Marcus Smart’s newfound shooting ability
Marcus Smart has never been known for being a stellar 3-point shooter. In fact, most Boston Celtics fans cringe when they see Smart throw up a pull-up jumper from behind the arc. But one thing Smart has consistently done since entering the NBA is perfect his overall offensive shooting game.
Six years later, Smart has found a groove from behind the arc and is currently on pace to have the best 3-point shooting performance of his career. As of now, he is shooting 35 percent from behind the arc, which is impressive for a player like Smart whose focus is more on the defensive side of the court.
The amount of work Smart has put in during the offseason is noticeably paying off as the season has gone on. Before every game, Smart has a shooting routine that he runs through with Boston Celtics assistant coach, Kara Lawson, and it’s proved to work wonders for Smart leading into the start of a game. There have been times that Smart has been the go-to guy, as he has often had the hot hand.
This season, Smart is averaging 12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, five assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Smart is currently fifth on the team in points per game, second in assists per game, and first in steals per game this season.
The unnamed captain of the Boston Celtics, Smart, also made history this season by setting an individual record for the most made 3-point shots in a single game with 11 against the Phoenix Suns (he finished the game with 37 points). The previous record of nine was set by Antonie Walker in 2001 and then tied by Isaiah Thomas in 2016.
Smart now ranks fifth all-time in Boston Celtics history with 565 career made 3-pointers, right behind the great Larry Bird who connected on 649 throughout his illustrious career.