Smart flat top? I know there was data on him braid vs non braids, but I think the flat top has really helped him shine. I think I've read on twitter somewhere he's been getting more calls even since he's gone with the more traditional flat top. Now we have two current Celtics whose performance is linked with hairstyles. Got to be a trend.

Time to revisit this one????

Watch on YouTube

[Writebloc]

Anyone tracking data on Smart faux hawk vs Smart flat top? I know there was data on him braid vs non braids, but I think the flat top has really helped him shine. I think I've read on twitter somewhere he's been getting more calls even since he's gone with the more traditional flat top. Now we have two current Celtics whose performance is linked with hairstyles. Got to be a trend.

Time to revisit this one????

Watch on YouTube

This is a great video, but I find it oddly distracting that it doesn't have a sound track?

[DarkAzcura]

I like Turner a lot. Seems like a great teammate and he helped us a ton, but handing over the reigns to Smart was long overdue, IMO. It's fine though. Smart is only in his third year, and he seems to be developing very well now.

Statistically I don't see Marcus developing much at all.

His 3-point shooting is up marginally, helping him match his rookie year TS% and his assists are up post-Evan, but his turnovers are too. He's having a great February, but he was totally within his norms in every other month this season.

He has been a positive impact guy from day 1, but he hasn't developed much at all.

You are kidding right? Unless you don't think shot selection is development? His handles, BBIQ, and general passing instincts are night and day improved from his rookie year. I'd have to check his PnR stats, but I bet those are also night and day compared to his rookie year.

Just because his raw statistics have been on a plateau doesn't mean he hasn't been improving and developing.

[Wes-J]

Spoiler:

I hate to bandwagon, but this why i created the (in-)famous 'get Evan Turner out of town' thread two and a half years ago. People called me out, said ET was a 6th man of the year candidate and what not, but in reality our secondary playmaker was drafted before we signed Turner. Smart should have been handling the ball a long time ago, he could be far more advanced in his development if not for the irrational love fest for Turner.

The Cobra is on the rise, he's the heart and soul of this ball club.

SMH

Justifiably called out. ET proved time and again why he was valuable if WINNING is what's important, not appeasing the masses like you that want to see the RJ Hunters and James Youngs of the world not earn their time. Good thing you ain't running stuff.

No one here i remember advocated signing him long term for any significant chunk of change, you were just hating cause it was egg on your face for that lame ass thread of yours.

I find it quite ironic how you praise the likes of Smart and diminish the value of ET in the same breath.

If you didn't have that Ohio state symbol under your name i'd argue for pages, weeks and months with you about this topic, but then again you have your opinion, i've got mine. Feel free to praise ET but i still wonder why Portland is worse this year despite keeping the core players and adding that 'winning' player in Turner.

Not a damn thing you could argue, that is unless you think you're smarter than CBS and Ainge.

It couldn't of worked out better yet you continue to beat this dead horse.

[Slartibartfast]

I like Turner a lot. Seems like a great teammate and he helped us a ton, but handing over the reigns to Smart was long overdue, IMO. It's fine though. Smart is only in his third year, and he seems to be developing very well now.

Statistically I don't see Marcus developing much at all.

His 3-point shooting is up marginally, helping him match his rookie year TS% and his assists are up post-Evan, but his turnovers are too. He's having a great February, but he was totally within his norms in every other month this season.

He has been a positive impact guy from day 1, but he hasn't developed much at all.

You are kidding right? Unless you don't think shot selection is development? His handles, BBIQ, and general passing instincts are night and day improved from his rookie year. I'd have to check his PnR stats, but I bet those are also night and day compared to his rookie year.

Just because his raw statistics have been on a plateau doesn't mean he hasn't been improving and developing.

His improved shot selection has earned him a TS% nearly identical to his rookie year. His BBIQ was great from day 1 as were his passing instincts. His handles still aren't good enough to consistently get him to the rack and to the FT line - his FTr and at-rim attempts are actually down slightly from last year. His assists are improved because ET is gone, not because he's blossomed as a playmaker - his A:TO is static.

The biggest things Marcus needed to improve on to become a better player were his shooting from range and his ability to use his size and agility to get more and higher percentage scoring opportunities attacking the paint. His deep shot hasn't improved at all and his slashing/interior game has stagnated after some slightly promising developments last year.

So no, there's not much development to be excited about, just small improvements at the margins.

[SMTBSI]

.

The Cobra is on the rise, he's the heart and soul of this ball club

Where did this nickname come from? Seems like the Python makes more sense given his suffocating defense.

In my personal opinion, an opportunity was missed here. Any time I watch a video of a cobra getting pwnd by a mongoose, I just think, Marcus would never get done like that.

He should have been the mongoose. It may not sound as cool, but I think it's even more reflective of what he does. He's a flat out predator.

[DarkAzcura]

Statistically I don't see Marcus developing much at all.

His 3-point shooting is up marginally, helping him match his rookie year TS% and his assists are up post-Evan, but his turnovers are too. He's having a great February, but he was totally within his norms in every other month this season.

He has been a positive impact guy from day 1, but he hasn't developed much at all.

You are kidding right? Unless you don't think shot selection is development? His handles, BBIQ, and general passing instincts are night and day improved from his rookie year. I'd have to check his PnR stats, but I bet those are also night and day compared to his rookie year.

Just because his raw statistics have been on a plateau doesn't mean he hasn't been improving and developing.

