Why Marcus Smart should start at SG

[timpiker]

You do realize this would mean 3/5's of our starting lineup couldn't make a shot outside of 10 feet, don't you?

[Captain_Caveman]

I guess I just don't understand this thread. There's no big secret here. The entire planet understands that Smart should be starting within 2 seasons, if not by the end of this one. But as it stands, that time ain't now.

[NL41]

You do realize this would mean 3/5's of our starting lineup couldn't make a shot outside of 10 feet, don't you?

Sully might not have 3 point range, but he is a great mid-range/long two point shooter.

Jeff Green will no longer be burdened with the pressures of being the #1 scorer, a role that Smart is actually capable of and experienced in.

It would also be one of the best passing starting units in the league with Rondo, Smart, Green, Sully, and KO, and one of the best rebounding units as well.

Smart hit 45% or so of his open mid-range jump shots last year, and averaged 75% from the FT line over two years. In addition to pretty much matching James Harden's elite finishing at the rim and FTA per game. This is a guy with the confidence, skills, and athleticism/strength to be a top 1 or 2 scoring option from day 1.

I would bet that Smart can shoot around 35% from the corner 3 if he limits his attempts to open looks. Smart might shoot 40% from there, but Smart should be able to hold his own from the corner 3 while winning us a lot more games.

Maximum floor spacing is more important for teams that don't have elite finishers at the rim like Smart or Harden, or contract year Rondo.

[KamikazeK]

Here's how I see it:

If Smart plays better than Bradley, maybe he should start. But we shouldn't just give the spot to him. He needs to earn it.

[ConstableGeneva]

Brad and the coaching staff would be able to determine this in training camp and in practices. I'm not particular on who starts over whom but more on having the right combinations on the floor. But at some point, I feel like Smart is the kind of guy you put in when the game's on the line so I want him in the end-of-game lineups along with Rondo, Green, Sully and whoever's playing well (and depending on matchups/situations). I also hope Rondo plays a ton of minutes alongside Bradley more than Smart (that's probably the only reason why I'd like Bradley to start). As the second longest tenured player on the team, Bradley and Rondo know each other's tendencies and they've achieved that comfort level playing alongside each other. Smart could end up being the vocal leader of that second unit (I'm not keen on giving that role to Turner or Olynyk) if Rondo stays with the team for the season. But for now, he has to earn his stripes. He hasn't proven anything yet on the NBA level (unless you count those scrimmages against USA Basketball and Summer League). At some point in the season, I can envision him getting starter minutes and maybe even starting over Bradley but not early on in the season.

[Banks2Pierce]

What's funny about that list is that Bradley has guarded the majority of them very well. I've only ever seen Joe Johnson and Gordon Hayward causing issues against Avery due to height.

[GuyClinch]

Did you watch SL? Smart is pretty bad off the ball. He doesn't shoot well. Let's not overrate defense at the guard position(s). It's just not difference making. Bradley was excellent last year defensively and our team defense still was not great.

Centers and PF occasionally get to start because of defense. For every other position its a just a bonus - and generally speaking when good offensive players put effort into to defense they can raise their game up on that side.

This is just a fiction from people who don't want to read the writing on the wall.. We drafted Smart so we could rebuild by trading Rondo and gearing up to be good a few years down the road when Lebron is an old man (basketball wise).

[Jammer]

Bradley and Smart are both 6' 2" without shoes. They are the same size, height wise.

Marcus Thornton is 6' 2 3/4" without shoes.

Evan Turner is more of a small forward, but is 6' 5 3/4" without shoes.

James Young is 6' 5 1/4" without shoes.

Since Bradley, Thornton and Young can stretch the floor with their 3 ball ability, it would seem that ultimately they would be getting most of the minutes. In Young's case it may take a year or two since he just turned 19. Thornton is a bit of a bonehead, but seems to eat up the crummier teams.

[165bows]

I actually think keeping this past year's pick was a definite plan B for the front office.

As far as the thread title, Smart will start when Rondo/Bradley are banged up and that's about it unless a deal goes down.

