Boston Celtics: 5 goals for Marcus Smart in 2017-18

5. Raise 3-point shooting to 37 percent

Considering the mass exodus from the Celtics this offseason, a number of key areas will need to be filled by those arriving at TD Garden. One of the areas that stands out comes in the form of 3-point shooting.

Last season, the Celtics ranked third in the league in 3-pointers made, averaging 12.0 per game. However, this offseason has seen the Celtics’ three most prolific 3-point shooters depart in Thomas, Crowder and Bradley. Considering this trio averaged 19.0 attempts per game between them, this represents a significant amount to replace.

For his part, Smart was underwhelming from 3-point range, shooting at a terrible 28.3 percent clip on 4.2 attempts per game. Given his expected role, and knowledge of the Celtics’ system, it’s reasonable to expect that Smart will be the third-most prolific 3-point shooter for the Celtics this season behind Irving and Hayward.

One factor in favor of Smart improving his overall return from long range is the transformation he made on his body this offseason. Upon entering training camp, Smart was approximately 20 pounds lighter than at the conclusion of the Celtics’ postseason. Smart himself was very concise for the reasons behind the conscious effort he made this summer to drop the excess baggage:

"“Throughout the playoffs I was having really bad back pains…  It was really hard for me to move. My back was killing me during games, before games, after games. I just knew something had to change….I feel amazing. I feel like I can get by anybody. I feel like I can actually get to the rim a lot more.”"

So with less weight to drag around, Smart is understandably bullish about his prospects for the upcoming season. And it’s not as though he hasn’t shown flashes in the past that he can become a solid 3-point shooter.

Over the course of last season, Smart had 10 games in which he nailed three or more 3-pointers, converting at a 50.7 percent clip over this span. His premier performance from downtown actually came in the postseason during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Matched up against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Smart started in place of the injured Isaiah Thomas and connected on 7-of-10 from 3-point range on his way to 27 points and an upset win on the road.

While jumping from 29 to 37 percent in 3-point shooting is a stretch, Smart has demonstrated he has the capabilities to achieve such a goal. Encouragingly, the Oklahoma State product shot at a  39.7 percent clip over 18 playoff games last season, which included his eruption against the Cavaliers.

So with a lighter frame bringing about an increased confidence level, there’s no reason Smart can’t emerge as a surprise packet from long range this season.