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Boston Celtics: Ranking all 5 starters for the 2021-22 season

By Holden Walter-Warner

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 21: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum #0 talk against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on February 21, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 21: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum #0 talk against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on February 21, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images
Boston Celtics Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images /

Boston Celtics starters ranked: 3. PG Marcus Smart

Marcus Smart has always been slotted into a backup role behind a more prominent point guard in front of him. Rajon Rondo. Isaiah Thomas. Kyrie Irving. Kemba Walker.

No longer will there be anyone to block Smart or cover up his mistakes. The Celtics are getting the full Marcus Smart experience, for better or worse – and Brad Stevens is trusting it will be the former.

Last year was not the best for Smart. He scored a career-high 13.1 points per game, but struggled from three, hitting 33 percent. His assists also hit a best of 5.7 per game, but his rebounds and steals were both caught slipping.

While the steals didn’t drop to a ridiculous level – 1.5 per game – it’s an important part of Smart’s game and he’ll aim to get back to it this year. His 2.2 steal percentage was his worst in several years and one of the only times he didn’t rank in the top 15 in the league in the category (full disclosure, he still ranked in the top 20).

Despite some noticeable warts in his game, Smart is a solid player. He didn’t just receive a four-year, $77 million extension this offseason for the sake of continuity – Smart earned that extension and he should be able to seize the starting role he held for all but three of his regular-season games last year.

If he struggles, however, competition lurks. Dennis Schroder signed a one-year deal with the team and will be eager to earn a bigger contract somewhere at the end of the year, so he’ll be ready to step in if Smart falters.

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