[OBisHalJordan]

It seems pretty clear that Smart was the "best player available." 'Plan A" was to try to get Kevin Love and reload with Rondo. I don't think drafting Smart means Rondo is a goner by any means. It's kind of funny. In the lead up to the draft, I didn't see many folks talking about Smart. Now that he's one of "ours" his greatness is assured, Rondo's on the way out, and, we're going to build around all the young guys on a longer timeline. I don't think anything assured with DA. Actually, I know that multiple reports have explained that Ainge is works with several potential plans and ready to shift tracks if opportunities arise.

[ballup]

You act as if those guards are excellent post players or they can bulldoze through Bradley to the rim. In short of injury, a trade, or a highly unlikely situation where Smart is superb and Bradley falls off the cliff, Bradley will start. Celtics made sure they kept him, they aren't going to do him wrong by benching him right after paying him a more than solid contract.

[NL41]

Did you watch SL? Smart is pretty bad off the ball. He doesn't shoot well. Let's not overrate defense at the guard position(s). It's just not difference making. Bradley was excellent last year defensively and our team defense still was not great.

Centers and PF occasionally get to start because of defense. For every other position its a just a bonus - and generally speaking when good offensive players put effort into to defense they can raise their game up on that side.

This is just a fiction from people who don't want to read the writing on the wall.. We drafted Smart so we could rebuild by trading Rondo and gearing up to be good a few years down the road when Lebron is an old man (basketball wise).

You say 'don't overrate guard defense', and then you say Bradley's defense was excellent last year. By all other accounts and statistical analysis, Bradley was slightly above average last year.

And it's easy to dismiss the importance of guard defense when you have a real rim protector. Without any rim protection, is guard defense still irrelevant?

[NL41]

It's weird, I'm one of the biggest Avery Bradley fans here. Many people around here usually whine that Bradley takes way too many mid-range jumpers and doesn't attack the rim nearly enough.

Now we actually have an elite rookie who is both a better defender at the shooting guard position and absolutely elite at attacking the rim offensively. And yet now everybody wants injury-prone point guard sized mid-range jump shooter, who never attacks the basket.

Most people here are on the fence though, and that's a pretty good position to be in.

[cl2117]

Nope. Don't like it at all. I can see where you are coming from and I don't disagree with you because I think Bradley is a far superior option at SG, but I still think you're wrong.

Ainge invested the #6 pick in Smart and his best position long term as a starter in the NBA is going to be PG. He doesn't have the shooting ability (nor do i think he ever will develop it) to play shooting guard. That isn't to say that he can't play SG, but in my opinion, if he ends up at SG for his career it's going to be as a complimentary player and possibly not even a starter. Best case scenario with him at SG is that he is Tony Allen (which would be nice, but I doubt that's what they envisioned when they drafted him).

If Smart is going to become an impact NBA starter it's going to be at PG where he can still use that ferocious D, but he is going to have to develop into a great floor general and tremendous slasher. In order to develop into that kind of player he needs the ball in his hands and he needs minutes at the point. If Stevens plays SG he isn't going to get the development opportunities to get to that level.

Conversely, I feel like even if he doesn't work out at the point he can always transition to SG where he will just hang his hat on his defense and try to contribute where he can on offense (in other words try not to get in the way) and that isn't going to require him getting the same developmental minutes that it would for him to turn into a capable PG.

In other words: if we start him out at PG and it doesn't work I feel like the transition to SG is much easier than if we run him out at SG and then down the line try to push him back into a PG role. Ainge needs to look at him as a long term investment and grow him accordingly.

To push him into a role (SG) that might not be his best fit long term at the expense of developmental minutes at PG, I feel is shortsighted. I think he should definitely see time at SG to get him on the floor and to see how he does in the different roles, but he should be treated as a PG first and foremost until he shows that he isn't going to develop the other aspects of his game outside of his elite defense.

[bucknersrevenge]

It's weird, I'm one of the biggest Avery Bradley fans here. Many people around here usually whine that Bradley takes way too many mid-range jumpers and doesn't attack the rim nearly enough.

Now we actually have an elite rookie who is both a better defender at the shooting guard position and absolutely elite at attacking the rim offensively. And yet now everybody wants injury-prone point guard sized mid-range jump shooter, who never attacks the basket.

