Marcus Smart is nothing special...why are yall so delusional?

[KGboss]

Smart played well but last night but I am not going to lie: Not crazy about all the three pointers he is taking (12 last night) Those are hit and miss for him and I would like to see more mid range and driving shots.

This a 3 point shooting league, especially at the PG position. Nobody goes for the mid-range jumper anymore unless youre a big. I dont mind him taking those shots as long as hes being active throughout the game, which he was.

[Goudelock]

Didn't watch the game, so this is going off of box score stats: Did Smart guard Westbrook the entire game? Did Smart do a good job? Why doesn't he drive more often? And did the refs treat Westbrook like 06 finals Wade? 22 attempts is a lot of FTs for one player.

[Pacino62]

Didn't watch the game, so this is going off of box score stats: Did Smart guard Westbrook the entire game? Did Smart do a good job? Why doesn't he drive more often? And did the refs treat Westbrook like 06 finals Wade? 22 attempts is a lot of FTs for one player.

Smart and Bradley played him. Both played him well. I think he doesn't drive all too much because he is playing within Brad's system. I expect he will more as he grows experience.

Yes...He did get every call imaginable. It was ridiculous, and I'm not some super homer.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

I hope he works on his handles this offseason. I don't mind Marcus shooting a ton of 3s, but I would also like it if he chose to drive to the hoop more in order to draw some fouls.

[KGboss]

Didn't watch the game, so this is going off of box score stats: Did Smart guard Westbrook the entire game? Did Smart do a good job? Why doesn't he drive more often? And did the refs treat Westbrook like 06 finals Wade? 22 attempts is a lot of FTs for one player.

Smart and Bradley played him. Both played him well. I think he doesn't drive all too much because he is playing within Brad's system. I expect he will more as he grows experience.

Yes...He did get every call imaginable. It was ridiculous, and I'm not some super homer.

2 situations stick out to me.

One in the third when Celtics had momentum going, Smart was in front of Westbrook, westbrook got a steal and started barrelling down court, he spin off of Smart into the front row, Smart had his arms in the air and Westbrook initiated the contact - Foul on Smart.

Another Westbrook blatently stepped out of bounds in the 4th trying to move the ball up the court twice i believe Mike pointed out, Scal thought they were definetly going to review the play and they didnt even waste a second - westbrook went to the line.

With all the reviewing they do, shouldnt they review possible out of bounds plays on foul calls? They do in every other sport. Bunch of BS. Start treatment at its finest.

But to be fair at the end of the game when the Celtics kept hitting 3's, they had to foul Westbrook and Adams a few times to send them to the line and extend the game.

[Pacino62]

Didn't watch the game, so this is going off of box score stats: Did Smart guard Westbrook the entire game? Did Smart do a good job? Why doesn't he drive more often? And did the refs treat Westbrook like 06 finals Wade? 22 attempts is a lot of FTs for one player.

Smart and Bradley played him. Both played him well. I think he doesn't drive all too much because he is playing within Brad's system. I expect he will more as he grows experience.

Yes...He did get every call imaginable. It was ridiculous, and I'm not some super homer.

2 situations stick out to me.

One in the third when Celtics had momentum going, Smart was in front of Westbrook, westbrook got a steal and started barrelling down court, he spin off of Smart into the front row, Smart had his arms in the air and Westbrook initiated the contact - Foul on Smart.

Another Westbrook blatently stepped out of bounds in the 4th trying to move the ball up the court twice i believe Mike pointed out, Scal thought they were definetly going to review the play and they didnt even waste a second - westbrook went to the line.

With all the reviewing they do, shouldnt they review possible out of bounds plays on foul calls? They do in every other sport. Bunch of BS. Start treatment at its finest.

But to be fair at the end of the game when the Celtics kept hitting 3's, they had to foul Westbrook and Adams a few times to send them to the line and extend the game.

I clearly remember both of those plays. To be honest, it wasn't even just Westbrook getting calls. It was almost as if the refs were trying to take Marcus out of the game. What about the one that they called on him fighting through the screen? I believe the screen was being set by Adams. Scal actually made a fairly large deal about that one as well.

I do enjoy having Scal and Gorman on though. You never get that homer side of Tommy. Meaning, if Mike and Scal make a big deal about it, you know the call didn't go our way. They are both fair.

Agreed on the end of the game. That was awesome stuff though. Stevens drawing up play after play and the team fighting for their lives...haha

[jfs1000d]

I need my guard to be able to shoot. I don't care what else he does. Smart is a terrific combo guard rospect, defend 2 positions and is going to be a scorer.Payton is a load off the dribble sand lightning quick and athletic.


I do see a ton of similarities between Payton and rondo.

Take what our team looked like with rondo. Payton has similar shooting issues. My contention is you have to make so many accommodations for a non shooting PG. Payton needs the ball in his hands constantly to be effective. Rondo, even at his best, stops the ball, which is something the NBA is going against. He also can't shoot FTS, which makes him useless late.

I find true pass first pgs way too ball dominant. I want my pgs to be able to score and can do so off ball for spaci g purposes. If you are a ball stopper, you better be a big times scorer.

[KumaJG]

It is hard to tell right if Smart going to be a scorer this league. He shot is hit shot is inconsistent. Pick and roll game is terrible because he don't take midrange jumpers. Also for some odd reason he don't drive to the basket which was his game in college.

