Marcus Smart - 2022 DPOY - 2023 NBA Hustle Award Winner

[BostonCouchGM]

I don't think Smart "bought in", changed his ways or Ime reached him. We've simply played nothing but tanking teams or teams missing key starters for 4 straight months. This will tend to elevate your play which is why, not just Smart, but pretty much everyone on this team, the defensive metrics, etc all improved in late December on. Why this triggers some of you is beyond me. Do not be surprised as we go forward if Smart shoots us out of a game or two and we struggle more as the teams we face are better and healthier. Though, our luck seems to be continuing with gimped Middleton and Embiid preventing this from happening. The Heat might be our first chance to meet a healthy great team and I cannot wait. Hope we get there

[Gomes3PC]

I don't think Smart "bought in", changed his ways or Ime reached him. We've simply played nothing but tanking teams or teams missing key starters for 4 straight months. This will tend to elevate your play which is why, not just Smart, but pretty much everyone on this team, the defensive metrics, etc all improved in late December on. Why this triggers some of you is beyond me. Do not be surprised as we go forward if Smart shoots us out of a game or two and we struggle more as the teams we face are better and healthier. Though, our luck seems to be continuing with gimped Middleton and Embiid preventing this from happening. The Heat might be our first chance to meet a healthy great team and I cannot wait. Hope we get there

This is just an insane rationalization, and 100% not the case. Suggesting their elite play that lasted over 50% of the regular season was luck of only playing bum teams is outrageous. So literally all the good teams were on the slate before Jan 1, and then they moved to the G League portion of the schedule??

[zoyathedestroya]

I kinda like NEwEnglandSofaExec's stance. It only takes one slip-up from the Cs to "prove he's right." Does RealGM hand out genius badges?

[Half-Full]

I kinda like NEwEnglandSofaExec's stance. It only takes one slip-up from the Cs to "prove he's right." Does RealGM hand out genius badges?

Well, he's earned his negativity badge already, but I don't see genius badge in his future.

[TheMartian]

Remember the last time a Celtic won defensive player of the year and were also the best defensive team in basketball? Remember Ubuntu? I feel the same kind of magic with this Celtics team.

[moonie_mcgee]

Remember the last time a Celtic won defensive player of the year and were also the best defensive team in basketball? Remember Ubuntu? I feel the same kind of magic with this Celtics team.

Me too. #35 (among others) gonna hang in the rafters.
Stay the course, execute, fight like hell, and believe.

[Bostondave]

Well setting revisionisms aside I think it a safe bet that I include all C's fans right now love what Marcus is doing now and his approach to the game currently. He is a key piece to making this team enjoyable to watch and the winning.

Go Celts Go Celts Go!!!

[BK_2020]

BCGM is not entirely wrong and winning the DPOY didn't suddenly make Marcus Smart a better defender than he is. Jrue for example completely outclasses Smart in defense. That's part of the reason why Jrue makes the max and Smart signed for a relative bargain, and why Tatum guards the Lukas and KDs.
Smart is a good player but he is nowhere near elite on any side of the ball. Acknowledging that isn't negativity and doesn't diminish Smart's value, which is considerable even if not the best defender in the league-level value.

[soxfan2003]

BCGM is not entirely wrong and winning the DPOY didn't suddenly make Marcus Smart a better defender than he is. Jrue for example completely outclasses Smart in defense. That's part of the reason why Jrue makes the max and Smart signed for a relative bargain, and why Tatum guards the Lukas and KDs.
Smart is a good player but he is nowhere near elite on any side of the ball. Acknowledging that isn't negativity and doesn't diminish Smart's value, which is considerable even if not the best defender in the league-level value.

I don't believe Smart is the most valuable defender in the league but I would easily take his defense over Holiday and I am no Holiday hater at all. I put him above Rondo when it wasn't fashionable to do so. Holiday's advantage over Smart is on offense and it pretty much always has been on offense. Holiday overall is the better player but not by that much when Smart is healthy.

Ever since his Philly days, Holiday has been helped by playing with 2 of the best players in the game in Anthony Davis and Giannis. With all due respect to Jayson Tatum and other Celtics, Smart hasn't had that luxury.