His improved shot selection has earned him a TS% nearly identical to his rookie year. His BBIQ was great from day 1 as were his passing instincts. His handles still aren't good enough to consistently get him to the rack and to the FT line - his FTr and at-rim attempts are actually down slightly from last year. His assists are improved because ET is gone, not because he's blossomed as a playmaker - his A:TO is static.

The biggest things Marcus needed to improve on to become a better player were his shooting from range and his ability to use his size and agility to get more and higher percentage scoring opportunities attacking the paint. His deep shot hasn't improved at all and his slashing/interior game has stagnated after some slightly promising developments last year.

So no, there's not much development to be excited about, just small improvements at the margins.

Well this is where I really disagree. His FG% in the 3-10 foot range has gone up from 32% to 42%. He's posting up a lot more, and he is doing it pretty successfully. By my eye test there is a major improvement in his handle comfort wise. I'd say his improvement in the paint statistically reflects that.

I think you are downplaying what improving at the margins does for Smart. If he continues to tighten up his handle and jump shot, and becomes a 42/35% type of player (FG/3P), you are looking at a 14-15/5/5 all defensive type of player. That is borderline all star type play, where as right now he is a solid starter/good 6th man.

[casketball]

I think the Bulldog describes Marcus well

[Fidel Sarcasmo]

Mongoose>all snakes
I vote we rename Marcus, The Mongoose

[djFan71]

.

The Cobra is on the rise, he's the heart and soul of this ball club

Where did this nickname come from? Seems like the Python makes more sense given his suffocating defense.

In my personal opinion, an opportunity was missed here. Any time I watch a video of a cobra getting pwnd by a mongoose, I just think, Marcus would never get done like that.

He should have been the mongoose. It may not sound as cool, but I think it's even more reflective of what he does. He's a flat out predator.

2 things.

1. Pretty sure it was from the walking the dog play:
http://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4721573/dont-walk-the-dog-around-the-celtics-marcus-smart

Smart was perched about 10 feet away from the ball, outside the center-court logo, but eventually lunged like a cobra as the ball rolled near Sloan's feet.

2. How often do you watch cobras getting pwnd by mongoose videos?

[SMTBSI]

2. How often do you watch cobras getting pwnd by mongoose videos?

I mean, here and there.

[djFan71]

2. How often do you watch cobras getting pwnd by mongoose videos?

I mean, here and there.

So just the right amount.

[Homerclease]

Turner was a necessary evil as a set of training wheels to Marcus, he wasn't ready to handle the ball as much as he is this year without Turner as a fallback option. Right time right place for Evan but he was never in the long term plan here

[Writebloc]

.

Where did this nickname come from? Seems like the Python makes more sense given his suffocating defense.

In my personal opinion, an opportunity was missed here. Any time I watch a video of a cobra getting pwnd by a mongoose, I just think, Marcus would never get done like that.

He should have been the mongoose. It may not sound as cool, but I think it's even more reflective of what he does. He's a flat out predator.

2 things.

1. Pretty sure it was from the walking the dog play:
http://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4721573/dont-walk-the-dog-around-the-celtics-marcus-smart

Smart was perched about 10 feet away from the ball, outside the center-court logo, but eventually lunged like a cobra as the ball rolled near Sloan's feet.

2. How often do you watch cobras getting pwnd by mongoose videos?

All I know is that Rikki Tikki Tavi was the GOAT of Mongeese.

Watch on YouTube

[VeryMuchWoke]

You are kidding right? Unless you don't think shot selection is development? His handles, BBIQ, and general passing instincts are night and day improved from his rookie year. I'd have to check his PnR stats, but I bet those are also night and day compared to his rookie year.

Just because his raw statistics have been on a plateau doesn't mean he hasn't been improving and developing.

His improved shot selection has earned him a TS% nearly identical to his rookie year. His BBIQ was great from day 1 as were his passing instincts. His handles still aren't good enough to consistently get him to the rack and to the FT line - his FTr and at-rim attempts are actually down slightly from last year. His assists are improved because ET is gone, not because he's blossomed as a playmaker - his A:TO is static.

The biggest things Marcus needed to improve on to become a better player were his shooting from range and his ability to use his size and agility to get more and higher percentage scoring opportunities attacking the paint. His deep shot hasn't improved at all and his slashing/interior game has stagnated after some slightly promising developments last year.

So no, there's not much development to be excited about, just small improvements at the margins.

Well this is where I really disagree. His FG% in the 3-10 foot range has gone up from 32% to 42%. He's posting up a lot more, and he is doing it pretty successfully. By my eye test there is a major improvement in his handle comfort wise. I'd say his improvement in the paint statistically reflects that.

I think you are downplaying what improving at the margins does for Smart. If he continues to tighten up his handle and jump shot, and becomes a 42/35% type of player (FG/3P), you are looking at a 14-15/5/5 all defensive type of player. That is borderline all star type play, where as right now he is a solid starter/good 6th man.

His jump shot is also showing signs. He's shooting 46.8% on corner 3s. His shot is also trending in the right direction (37% from 3 in Jan and 33.3% for Feb). He changed his form significantly coming into this year, so anyone expecting him to start the year with effective shooting out of the game just isn't reasonable.

[Ed Pinkney]

Marcus Smart is the sort of player that could win you game seven of a playoff series almost on his own, but he is not the sort of player that will get you 45+ wins in the regular season and into the playoffs on his own (at least yet). Both types of players are obviously valuable and hard to obtain so you shouldn't give up either one lightly.

I absolutely love Avery (he is my favourite Celtic since Pierce left), but I am starting to lean towards Smart having greater value over him so paying Thomas, Smart and Bradley big money would make filling in other parts of the roster very difficult.