[KGboss]

It is hard to tell right if Smart going to be a scorer this league. He shot is hit shot is inconsistent. Pick and roll game is terrible because he don't take midrange jumpers. Also for some odd reason he don't drive to the basket which was his game in college.

He actually has been driving when he has to, but stevens offense is to hit 3 pointers, thats where it begins and ends on this team. You can tell that just by Bass taking and making 3's lately as well.

[KumaJG]

It is hard to tell right if Smart going to be a scorer this league. He shot is hit shot is inconsistent. Pick and roll game is terrible because he don't take midrange jumpers. Also for some odd reason he don't drive to the basket which was his game in college.

He actually has been driving when he has to, but stevens offense is to hit 3 pointers, thats where it begins and ends on this team. You can tell that just by Bass taking and making 3's lately as well.

Not really. That is evident by fact that IT2 been her for what two weeks and probably taken more free throws in that time frame than Marcus Smart since he been here . Hell Brad Stevens biggest critique of Marcus Smart is that he don't drive the ball enough.

Marcus Smart just very raw on offensive end.

[shawn unkempt]

Are people really still blaming Brad for Smart's inability to drive effectively? He's just not good at it.

[KGboss]

It is hard to tell right if Smart going to be a scorer this league. He shot is hit shot is inconsistent. Pick and roll game is terrible because he don't take midrange jumpers. Also for some odd reason he don't drive to the basket which was his game in college.

He actually has been driving when he has to, but stevens offense is to hit 3 pointers, thats where it begins and ends on this team. You can tell that just by Bass taking and making 3's lately as well.

Not really. That is evident by fact that IT2 been her for what two weeks and probably taken more free throws in that time frame than Marcus Smart since he been here . Hell Brad Stevens biggest critique of Marcus Smart is that he don't drive the ball enough.

Marcus Smart just very raw on offensive end.

You say he doesnt drive, but he is hitting 3's so he is taking his shots and making them. This is what Stevens WANTS HIM TO DO.

Anyway heres the breakdown:

Smart:
102 FTA
66 FTM
.647%

Thomas in Boston:
74 FTA
65 FTM
.878%

So youre close, but really hes playing a different game right now and asked to do certain things. Not going to fault him for listening to his coach, and if you think Stevens isnt telling him this stuff as a rookie you gotta learn some more before we can continue this convo my dude.

[KumaJG]

He is shooting 3's(at a terrible percentage. Hell even his FG% subpar.) because that the limited of his offensive game at this stage of his career. He is still learning to pick his spot. Just because he is a rookie doesn't mean he is above criticism.

[OFWGKTA]

He's shown flashes of being able to drive, I think its a confidence issue for whatever reason. When he's just reacting and crashing the offensive boards, he powers through guys 8 inches taller than him to get the ball. He's had some nice putback and ones that way as well.

[OFWGKTA]

He is shooting 3's(at a terrible percentage. Hell even his FG% subpar.) because that the limited of his offensive game at this stage of his career. He is still learning to pick his spot. Just because he is a rookie doesn't mean he is above criticism.

After last night he's up to .341 from three, which isn't great, but definitely not terrible.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

He is shooting 3's(at a terrible percentage. Hell even his FG% subpar.) because that the limited of his offensive game at this stage of his career. He is still learning to pick his spot. Just because he is a rookie doesn't mean he is above criticism.

After last night he's up to .341 from three, which isn't great, but definitely not terrible.

The league average for 3PT% this season is currently .349. Smart is almost average, which is a miracle in itself considering the knock on him was that he couldn't shoot.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats.html

[OFWGKTA]

He is shooting 3's(at a terrible percentage. Hell even his FG% subpar.) because that the limited of his offensive game at this stage of his career. He is still learning to pick his spot. Just because he is a rookie doesn't mean he is above criticism.

After last night he's up to .341 from three, which isn't great, but definitely not terrible.

The league average for 3PT% this season is currently .349. Smart is almost average, which is a miracle in itself considering the knock on him was that he couldn't shoot.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats.html

To add to that it seems his only problem is consistency, which is something that will usually be fixed with more experience.
Month by month 3P%:
Nov- .238
Dec- .379
Jan- .424
Feb- .268
March- .351

2 great months, 2 horrible months, and 1 decent one.

[Quiet-Dude]

i havent watch celtics game this season but Smart is better than Bradley at defense? really?

[jirrit]

The best two things about Smart is his body and attitude. He has a man's body and plays hard without sulking. Conversely, those are the two worst things about Sully. The guy is a fat slob and he sulks and pouts far too much on the court for my likeing. I've never been sold on Smart being anything more than just a solid combo guard off the bench and I still think that's where he'll end up being when he really hits his prime years of his career. Not bad and not a "bust" but certainly nowhere near the star or above average starter that some fans on this board seem to think he will be. He's basically the guard version of Crowder. Tough, gritty player that will play hard every night but never be anything special. It is what it is.

Solid combo guard off the bench his ceiling? That's actually where he is now, or maybe even better already. Season is 2/3rd and we were supposed to have a tanking team

[DarkAzcura]

i havent watch celtics game this season but Smart is better than Bradley at defense? really?

Not sure if anyone has said this in this thread already, but yes, I would say Smart is a better defender already. Bradley is still very good, but man..