[Parliament10]

BCGM is not entirely wrong and winning the DPOY didn't suddenly make Marcus Smart a better defender than he is. Jrue for example completely outclasses Smart in defense. That's part of the reason why Jrue makes the max and Smart signed for a relative bargain, and why Tatum guards the Lukas and KDs.
Smart is a good player but he is nowhere near elite on any side of the ball. Acknowledging that isn't negativity and doesn't diminish Smart's value, which is considerable even if not the best defender in the league-level value.

I don't believe Smart is the most valuable defender in the league but I would easily take his defense over Holiday and I am no Holiday hater at all. I put him above Rondo when it wasn't fashionable to do so. Holiday's advantage over Smart is on offense and it pretty much always has been on offense. Holiday overall is the better player but not by that much when Smart is healthy.

Ever since his Philly days, Holiday has been helped by playing with 2 of the best players in the game in Anthony Davis and Giannis. With all due respect to Jayson Tatum and other Celtics, Smart hasn't had that luxury.

I Don't think that Jrue Holiday is better than Smart. Jrue has been on 3 All-Defensive Teams. And his Offense is definitely better.
But, Smart's Defense may trump Jrue's increased Offense. And we all know, that Defense Wins Championships.

[Parliament10]

Read on Twitter

[Bostondave]

Lol. Nice hometown touch!

[ConstableGeneva]

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[Fencer reregistered]

Is Marcus the first Celtic to have his hair dyed green?

[Larry_Russell]

Read on Twitter

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Marcus got love for Pritchard.

Must be awesome for Payton to have Marcus coaching him like he does.

[sam_I_am]

BCGM is not entirely wrong and winning the DPOY didn't suddenly make Marcus Smart a better defender than he is. Jrue for example completely outclasses Smart in defense. That's part of the reason why Jrue makes the max and Smart signed for a relative bargain, and why Tatum guards the Lukas and KDs.
Smart is a good player but he is nowhere near elite on any side of the ball. Acknowledging that isn't negativity and doesn't diminish Smart's value, which is considerable even if not the best defender in the league-level value.

I don't believe Smart is the most valuable defender in the league but I would easily take his defense over Holiday and I am no Holiday hater at all. I put him above Rondo when it wasn't fashionable to do so. Holiday's advantage over Smart is on offense and it pretty much always has been on offense. Holiday overall is the better player but not by that much when Smart is healthy.

Ever since his Philly days, Holiday has been helped by playing with 2 of the best players in the game in Anthony Davis and Giannis. With all due respect to Jayson Tatum and other Celtics, Smart hasn't had that luxury.

I can understand how people who casually watch NBA might think Smart is overrated but they would be wrong. Our ‘bigs’ are 6-9 or shorter but versatile enough to guard the perimeter.. Our wings are excellent defenders even while carrying a big load offensively which is a huge plus. The greatness of our defense is a combination not only of great individual pieces, but a whole that is greater than the sum those pieces.

However, I believe it is Smart’s ability as a PG to switch onto any wing or big including GA and Embiid that is the game changer. His defensive IQ and leadership has been huge in creating the defensive culture that JB, Brown, Grant and Timelord have 100% embraced. He is the inspiration and leader of the historically good Celtic defense and he deserved the DPOY.

All that said, I think the Pelicans have the best defender in NBA in HJones.

[BostonCouchGM]

I don't think Smart "bought in", changed his ways or Ime reached him. We've simply played nothing but tanking teams or teams missing key starters for 4 straight months. This will tend to elevate your play which is why, not just Smart, but pretty much everyone on this team, the defensive metrics, etc all improved in late December on. Why this triggers some of you is beyond me. Do not be surprised as we go forward if Smart shoots us out of a game or two and we struggle more as the teams we face are better and healthier. Though, our luck seems to be continuing with gimped Middleton and Embiid preventing this from happening. The Heat might be our first chance to meet a healthy great team and I cannot wait. Hope we get there

This is just an insane rationalization, and 100% not the case. Suggesting their elite play that lasted over 50% of the regular season was luck of only playing bum teams is outrageous. So literally all the good teams were on the slate before Jan 1, and then they moved to the G League portion of the schedule??

I made a long post going game by game proving it. As the new year began the teams that decided to tank really embraced it and more than half our wins were against these types. 99% of the “good” non-tanking teams we beat were missing key, pivotal, starters AND the vast majority of these games were at home as well. FACTs. Not narrative. Not opinion. Meanwhile we were completely healthy.

