Pros and Cons of Boston Celtics Starting Marcus Smart Right Away
The sky is the limit for Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart. A tenacious rookie out of Oklahoma State, Smart was selected by the Celtics with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft for one obvious reason: Boston feels he could be a cornerstone for the future of the franchise.
The question is, should the C's start Smart (try saying that five times fast) alongside Rajon Rondo right out of the gate, or should they exercise patience and allow him to grow off the bench?
Taking into consideration the fact that the Celtics re-signed Avery Bradley to a four-year, $32 million deal this summer, per Baxter Holmes of The Boston Globe, you would think the plan is to bring Smart off the pine due to the amount of money Bradley will be making. However, take a second look at that contract. It's for four years. Does anyone seriously believe that Boston aims to keep Smart in a reserve role for four seasons?
That's what makes this decision a bit debatable and why it is prudent that we weigh the pros and cons of the C's immediately throwing Smart into the fray as a starter.
Pro: It Gets Smart Accustomed to Shooting Guard
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Many feel that Smart projects as a point guard going forward. Do not count me in that camp. I see Smart as a 2-guard, and playing him at that spot from the get-go is a wise decision both for Smart's future and the Celtics'.
At 6'4", 225 pounds and possessing an uncanny ability to get to the rim and finish with authority, Smart has almost all of the tools to consistently play shooting guard at the NBA level. I say "almost" because he does not have much of a perimeter shot, but that can be worked on.
Think of it this way: Imagining Smart as a floor general comes with the caveat of Rondo playing elsewhere. Of course, there is a possibility that Boston trades Rondo before he hits free agency next summer, but if not, the C's should absolutely stick Smart at the 2 to groom him for the future.
Also, if all indications are correct, it looks like Rondo will be around for a while.
"I'm not trying to trade Rondo, but because he's a free agent this summer, he assured me that he wants to stay in Boston," said Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, via Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. "We'd love to keep him in Boston."
Sure, Smart can run the point in spurts, but the best move would be to pair him alongside No. 9 in the backcourt and let the two wreak havoc on both ends of the floor.
Con: Floor Spacing
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While Rondo and Smart would certainly be a terror for opponents in terms of their athleticism and defensive tenacity, they certainly would not have much to worry about when it comes to three-point shooting. Not yet, anyway.
We all know that Rondo's biggest weakness is the fact that he is not a reliable outside shooter, but Smart isn't, either. The 20-year-old connected on only 87 of his 295 long-range attempts during his two years at Oklahoma State, good for an abysmal 29.5 percent conversion rate.
Meanwhile, Bradley has developed into a solid marksman, shooting 39.5 percent from distance in 2013-14.
With the Celtics also lacking any great three-point shooters at small forward (Jeff Green can hit them, but he is very streaky), life could end up being a living hell for Jared Sullinger and the rest of Boston's big men if Smart starts. Defenses could merely double down and collapse the paint.
That being said, the C's can always add shooters, and fellow rookie James Young could potentially develop into one of the bombers that the Celtics need.
Pro: Backcourt Size
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Smart's strong, stocky frame, which was already mentioned a couple of slides ago, would end up paying dividends for the Celtics should they decide to start him.
While Bradley is absolutely one of the finest perimeter defenders in the league, his drawback is a lack of size. At 6'2", Bradley is not an ideal candidate to defend some of the game's bigger guards regardless of how tough and feisty he is.
Think of Smart as a more talented version of Lance Stephenson on the defensive end of the floor. He can "D up" guys like Kobe Bryant, James Harden and Klay Thompson with a combination of physicality and remarkable savvy.
Rondo is a pretty physical guard himself, as Smart recently noted after scrimmaging against the former All-Star. "I didn’t know he was that strong," said Smart, via Jay King of MassLive. "He’s stronger than what I expected him to be. But, you know, I held my own."
With Rondo already being capable of locking down opposing point guards, having Smart in tow could give Boston the stingiest backcourt defense in the NBA, especially when you take into account that it will have Bradley coming off the bench.
Plus, on the offensive side of the ball, Smart can use his size and strength to post up. According to DraftExpress, more than 5 percent of his possessions came in the post last season, which was as much as some small forwards.
Con: Immediate Pressure
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The Celtics are not your average, run-of-the-mill lottery team. For a franchise that has won 17 championships and recently had a stretch where it made the playoffs six straight seasons, winning one NBA title and reaching two NBA Finals, a quick turnaround is expected.
That means a decent amount of pressure on the shoulders of Smart should Boston elect to start him right away.
Because keeping his head on straight was not one of Smart's strengths at Oklahoma State, a rough beginning could end up proving daunting for Smart to overcome. Bringing him off the pine, though, would curb expectations and limit pressure.
Let's say Smart has a few bad shooting nights and lets his well-known temper get the better of him. That could spell bad news for his confidence and his future prospects.
Clearly, starting Smart as a rookie is a gamble based on this alone.
Pro: Smart Will Gain Experience
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Of course, you then have to look at the other side of the coin.
While a player can certainly play meaningful minutes off the bench, there is nothing like actually starting a game. There is a reason why you hear so many guys grumble about coming off the pine.
If Smart starts, he will gain significant experience as a mere rookie, something that could end up yielding very positive results as he progresses.
Hearing his name announced over the PA system could do a lot for the first-year guard's confidence, verifying the belief that he is "the man" for the Celtics going forward.
As flimsy as it may sound, some players simply perform better when they are under the bright lights. Smart could end up being one of those guys.
The best news in all of this is that Smart is already learning from his teammates, per King:
"I was expecting it to be like, rookie, kind of shun me, push me to the side, kind of (make) me learn on my own. But it’s nice. Those guys, when they try to help you – until we start playing, then obviously they’re trying to beat you – but when we’re working out, they’re trying to help and trying to make sure you know everything before you go out there and do it.
"
Combine starting with a vote of confidence from someone like Rondo, and it's hard not to feel good about yourself.
Con: Potentially Sacrificing Wins
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Although Smart clearly has a higher ceiling than Bradley, the fact of the matter is that he has not played a single second of legitimate NBA basketball yet (excluding the NBA Summer League, of course).
Bradley, on the other hand, has proven he can play on this level, and he has some playoff experience, which could prove helpful if the Celtics are battling for a playoff spot down the stretch (if they want to, anyway).
Last year, it seemed pretty clear that Boston was not aiming to make the postseason. This time around, however, things are a bit more ambiguous. Rondo could be healthy for the full year, and missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons is never a good look for a storied franchise like the C's.
That's not to say that the Celtics are a shoo-in for the dance, because at the current point in time, it looks as if they will be a lottery team again. It's difficult to envision them being a top-eight ballclub in the Eastern Conference. However, that does not mean Boston won't at least try to earn a playoff berth.
If the C's are serious about playing in May, starting the more proven Bradley would be the better move.
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