Marcus Smart Appreciation Thread

[Larry_Russell]

I'll just say this. I was ready. I was ready for Boston to move on from Smart. I love this trade and I think in time many of the Smart lovers on this board will like the trade as well.
Listen, Smart was the ultimate, "NO, NO, YES!" player. People want to talk about his hustle plays. But think back....Many of those hustle plays are making up for his turnover 10 seconds prior. Or one of his ill-advised shots.
The Celtics have really struggled with consistency. IMO, a lot of that has to do with the inconsistency of Marcus Smart.

Thank you to Marcus for his passion to the team and to the city of Boston.

All of this applies to Brown as well.

Waiting on hearing of him being traded today.

Fair, but in Brown's defense, he has changed and molded his game almost every year. Smart has been basically the same player for many years. So I still have hope that JB learns to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses. But I can also see just moving on. We can't wait forever, our window is now.

that is very true.

Brown hasnt changed at all the last few seasons though, think he is pretty locked in on who he is as a player.


I still think he is being shopped. Dont really know why.

Did read a tweet from someone earlier claiming Brad is "far from done"
I know BRogdon is basically DOA now, leaving potentially Grant sign and trade, and a trade of pritchard?

That seems just shuffling deck chairs,



I feel a big trade is coming......

[philing00]

Smarts our best passer. Plays selflessly, always looks to get his teammates easy shots. The problem in the playoffs was the Js had so many tough looks because they were trying to do it all by themselves, instead of being setup. Are we going to have 3 guys taking turns isoing now?? Hope CP3 is going to walk through the door next.

[31to6]

In my eyes, the Grizzlies are finally legit now with Smart on board.

Decent chance it’s MEM/BOS in the finals next year or soon thereafter. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Also a non-zero chance that Smart returns to the Celtics some day but who knows?

His tribute video is going to be amazing.

[31to6]

Smarts our best passer. Plays selflessly, always looks to get his teammates easy shots. The problem in the playoffs was the Js had so many tough looks because they were trying to do it all by themselves, instead of being setup. Are we going to have 3 guys taking turns isoing now??

Probably yes. Smart averaged about 8apg the first 2.5 months of last season, then dropped to 4 or so as the offense became more Jay-centric.

Smart *could* distribute and be a “true” PG but I think Brad just indicated he’s comfortable playing through the stars instead. Include Brogdon in that — it’s a lot of iso scoring — they’ll need to grow individually and mesh collectively.

[robbie84]

This is devastating for a Smart stan like me.
I'm speechless.

This team already lacks heart/fight and we just traded away the only guy that gave us any of either.
Severely disappointed in the moment. I hope that Zinger and whatever we build with this can prove me wrong but this was a terrible move IMO.

edit: I don't think getting Kristaps is horrid, he should be a good addition, I just wish we could've given up anything except Marcus.

[shackles10]

I feel bad for wanting White in the starting lineup and Smart to the bench (never ever wanted him gone though). I also feel like I want to use a personal day and just lay in bed and sulk like a big baby all day. Also I feel like I want to punch Brad in the face and then in true Midwestern/Indiana fashion give him a hug and say I'm sorry right after. Ope!

[ParticleMan]

This is devastating for a Smart stan like me.
I'm speechless.

This team already lacks heart/fight and we just traded away the only guy that gave us any of either.
Severely disappointed in the moment. I hope that Zinger and whatever we build with this can prove me wrong but this was a terrible move IMO.

not sure how a team that came back from 3-0 with 2 road wins and also won another G6 on the road can lack heart/fight.

if tatum and brogs were healthy in G7 we would have made history, of that i have no doubt.

[Parliament10]

This is all Because Brogdon is Injury-Prone. -- I felt immensely better Trading Brogdon.
Hate to Lose the Heart of the Celtics. -- Though, in all fairness, Smart should Not have been Starting at PG.

[zoyathedestroya]

Read on Twitter

aim2please is right. We shipped this guy out and we're paying the man who hates Boston $290M. I AM HURTING! THIS HURTS.

[lon3lytoaster]

This is all Because Brogdon is Injury-Prone. -- I felt immensely better Trading Brogdon.
Hate to Lose the Heart of the Celtics. -- Though, in all fairness, Smart should Not have been Starting at PG.

Exactly how I feel. I knew he needed a reduced role, but that seems like it wasn’t happening with him here. If this was Brogdon, it would have been an absolute no brainer. Now I’m not sure how effective Brogdon will be next year and we have White and Pritchard as our guards. Hmm

[ParticleMan]

This is all Because Brogdon is Injury-Prone. -- I felt immensely better Trading Brogdon.
Hate to Lose the Heart of the Celtics. -- Though, in all fairness, Smart should Not have been Starting at PG.

tbf, Brogdon played 67 games last year, Smart 61.
Brogs is injury prone but let's not act like Smart is not. He's a tank but he also throws his body around like no other.

[ddb]

In my eyes, the Grizzlies are finally legit now with Smart on board.

No JA for 25 games. Dillon Brooks gone. JJJ has durability issues. Could be a LONG season for Memphis .

[ddb]

All of this applies to Brown as well.

Waiting on hearing of him being traded today.

Fair, but in Brown's defense, he has changed and molded his game almost every year. Smart has been basically the same player for many years. So I still have hope that JB learns to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses. But I can also see just moving on. We can't wait forever, our window is now.

that is very true.