Most people here are on the fence though, and that's a pretty good position to be in.

I'd have a few concerns about Smart's jumper at the 2 next to Rondo but I certainly wouldn't be against it. Having said that, there's no way Danny paid Avery 8M to come off the bench. Just don't see it. So while he may fit as a 3rd guard, he won't be one on this team.

[TommyPointGawd]

I like the idea of Bradley and smart starting together. Defensively that would be fun to
watch. I have divorced my mind of rondo. I am ready to move on. At this point its more of when he leaves more than if.

[GreenBloodedC]

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Not sure where to post this. Let's Go, Marcus Smart!!!!

[FreeDrop]

I have high hopes for Smart. I like the idea of building around a Rondop-Smart (SG), and Bradley (SG) backcourt -- i think it could be a very difficult trio for teams to deal with on both ends of the floor.

I really want Rondo to stay, but if it becomes apparent that he wants out -- we need to get something back for him. But i do hope Danny can convince him to stay because I think the 3 guards could be dynamic.

[DarkAzcura]

Did you watch SL? Smart is pretty bad off the ball. He doesn't shoot well. Let's not overrate defense at the guard position(s). It's just not difference making. Bradley was excellent last year defensively and our team defense still was not great.

Centers and PF occasionally get to start because of defense. For every other position its a just a bonus - and generally speaking when good offensive players put effort into to defense they can raise their game up on that side.

This is just a fiction from people who don't want to read the writing on the wall.. We drafted Smart so we could rebuild by trading Rondo and gearing up to be good a few years down the road when Lebron is an old man (basketball wise).

I think Bradley should start this season, but Bradley and Smart are completely different kind of defenders. Smart will be able to defend 3s (in spurts) in time also making him far more versatile on that end eventually. Bradley's defense really suffered last season with his increased offensive role. Smart is a bull and looks like he'll be able to contribute on both ends without getting winded too much. Either way, no Bradley was not excellent defensively last season. When he barely had an offensive role, our team defense was pretty amazing with Bradley on the floor. Guards can have an impact because they can have a huge impact on when the shot clock starts for a team. Smart's defensive impact was highly evident in the summer league. Whenever he was on the floor, the opposition looked like a mess handling the ball and making simple passes.

[GuyClinch]

I think Bradley should start this season, but Bradley and Smart are completely different kind of defenders. Smart will be able to defend 3s (in spurts) in time also making him far more versatile on that end eventually. Bradley's defense really suffered last season with his increased offensive role. Smart is a bull and looks like he'll be able to contribute on both ends without getting winded too much. Either way, no Bradley was not excellent defensively last season. When he barely had an offensive role, our team defense was pretty amazing with Bradley on the floor. Guards can have an impact because they can have a huge impact on when the shot clock starts for a team. Smart's defensive impact was highly evident in the summer league. Whenever he was on the floor, the opposition looked like a mess handling the ball and making simple passes.

That sounds good - but guards do not have a huge impact on defense. Show me some stats that indicate 'huge impact.' The closest guys might be Tony Allen - but he often plays SF.

Point guards and shooting guards in the NBA need to be able to score/pass effectively to earn playing time - defense is a plus (though a certain level of defense is expected). Broadly speaking both Smart and Bradley are well built and extremely athletic men who are 6'2" - so in various schemes they are interchangeable.

Maybe Smart is more Revis then Dennard - but you get the idea. In basketball that scoring is a MUST HAVE from the SG position. I remember back when we were hearing from some posters that Rondo was this incredible diference maker on defense... (again not true).. and the argument is the same. PGs and SGs need to be very good at the offensive side of things to earn a starting spot.

Let's be honest playing defense is for the most part about being a really athletic well built guy willing to bust his butt.. There are lots of guys out there like that who totally lack the skills to play in the NBA.

Don't take my word for it - watch Bradley get most of the time with Rondo out there because he can shoot off the ball.. Bradley doesn't even WANT to handle the ball that much - perfect for Rondo. Smart is the polar opposite - he wants the ball - he NEEDS the ball. That's because he is a PG.