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Marcus Smart Is More Than A Grit Guy

Marcus Smart

(Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

Marcus Smart
Marcus Smart is more than just a grit guy. Smart is probably the Celtics’ most valuable and complete player. There is nothing quite like him in the league. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

I’m an honest guy so I’m more than willing to admit when the Celtics drafted Marcus Smart in 2014, I was a little disappointed. Not because I didn’t like Smart. I loved his grit and style of play (still do). What I was upset about was that Smart reminded me of Tony Allen. Playing with toughness and grit is great. Is that worth the 6th pick in any draft? Is a player like Tony Allen good enough to be drafted that high?

Many years later, Marcus Smart is more than just a grit guy. It took some time and development, but Smart can only be described as a home run pick by the Celtics. Smart is the glue that is holding the entire franchise together. The former Oklahoma State product is only getting better and better. So much so that it’s not crazy to envision him being the most impactful player in that 2014 NBA Draft.

Ok, yes, Joel Embiid is the most talented player in that draft. No question about it. Still, Embiid has had significant injury problems. It’s not so crazy to think he could be out of the league in 4 years. The NBA changes fast. It’s at least in the realm of possibility. Nikola Jokic also doesn’t count. He was a second round pick. Nobody even knew who he was coming out of that class and was taken in the first round. Outside of that, Marcus Smart is that dude. Clint Capela and Aaron Gordon are the only players that can even come close. The Rockets would trade Capela tomorrow for the right offer. Does anybody know what Aaron Gordon is today?

Marcus Smart used to just be a gritty defender. Smart would play great defense and rally the troops. Smart has the heart of the lion and is the epitome of Boston. Dive for a loose ball? Oh, sign him up. Take a charge? Don’t have to ask twice. That’s who Marcus Smart was for a long time.

The 2019-2020 version of Marcus Smart is a lot different. Tony Allen isn’t even a comparison anymore. There’s nothing like Marcus Smart in the NBA to even compare him to. Skilled offensive playmaker, can defend all 5 positions, and can score at all 3 levels. Oh, and he plays like his hair is on fire regardless of the score. There is nothing like number 36 on Boston in the league.

Marcus Smart is the league’s most underrated passer. Unless you watch the Celtics on a regular basis, you have probably missed Smart’s wizardry. I sure as hell didn’t see this coming. Smart has become an unbelievable passer. When Smart is on the floor, the ball is often in his hands. Boston trusts him with the ball which is saying something if you watched him 2 or 3 years ago.

Marcus Smart is 2nd on the team in assists with 4.7 per game. Kemba Walker sits at 5 per game. The only difference is, Marcus Smart comes off the bench. Smart has a usage rate of 17.7 while Walker sits at 27.3. Walker is also turning the ball over 2.2 times per game while Smart turns it over 0.9 times per game.

That’s not to disparage Kemba. He is going to the All-Star game for a reason. It’s just to point out the the Celtics have been really good when the ball is in Smart’s hands. He probably has been Boston’s best facilitator on the season.

Smart used to be a liability on the offensive end. That is not the case anymore. My man can make it splash now. Smart is shooting over 35 percent from downtown. I’ll take it. In the past, you had to close your eyes when Smart shot the ball. It was never a good idea. Now? Smart can knock down any open shot. You can’t sag off him on defense anymore. Even if you do, he can drive and kick it to the open guy. It’s not just shooting either. He can just flat out score now.

Marcus Smart was already a terrific defender before this year. He made the All-Defense team a year ago. What Smart is doing this year is borderline insane or even unrealistic. The Celtics don’t have a conventional center this year. Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter aren’t recognized as defensive stoppers (even though they have done a pretty good job as a group). Smart guards the best player on the floor at all times.

He’s not just guarding the best player. A lot of times, he’s guarding players a foot taller than him. Not just guarding them, but dominating the action. Centers have taken him into the post and they can’t score.

Marcus Smart is guarding 10-foot-tall Kristaps Porzingis and dominating. There isn’t another guard in the league that can do that. Not one. Smart is somehow making it look easy. He’s guarding 5’s on a nightly basis and kicking their ass. Often times making them frustrated and making sure they pick up offensive fouls. I truly don’t know how he’s doing it.

The Boston Celtics are a fantastic team. Kemba Walker, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum is a hell of a core group of guys. I’m not sure any of them are more valuable than Marcus Smart. Nobody defines Boston better than Marcus Smart. Talent sets the floor and character sets the ceiling. Nobody works harder or tries to get a loose ball more than Smart. In a league full of Charmin Ultra soft guys, Marcus Smart brings it on both ends and he’ll let you know about it. Marcus Smart is more than just a grit guy. It’s time to recognize that he’s just a hell of a player.

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