Marcus Smart not quite a consistent 3-point threat for Boston Celtics
Is it time to recognize Marcus Smart as a 3-point shooter for the Boston Celtics?
Marcus Smart’s claim to fame in the NBA is his defensive ability. The incredible defensive tenacity Smart has provided the Boston Celtics for six years now is what sets him apart from most guards in the league and gives the Celtics a greater competitive advantage over their opponents.
“The Young Gamechanger” is now known as one of the best defenders in the NBA and is believed to be snubbed of defensive accolades in years past. He finally earned First Team All-Defensive honors last season for the first time in his career.
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With Smart being a defensive standout, the Boston Celtics believe anything he can provide offensively should be looked at as an added bonus. Surrounded by the great shooting of Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart isn’t expected to drop 15 points per night and lead his team offensively.
In years past, Celtics fans would cringe at the thought of Marcus Smart shooting the ball (especially from deep). Now, surprisingly to most, Marcus is shooting and scoring extremely well this season and it’s becoming acceptable for him to take the shot. Should Marcus Smart be considered a legitimate 3-point shooter for the Boston Celtics?
Dating back to last season, Marcus Smart has increased both his shot attempts and field goal percentages, both from the field and behind the arc. In doing so, Smart is climbing in the history books and surpassed Danny Ainge (348) for most career 3-pointers in Boston Celtics history with 483.
The Boston Celtics have benefited greatly from the sudden elevation in offensive production from Smart. So far through 14 games this season, Smart is shooting the second-most 3-point attempts per game (7.5) for the Celtics and he’s fourth on the squad in 3-point goal percentage (34.3 percent), trailing Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
In regards to Marcus and his 3-pointers, he should be considered in the middle of the pack this season, rather than below average. This season, Smart is currently in the top 15 of the NBA in 3-pointers. One thing about Smart is when he needs to, he always seems to make the toughest contested shots.
According to the numbers from Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston, over the last two and a half years Marcus Smart has been an above-average 3-point shooter. During the 2017 playoffs Smart shot 39.7 percent from deep and finished the 2018-19 season with a career-high 36.4 percent.
Through the Celtics’ first 11 games this season, Smart was shooting 40.8 percent from behind the arc. Forsberg also mentioned how with Smart’s recent production from deep, he hasn’t slacked away from any of his other duties while on the court.
Even with Smart’s recent success from behind the arc being great (and numbers never lie), the Boston Celtics shouldn’t be looking to rely on him as a source for points. In consideration to Smart’s strong start to the season from three-point land, how long he will be consistent is still a bit unknown.
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The bench for the Celtics hasn’t produced much for the team so far this season (scoring under 30 points per game); just imagine what the production from the Celtics’ bench would look like if Smart was running the floor for the second unit.
Having a veteran guy like Smart to be able to make 3-pointers is definitely an important element for the Boston Celtics, especially since he does come off the bench from time-to-time (5 times this season).
Marcus Smart will have the green-light as long as teams are going to continue to give him open looks. But it’s hard to believe that Smart will become more of a deep threat for the Celtics over guys like Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown who all have proven to be successful 3-point shooters.
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Smart has been a commodity from behind the arc this season for the Celtics, but shouldn’t be considered a legitimate 3-point shooter; not yet anyway.