Who is the better defender: Marcus Smart or Jrue Holiday?

SeanieWard · Post #21 » by **SeanieWard** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 6:52 am

It's close but I'd go with Jrue. He seems to be the most respected defender in the league by his peers. That should count for something

Peregrine01 · Post #22 » by **Peregrine01** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 6:56 am

I hate to say it but I think it's Smart. Smart provides rim protection in a way that Jrue doesn't. And by rim protection, I mean flopping on his ass to draw charges.

Gusto1903 · Post #23 » by **Gusto1903** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 7:02 am

I would say Jrue. Marcus Smart comes with more energy, while i believe, Jrue plays his defense with more cleverness and fundamentals. Also, Jrue has better offensive output than Smart.

Lalouie · Post #24 » by **Lalouie** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 7:10 am

seeing as how players like kd,,,curry,,,lillard,,,and many more say jrue

who am i to argue

Watch on YouTube

FarBeyondDriven · Post #25 » by **FarBeyondDriven** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 7:30 am

It seems like Smart has fallen off in recent years (despite the DPOY) but he never takes plays, half, games off like I've seen Jrue do and he's a more impactful and versatile defender. Jrue is a better on-man defender against guards though. Both are very overrated defenders at this point in their careers. Smart will have a massive impact with the Grizzlies, more than the impact Jrue will have on the Celtics.

Ryoga Hibiki · Post #26 » by **Ryoga Hibiki** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 9:08 am

I think they are very similar on ball but Smart is significantly better off ball.

TheNG · Post #27 » by **TheNG** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 9:17 am

Speaking about better/worse defenders, who is the top offender in the league?

CoP · Post #28 » by **CoP** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 9:27 am

Jrue is better on-ball defender but Smart is the better team "general" on defense. Both are versatile in their ability to defend multiple positions, but I think Jrue is better guarding the perimeter while Smart is better at disrupting players that rely more on size rather than speed.

mariller · Post #29 » by **mariller** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 9:36 am

Profound23 wrote:
bisme37 wrote:In full disclosure I had to remember which one of them is currently on my team before voting.

I appreciate the honesty. I have been debating with Celtics fans for years that Jrue is the better defender, now they will finally see the truth.

Changing opinion in a player debate based on who plays on your team at the moment is hardly definition of "the truth" lol.

Johnny Bball · Post #30 » by **Johnny Bball** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 12:12 pm

Smart is the better defender and Smart is more versatile. Jrue's pretty good on ball.

Johnny Bball · Post #31 » by **Johnny Bball** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 12:14 pm

mariller wrote:
Profound23 wrote:
bisme37 wrote:In full disclosure I had to remember which one of them is currently on my team before voting.

I appreciate the honesty. I have been debating with Celtics fans for years that Jrue is the better defender, now they will finally see the truth.

Changing opinion in a player debate based on who plays on your team at the moment is hardly definition of "the truth" lol.

Except its sarcasm from him, but it actually is the truth for most of this board.

Karate Diop · Post #32 » by **Karate Diop** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 12:24 pm

picc wrote:Holiday is like 90% of Smarts defense.

But like 175% of his offense.

Very easy tradeoff if money isnt a factor.

Except for the playoffs where Smart's had better efficiency the past 4 years and is actually less prone to laying bricks...

People hate to admit it, but come playoff time Jrue becomes Rue.

AussieCeltic · Post #33 » by **AussieCeltic** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 12:27 pm

It’s like no one watched Marcus Smart play defense last year. Maybe it was just a down season, but he fell off hard. White became the primary perimeter defender for the Celtics last season.

ChuckChilly · Post #34 » by **ChuckChilly** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 12:46 pm

I'd say Smart because he's willing to embarrass himself to make plays. That can lead to big plays at pivotal moments.

steefP2 · Post #35 » by **steefP2** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 12:52 pm

Smart was better in his dpoy year, but worse last year. Smart been the better chaos maker and help defender but he's not been as good on ball. Very curious to see how Jrue will do now that he has white to take some on ball units and he can be more of a nail/help defender. But same tier for sure.

eyeatoma · Post #36 » by **eyeatoma** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 12:56 pm

Smart is a pitbull, and plays the game defensively toeing the line. He's the guard version of Draymond, and I don't mean that in a good way. Refs can take him out of the game, and he relies on the refs for his insane flopping not be be called.

Jrue is fundamentally one of the most sound defensive players in the last 15-20 years. He has prototypical size, and can also lock down bigger guards. It's Jrue, and IMO not really close. I feel like Smart won the DPOY because league got bored.

Post #37 » by **og15** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 1:01 pm

Johnny Bball wrote:
mariller wrote:
Profound23 wrote:
I appreciate the honesty. I have been debating with Celtics fans for years that Jrue is the better defender, now they will finally see the truth.

Changing opinion in a player debate based on who plays on your team at the moment is hardly definition of "the truth" lol.

Except its sarcasm from him, but it actually is the truth for most of this board.

I thought the poster "mariller" meant that in response to "Profound" saying Celtics fans will "finally see the truth" and saying, are they finally seeing the truth or is it just now going to be them being biased to the guy on their team.

evilpimp972 · Post #38 » by **evilpimp972** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 1:01 pm

Dpoy is flawed.

Sixers in 4 · Post #39 » by **Sixers in 4** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 1:06 pm

It will interesting to see with the leagues focus on flopping this year what Smarts defense actually looks like.

My moneys on Jrue

CoP · Post #40 » by **CoP** » Mon Oct 2, 2023 1:10 pm

og15 wrote:
Johnny Bball wrote:
mariller wrote:
Changing opinion in a player debate based on who plays on your team at the moment is hardly definition of "the truth" lol.

Except its sarcasm from him, but it actually is the truth for most of this board.

I thought the poster meant that in response to Celtics fans finally seeing the truth and saying, are they finally seeing the truth or is it just now going to be them being biased to the guy on their team.

He was just making a light-hearted joke lol