He's taking advantage of how the defense continues to cover him. Smart's not going "Rondo," meaning passing up open looks to hunt for assists. (Also note the perfect spacing, great pass from Irving and both the devastating initial screen from Baynes and the subsequent screen underneath to prevent a run-out.) The extra pass creates an even better one. But he has Horford wide open in the corner with a man closing out on him. On the play below, Smart catches the ball with a chance for a wide-open 3-pointer here. The Celtics' effective field goal percentage of 49.5 somehow doesn't change with or without him, despite Smart's gruesome individual eFG% of 34.1.Ī lot of this has to do with how Smart plays within himself.
mistakesīoston's turnover percentage drops by two full points (15.9 to 13.7) with Smart on the floor. The central point remains: The Celtics offense has been as good with the worst shooter in the NBA on the floor as when its best offensive player is instead. Who those players play with and against isn't factored in, and the sample size remains small. (Note: It will not keep this up.)Īgain, context is needed.
Boston is on pace for a historic defensive rating if it can keep this up. The Celtics' offense remains a problem they need to fix their strength is their defense by far. Note that none of these numbers are great except when Smart and Irving (usually along with Horford) are together. In other words, the Celtics jump from a solid team to an elite team when Smart is on the court. That's 7.9 points per 100 possessions better than when he's off the court. when Smart is on the floor, the Celtics outscore their opponent by 11.3 points per 100 possessions (roughly one game). OK, so Marcus Smart is a terrible, horrible, no-good shooter who clearly must be a liability to the Celtics.Įxcept.
(That means 98 percent of the league is better.) Smart has shot 9 for 35 on unguarded catch-and-shoot jumpers, which is only slightly better than his 7-for-30 mark on jumpers off the dribble.
In non-postup situations, Smart is in the second percentile league-wide in shots around the rim via Synergy Sports. Smart is shooting 36.7 percent on layups this season, 10th worst in the league. Of all players with at least 1,800 shots in their career, Smart has the 57th-lowest mark in NBA history. Of any player averaging at least 10 shots a game, Smart has the worst field-goal percentage, league-wide, at 28.1 percent. Marcus Smart is the worst shooter in the NBA, at least right now.