Boston Celtics: 5 goals for Marcus Smart in 2017-18
By Simon Smith
4. Assume greater leadership responsibilities
With such a significant turnover of the Celtics’ roster, Smart has suddenly assumed the mantle as the longest-tenured player on the roster. As a result, the 23-year-old is going to have to assume leadership responsibilities not always placed on someone of his age and experience.
That begins with assisting in the integration process of his new teammates.
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Kyrie Irving is the highest profile new arrival, and forming a bond with a new colleague in the backcourt will be vital in the early stages of the season. During the most recent postseason, Irving reportedly went several days without interacting with his Cavaliers teammates.
So now as one of the leaders of the Celtics, getting on the same page as Irving and making him feel like part of the Celtics family should be high up on Smart’s agenda entering the season.
The other high-profile arrival this offseason was All-Star Gordon Hayward. Arriving under different circumstances to Irving as a free agent, Hayward has a previous relationship with head coach Brad Stevens, having played under him in college at Butler.
But having said that, even Hayward can benefit from the guidance of the younger Smart. As Smart stated succinctly when asked about his early impression of Hayward:
"“Gordon, he barely talks.”"
And then there is the No. 3 overall selection, Jayson Tatum. Expected to take a prominent role off the bench alongside Smart, Tatum’s transition to the league will be enhanced if Smart can take him under his wing as much as possible on and off the court. With the duo likely to play significant minutes together, this relationship is probably of greater importance than with the aforementioned All-Star duo.
So even though Smart is still trying to establish his own game, assisting with the acclimation process of his new teammates will only help to assist the Celtics as a whole.