Marcus Smart Discussion: Welcome To LA

Yeah, I'm concerned about this.

Yeah, I think Smart may do better in lineups with only 1 of Austin/Luka/LeBron. For example, Smart/[Austin or Luka]/LaRavia/Rui/Ayton. This could also help us get LeBron down to 30 min or less, which would be good for the regular season, to try to preserve him for the playoffs. I would love 25-28 min for LeBron, but he will probably still want 30.

 

wonder if they are thinking of him for the starting gig or with the bench unit.

I still predict more moves are coming. We don't have 15 All Stars//lottery picks/former All Stars yet, so clearly the job isn't done.

 

Some good Cranjis takes I didn't see posted here yet.




These are much better defensive lineups with Smart instead of Rui, due to both Smart's role and also since it helps Austin and Luka slot in much better and not be liabilities (or not as much). I get why Rui probably needs to start, but I hope he gets subbed out early-ish around 4 min in for Smart, so that this lineup can play against opponent's starters. Then Rui can sub in for LeBron at 8 min and be a featured scorer.




This is a good way to use Smart and Vando together, and makes Vando totally playable in this lineup. Don't even need both Luka and Bron in there, if you're facing opposing bench lineups, can give one of them a rest. Smart, Luka, LaRavia, Rui, and Vando or Ayton should be nice units against other mixed starter/bench units.




According to Cranjis' data, Vincent/Smart/Rui/Vando/Ayton would be a really good defensive lineup. Idk how playable Vando & Ayton are together on offense, but it could be worth a try against bench units.





These are very concerning.

 

I think we basically have to start Luka/Reaves/LeBron/Rui/Ayton for contract reasons. Then you sub in Smart quickly for defense, and as you sub out starters, let Smart co-run the 2nd unit.

 

We all knew what it was when westbrick was on here, optimist convinced the forum that it might work out too. Nobody wanted to be a negative nancy all the time.


But it is what it is and its better to just call it out than just whatever we went through with that man when he was on our team.


Move the ball, smart and put him in situations and playing time where he can utilizie his skill set. but with team politics, egos, or straight stupidity. Common sense sometimes goes out the door. i.e. horrendous shooting line ups with westbrick, D'antoni having gasol camp the 3pt line half the season, trying to run the princeton office without the necessary offensive IQ to run it, etc ,etc.

 

so with Gabe and Smart, we have a horrible set of rebounding guards

 

I like this sign because we were so bad on defense on POA.
In the same time I'm a bit concerned for his athleticism, and he's a terrific injury history.

I hope he's played that number of games in Washington for tanking reasons, but I don't find this reason between Boston and Memphis.

Btw, I'm curious to see if he'll be a starter or not.
Considering how much he needs to have the ball to be good at offense, I don't see him so compatible with Luka and LeBron...
...and we need a bit of ball handling in 2nd unit...

But his defense could be important to let Luka be Luka.