Marcus Smart

[ConstableGeneva]

Smart's quietly taken over Evan Turner's swiss-army-knife-off-the-bench role with better defense but sadly worse shooting efficiency. Very rarely will you find someone who can give you 9 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg, 1 spg on top of superb intangibles/defense off the bench. Like a Manu Ginobili with crappy offense.

[robbie84]

I honestly believe he'll be the DPOY one year.
He's the greatest defending guard since Gary Payton in my opinion. I mean he'll be a hall of fame level defender.
Unfortunately he'll also always be judged as a basketball player on his scoring and shooting which has been disappointing to say the least. He's still my favorite Celtic and will give his all in every game at every moment.

Hopefully he has that 'Aaahh haaaa' shooting moment, where he finds the shooting motion and routine that works flawlessly and comes naturally. He just has to keep searching for it like Jason Kidd. I mean even Rondo went from being an awful shooter to an average/below average shooter. He still has hope.

I've said it since he was drafted, but he's looking more and more like Chauncey Billups every game, but with way poorer shooting and way better defense. (although Billup's defense was much better than Smart's offense has even sniffed).

The good thing with Smart is that you know he's going to work on it every day until he retires, so the odds of him becoming at least a passable shooter are very high overall.
He's basically improved every facet of his game except his shooting- I'm willing to wait on it for another year or two.

[jfs1000d]

He has to shoot better. He has too good looking a stroke to be a 36% shooter.

I love everything about him, but the shooting is a killer.


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[pasfru]

With his passing, defence, intangibles and leadership, all at the age of 22, he's slowly turning into a modern-day Dennis Johnson.

It's nice to know that if we ever have to part ways with IT, we'll have this guy waiting in the wings.

[ddb]

I'll say it over and over and over. I love Marcus Smart. His game doesn't even make sense, but I love it. Simply put, dude just impacts winning. Makes winning plays

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Exactly.

one night earlier in the week,they flashed his statline for the game as 4-8-8-2. Not flashy, but extremely impressive to me.

Vs Detroit, he flies through the air into the trees with desperate, reckless abandon, giving himself up COMPLETELY for the team. he keeps the ball alive for Horford who lays it in and we win.

This is the type of guy I'd want to go to war with (on his side).....WARRIOR

I know this is said quite a bit, but it needs stressing...he is only 22 y/o!!!!!! Back when I first started watching basketball, rookies came into the league at that age. Heck, many guys were 23 y/o like Bird. There's plenty of time for him to improve. He's also been injured quite a bit. Hurt wrists, dislocated fingers on shooting hand, ankles and feet. Right now, as the backup PG he is capable of helping us win games. He needs a lot of work on the offensive side of the ball. He's a bad shooter. He really is He's actually a pretty decent passer and facilitator. That will only improve as he works on his handle and shot. All he needs is to be an average shooter to be worthy of starting. I still feel he can become a 15-6-8 PG with stellar defense. I'd rather that than IT. I think Smart, if he hits my upside target is capable of leading a team to the Finals before IT could. I get why people are frustrated, heck I've been a vocal critic about the draft pick and his slow development. But I've come to realize from watching his impact on the floor this season, despite the shooting problems, I like him on this team and even if all he ever is is what you see today...winning teams need players like that and he can be my backup PG any day. When I saw him with Team USA Select Team, he seemed so content to be a facilitator and actually shot well with confidence. It has to make you think if he's seemingly good enough for that team and coaches and players respect him, maybe us critics should too. It's not his fault Danny took him instead of other players. Enjoy him for what he is, not what he isn't. I've got to follow my own advice with IT as well. He's a hell of a player and elite offensively. It'd be nice if he could be better at defense...it'd be nice if Smart could eventually shoot better. But both players help us win. Maybe not championships, but as a fan I'm glad they're on my team.