Brown hasnt changed at all the last few seasons though, think he is pretty locked in on who he is as a player.


I still think he is being shopped. Dont really know why.

Did read a tweet from someone earlier claiming Brad is "far from done"
I know BRogdon is basically DOA now, leaving potentially Grant sign and trade, and a trade of pritchard?

That seems just shuffling deck chairs,



I feel a big trade is coming......

JB struggles going left against the Miami Heat because they go zone and know to blitz him in the lane.....That's more of a coaching issue not adjusting to that. Also a personnel issue. Zinger will help address this. As will a beefed-up coaching staff.

I still don't love giving JB the supermax, and I'm open to trading him, but to his defense, he's an All-Star player that averages over 26ppg. His dribbling problems in the lane are overblown by all of us, including me

[shackles10]

Anyone else feel worse after this than they did after game 7?

I was ready to lose the series when we went down 0-3, and the comeback was nice but a loss didn't come out of nowhere. Especially not the case when we saw Tatum get hurt in the first 30 seconds. This "loss" came out of nowhere and much like a season ending loss we've got to wait months to see anything on the court telling us if it'll be ok or not.

[robbie84]

This is devastating for a Smart stan like me.
I'm speechless.

This team already lacks heart/fight and we just traded away the only guy that gave us any of either.
Severely disappointed in the moment. I hope that Zinger and whatever we build with this can prove me wrong but this was a terrible move IMO.

not sure how a team that came back from 3-0 with 2 road wins and also won another G6 on the road can lack heart/fight.

if tatum and brogs were healthy in G7 we would have made history, of that i have no doubt.

And if Tyler Herro were healthy or Duncan Robinson hit one of 3 wide open threes, we would have been out earlier. If Derrick White didn't get a miracle put back same story. We should never have been down 3-0 to that Miami squad.

My point is that this team apart from Smart and perhaps Horford and sometimes Tatum, are a team of Beta, not Alpha, personalities. Brown and Tatum need to seriously step up their leadership this season.
Kristaps will be an excellent addition because of his skillset and size, but he is another addition to the Beta personality camp. Thank god we have Sam Cassell coming in to fire these guys up.

[robbie84]

I wonder if we go after CP3 or another point guard or just let White/Tatum bring the ball up.

[robbie84]

Fair, but in Brown's defense, he has changed and molded his game almost every year. Smart has been basically the same player for many years. So I still have hope that JB learns to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses. But I can also see just moving on. We can't wait forever, our window is now.

that is very true.

Brown hasnt changed at all the last few seasons though, think he is pretty locked in on who he is as a player.


I still think he is being shopped. Dont really know why.

Did read a tweet from someone earlier claiming Brad is "far from done"
I know BRogdon is basically DOA now, leaving potentially Grant sign and trade, and a trade of pritchard?

That seems just shuffling deck chairs,



I feel a big trade is coming......

JB struggles going left against the Miami Heat because they go zone and know to blitz him in the lane.....That's more of a coaching issue not adjusting to that. Also a personnel issue. Zinger will help address this. As will a beefed-up coaching staff.

I still don't love giving JB the supermax, and I'm open to trading him, but to his defense, he's an All-Star player that averages over 26ppg. His dribbling problems in the lane are overblown by all of us, including me

thing is the Warriors did the same thing to Brown in the finals the previous year and not much changed. They just force JT and JB left and know it's coming so rotations are easy.
Hopefully Kristaps size and shooting helps us even more. Al and Zinger could potentially start and just sit on the three point line. They can then get back quickly on D. Pretty hard to stop. (in theory)

[Parliament10]

Read on Twitter

[ddb]

that is very true.

Brown hasnt changed at all the last few seasons though, think he is pretty locked in on who he is as a player.


I still think he is being shopped. Dont really know why.

Did read a tweet from someone earlier claiming Brad is "far from done"
I know BRogdon is basically DOA now, leaving potentially Grant sign and trade, and a trade of pritchard?

That seems just shuffling deck chairs,



I feel a big trade is coming......

JB struggles going left against the Miami Heat because they go zone and know to blitz him in the lane.....That's more of a coaching issue not adjusting to that. Also a personnel issue. Zinger will help address this. As will a beefed-up coaching staff.

I still don't love giving JB the supermax, and I'm open to trading him, but to his defense, he's an All-Star player that averages over 26ppg. His dribbling problems in the lane are overblown by all of us, including me

thing is the Warriors did the same thing to Brown in the finals the previous year and not much changed. They just force JT and JB left and know it's coming so rotations are easy.
Hopefully Kristaps size and shooting helps us even more. Al and Zinger could potentially start and just sit on the three point line. They can then get back quickly on D. Pretty hard to stop. (in theory)

Smart teams will make it difficult on JB and JT. Doesn't mean they aren't great. Adjustments need to be made. Zinger helps immensely here. 7'3 you can dump it over the top to him, defenses collapse, he can go right up and score or get fouled, or kick out to a now open shooter. Simple stuff guys. Celts didnt have answer last couple years in matchups against Miami and GS.

I'll use the analogy of hockey. You can have the best puck moving defenseman in the league breaking the puck out of the defensive zone, but if the opposition has the best forecheck it's going to be a LONG night for the defensemen.

Brad literally just swamped out Smart for a guy that ENDS that....plus 2 firsts. Unreal deal.

[Romeiro Celtic]

I really hope he comes back someday so he can end his career with us. But to be honest, I never wanted him to leave at all.