So, with this in mind, it’s much easier to defend tanking teams and those missing key players. I don’t know why this is considered “outrageous” Would we not be easier to beat without Jaylen or TimeLord? Why are fans do incapable of objectivity? I’m not saying we’re a bad team or not good on defender. We’re a very good team that when facing tanking teams or injured teams, we were blowing them out. Ime and the players kept their foot on the gas and should be commended. But our stats should be taken with a grain of salt. And pretending injuries and ignoring context surrounding who we beat is being disingenuous. I mostly ignore haters on here and mostly don’t bother reading responses but this is one I felt needed a rebuttal

[Shak_Celts]

I don't think Smart "bought in", changed his ways or Ime reached him. We've simply played nothing but tanking teams or teams missing key starters for 4 straight months. This will tend to elevate your play which is why, not just Smart, but pretty much everyone on this team, the defensive metrics, etc all improved in late December on. Why this triggers some of you is beyond me. Do not be surprised as we go forward if Smart shoots us out of a game or two and we struggle more as the teams we face are better and healthier. Though, our luck seems to be continuing with gimped Middleton and Embiid preventing this from happening. The Heat might be our first chance to meet a healthy great team and I cannot wait. Hope we get there

This is just an insane rationalization, and 100% not the case. Suggesting their elite play that lasted over 50% of the regular season was luck of only playing bum teams is outrageous. So literally all the good teams were on the slate before Jan 1, and then they moved to the G League portion of the schedule??

I made a long post going game by game proving it. As the new year began the teams that decided to tank really embraced it and more than half our wins were against these types. 99% of the “good” non-tanking teams we beat were missing key, pivotal, starters AND the vast majority of these games were at home as well. FACTs. Not narrative. Not opinion. Meanwhile we were completely healthy.

So, with this in mind, it’s much easier to defend tanking teams and those missing key players. I don’t know why this is considered “outrageous” Would we not be easier to beat without Jaylen or TimeLord? Why are fans do incapable of objectivity? I’m not saying we’re a bad team or not good on defender. We’re a very good team that when facing tanking teams or injured teams, we were blowing them out. Ime and the players kept their foot on the gas and should be commended. But our stats should be taken with a grain of salt. And pretending injuries and ignoring context surrounding who we beat is being disingenuous. I mostly ignore haters on here and mostly don’t bother reading responses but this is one I felt needed a rebuttal

I don't remember if I saw your post or not, but I keep asking, were we the only team to face those teams? Why was it only our team demolishing EVERY TEAM we faced?

[Slax]

I don't think Smart "bought in", changed his ways or Ime reached him. We've simply played nothing but tanking teams or teams missing key starters for 4 straight months. This will tend to elevate your play which is why, not just Smart, but pretty much everyone on this team, the defensive metrics, etc all improved in late December on. Why this triggers some of you is beyond me. Do not be surprised as we go forward if Smart shoots us out of a game or two and we struggle more as the teams we face are better and healthier. Though, our luck seems to be continuing with gimped Middleton and Embiid preventing this from happening. The Heat might be our first chance to meet a healthy great team and I cannot wait. Hope we get there

This is just an insane rationalization, and 100% not the case. Suggesting their elite play that lasted over 50% of the regular season was luck of only playing bum teams is outrageous. So literally all the good teams were on the slate before Jan 1, and then they moved to the G League portion of the schedule??

I made a long post going game by game proving it. As the new year began the teams that decided to tank really embraced it and more than half our wins were against these types. 99% of the “good” non-tanking teams we beat were missing key, pivotal, starters AND the vast majority of these games were at home as well. FACTs. Not narrative. Not opinion. Meanwhile we were completely healthy.

So, with this in mind, it’s much easier to defend tanking teams and those missing key players. I don’t know why this is considered “outrageous” Would we not be easier to beat without Jaylen or TimeLord? Why are fans do incapable of objectivity? I’m not saying we’re a bad team or not good on defender. We’re a very good team that when facing tanking teams or injured teams, we were blowing them out. Ime and the players kept their foot on the gas and should be commended. But our stats should be taken with a grain of salt. And pretending injuries and ignoring context surrounding who we beat is being disingenuous. I mostly ignore haters on here and mostly don’t bother reading responses but this is one I felt needed a rebuttal

Personally if I were as miserable following the Celtics as you seem to be I would probably just stop watching the team for my own mental health and happiness.

[Slax]

Marcus bring back the French fry hair, in these trying times we need it now more than ever