FIBA World Cup

[Slartibartfast]

Smart is one of the most versatile defensive guards i have seen. I really hope he takes another leap this year.

I can't think of another example who was listed as a guard. The guys who come to mind are all bigger and generally thought of as forwards, eg. Rodman and Lebron.

TA guarding Durant is a rough equivalent.

[Fencer reregistered]

Smart is one of the most versatile defensive guards i have seen. I really hope he takes another leap this year.

I can't think of another example who was listed as a guard. The guys who come to mind are all bigger and generally thought of as forwards, eg. Rodman and Lebron.

TA guarding Durant is a rough equivalent.

You're right. It's a little different, since he was seen as an SG and sometimes as a swingman, whereas Smart is more clearly seen as an SG, combo guard or PG.

Still, you're right.

[Darth Celtic]

Should have called those highlights "greece scoring on Joe Harris."

[SmartWentCrazy]

Should have called those highlights "greece scoring on Joe Harris."

Thank god Pop called an audible at the last minute to switch Barnes on Giannis instead of Harris— Giannis still torched Barnes at the get go but he would've utterly murdered Joe Harris and his revolving door defense.

[Jacobkowal]

The Jaylen highlights look ok - he bricked one dunk and had a drive into the lane that ended with a weak pass to the perimeter - but his handles looked better and he’s showing a better sense of how to change pace on transition scores at the rim, a flicker of hesitation instead of a line drive.

Didn't he also have an off-target crosscourt pass that wound up being a basket for Greece ?

That was Mitchell.
I thought Brown played a good game. He was aggressive and played very good defence except for one play. He has become a better passer and could have easily had 2 assists more on open threes.

[cloverleaf]

I can't think of another example who was listed as a guard. The guys who come to mind are all bigger and generally thought of as forwards, eg. Rodman and Lebron.

TA guarding Durant is a rough equivalent.

You're right. It's a little different, since he was seen as an SG and sometimes as a swingman, whereas Smart is more clearly seen as an SG, combo guard or PG.

Still, you're right.

Tony measured out 2.5" taller and 3" higher in standing reach, though a .25" less in wingspan. Smart with 1.5" greater standing vertical leap, while Allen reached an extra half inch in max vertical. So surprisingly close, though Tony with the clear height advantage.

[Higgs Boston]

there are other versatile guards on defense like kidd, gary payton, dennis johnson etc it's not like Smart is so special.

[Feed Your Head]

there are other versatile guards on defense like kidd, gary payton, dennis johnson etc it's not like Smart is so special.

Actually, he is. You just named 3 of the best defensive players ever.

[brackdan70]

there are other versatile guards on defense like kidd, gary payton, dennis johnson etc it's not like Smart is so special.

Three guys from three separate eras... this sort of makes the argument that Smart is special.

[Higgs Boston]

there are other versatile guards on defense like kidd, gary payton, dennis johnson etc it's not like Smart is so special.

Actually, he is. You just named 3 of the best defensive players ever.

I said those names as examples but It's about versatile guards, not quality, I mean all those 3 are better defenders than Smart, especially as individual defenders where Smart is overrated, he doesn't have some physical tools like size, length, speed-explosiveness, body control etc to be really an elite individual defender like these and then be historically great defender. Smart is more like a good individual defender and a great team defender and that makes him an elite defender.

[Parliament10]

there are other versatile guards on defense like kidd, gary payton, dennis johnson etc it's not like Smart is so special.

Actually, he is. You just named 3 of the best defensive players ever.

I said those names as examples but It's about versatile guards, not quality, I mean all those 3 are better defenders than Smart, especially as individual defenders where Smart is overrated, he doesn't have some physical tools like size, length, speed-explosiveness, body control etc to be really an elite individual defender like these and then be historically great defender. Smart is more like a good individual defender and a great team defender and that makes him an elite defender.

Yeah, Ahhh. Smart did make NBA All-Defensive First Team (2019). And, he's been in the conversation since he started.
There's only one major difference, between the Greatest Defending Guards and Marcus Smart.

Smart's still playing.

To Be Continued . . .

[cloverleaf]

there are other versatile guards on defense like kidd, gary payton, dennis johnson etc it's not like Smart is so special.

Actually, he is. You just named 3 of the best defensive players ever.

Right, except those players were all significantly better than Smart (to date), when the offensive side of the floor is considered.

[Slartibartfast]

Prime Kirk Hinrich was pretty similar to Smart. Smart better defensively. Hinrich a tad bit more reliable offensively. But both combo guards who played bigger than their size.

Smart gets penalized a bit defensively for being in the wrong era - if hand checking were allowed he'd do much better at the point of attack.

[Feed Your Head]

there are other versatile guards on defense like kidd, gary payton, dennis johnson etc it's not like Smart is so special.

Actually, he is. You just named 3 of the best defensive players ever.

Right, except those players were all significantly better than Smart (to date), when the offensive side of the floor is considered.

Well yeah, but all I said was defensive versatility.

[return2glory]

Nice to see Brown had a few good games recently after couple of rough ones. US team is building some momentum, hopefully they can continue that.

[31to6]

Sorry so naive about this but what’s the current status — are they in single elimination yet? Or based on their record do they have some wiggle room?

[Parliament10]

Sorry so naive about this but what’s the current status — are they in single elimination yet? Or based on their record do they have some wiggle room?

One more game in the 2nd Round. Though, USA is already guaranteed to make the next round.
That's when single elimination begins.

[Fencer reregistered]

Actually, he is. You just named 3 of the best defensive players ever.

Right, except those players were all significantly better than Smart (to date), when the offensive side of the floor is considered.

Well yeah, but all I said was defensive versatility.

Versatiity and effectiveness are inseparable even in theory. Formally, anybody can take an assignment on any player, e.g. Kyrie on Giannis. The onlly question is how well they do once they've taken it it.

[zoyathedestroya]

Looking forward to the matchup between MJ and Oscar Schmidt tonight!

[Celtics_History_Lesson]

Greek Fork. Without a league instructing officials to give him 25 free throw attempts per game, Fork is not as good as Satoransky.

Watching some highlights, it seemed that Marco Belinelli was being called "The Italian Larry Bird" by the commentators. No idea who the commentators were, they spoke English but were quite foreign.

Watched Serbia - Spain, but after Jokic was ejected.


The game, about to start, doesn't really matter so Team USA should just play their bad players.

Forgot, they have been playing their bad players in all games.