Here's some footage of him with Team USA Select. Tell me he doesn't look extremely competent:

Watch on YouTube

Yup. I feel like year 4 is when he will make the jump to All-Star caliber. Right now he is an absolute beast defender that brings unteachable intangibles to the court. His playmaking ability has gotten noticeably better this year, and even his shot has improved (slightly). But I think year 4 is when we will really start to see him hitting his stride on both sides of the ball.

[ddb]

I, for one, am in the camp that really wants to hang on to IT, AB and Smart. Those 3 compliment each other so well...that should be our top 3 guards for years to come.

[AlCelticFan]

I, for one, am in the camp that really wants to hang on to IT, AB and Smart. Those 3 compliment each other so well...that should be our top 3 guards for years to come.

But if you had to include one in order to fill out our front court? Then who goes?

[Dannyboy36]

I'd choose to move on from smart for sure right now but I'd love to be proven wrong. Really like his play the last couple games. I don't know if he'll ever be able to shoot at all but his ball handling is way better this year. Less hero shots lately too which is a big relief. He's the last guy that should be taking contested threes.

[shawn unkempt]

I, for one, am in the camp that really wants to hang on to IT, AB and Smart. Those 3 compliment each other so well...that should be our top 3 guards for years to come.

Hypothetical: if we are able to draft Fultz, who do you send out to make room?

[Dannyboy36]

I don't know much on Fultz other than what I've read and a couple of youtubes. Right away if Fultz could shoot real well I'd probably see what I could get for IT but since I read he needs to work on his shot I'd still have to deal Smart myself.
My opinion isn't worth much not having seen the kid though.

[brackdan70]

he reminds me of young Marcus Smart.... know what I mean.

[TommyPointGawd]

What I want to see Smart do this year is bully smaller guys. I've been waiting to see him post up and just bully his way against smaller guards.

When you play with Rozier IT and Bradley you are not going to get any little guards on you.

[brackdan70]

I, for one, am in the camp that really wants to hang on to IT, AB and Smart. Those 3 compliment each other so well...that should be our top 3 guards for years to come.

Hypothetical: if we are able to draft Fultz, who do you send out to make room?

if we get the #1 pick you do your best to trade that shot for a star.

[shawn unkempt]

I, for one, am in the camp that really wants to hang on to IT, AB and Smart. Those 3 compliment each other so well...that should be our top 3 guards for years to come.

Hypothetical: if we are able to draft Fultz, who do you send out to make room?

if we get the #1 pick you do your best to trade that shot for a star.

I doubt there will be anyone good enough available in trade that'll be worth giving it up for. Teams seem more unwilling to trade their stars than ever before these days, and for good reason.

[brackdan70]

Hypothetical: if we are able to draft Fultz, who do you send out to make room?

if we get the #1 pick you do your best to trade that shot for a star.

I doubt there will be anyone good enough available in trade that'll be worth giving it up for. Teams seem more unwilling to trade their stars than ever before these days, and for good reason.

then stash him in Taiwan for a couple years or trade Rozier.

Watch on YouTube

[Asian Celtic]

I, for one, am in the camp that really wants to hang on to IT, AB and Smart. Those 3 compliment each other so well...that should be our top 3 guards for years to come.

Hypothetical: if we are able to draft Fultz, who do you send out to make room?

if we get the #1 pick you do your best to trade that shot for a star.

If we go around pick 3-5, I'd like to get Ball eventhough his shot looks ugly but at least he's not undersized

[brackdan70]

Hypothetical: if we are able to draft Fultz, who do you send out to make room?

if we get the #1 pick you do your best to trade that shot for a star.

If we go around pick 3-5, I'd like to get Ball eventhough his shot looks ugly but at least he's not undersized

I like Ball too. its a good draft!!!

[Klomp]

What would you want in return for Smart?

[brackdan70]

What would you want in return for Smart?

Your heart, your soul and 2017 first rounder. or Deng and a future first

[chrisab123]

What would you want in return for Smart?

Honestly LaVine and Dieng as a starting point then negotiate from there.