It’s hard to really classify Marcus Smart. He’s a specialist in a lot of ways, but his specialty is being able to do a lot of things. There's a reason why he’s called himself a “stretch 6” in the past.
Smart is frustrating to some fans because he’s averaging 5.6 3-point attempts per game and only making 28% of them. His offensive struggles and the team’s general defensive struggles have given him a negative net rating (-5.3), something he’s never had to finish any season of his career.
It’s obviously early, and there are other things he’s doing quite well. His assist percentage (25.7%) is currently the highest of his career, which is fueled by a lot of players making their 3-pointers right now. His turnover percentage is at 9.1%, a tick off the lowest point of his career as well. Only Derrick White’s 6.4% is better among the regular rotation guys (the Celtics, in general, have the 5th-lowest turnover percentage in the league).
One of the things fueling those assists, and one thing Smart is flashing a bunch of lately, is work out of the post. It’s not something we’re going to see on every possession, obviously, but it’s a situational wrinkle that has been working well for the Celtics.
When Donovan Mitchell was trying to put the game away in regulation in Cleveland last week, Smart was the guy matching him nearly bucket-for-bucket, and he did it by getting into the paint.
When Smart has an advantage, like this one over Darius Garland, he can back his way down and get himself a good shot. According to NBA tracking data, he’s shooting 17-35 so far on tightly or very tightly defended shots, many of which include post-ups. Overall, he’s shooting 52.8% on 2-pointers (19-36). Obviously his 14-50 on 3-pointers (28%) is dragging his overall percentage down.
Smart has a wide body for a point guard. He’s a really strong guard who can bully matchups in the post. The increase in switching defenses has reinvigorated the league’s appetite for posting up, and Smart’s ability to get into the post can help slow opponent runs. A shot like this with four other floor spacers is a fine one.
We saw this same shot against the Knicks…
And the Bulls
Now that it’s established as a threat, Smart can use that threat to his advantage as a passer.
Post touches are paint touches, and paint touches are magnets for defenders. Opponents can’t help turning and looking at the player in the post, and peripheral vision isn’t much help because the angle is just too great. And effective post-up creates one of two things for a passer: A lane for someone to cut, or an open man because of help.
When Jaylen Brown saw his defender get spun around, he quickly cut to the basket. Smart, from the post, can see the whole play developing.
Smart’s defender has no chance of getting to that pass unless he guesses right. Smart can drop a perfect bounce pass that Brown can simply grab, get his steps, and explode up to the basket.
When the help comes, Smart can just find the man who was just left. In this instance, it’s Brown again, who does exactly what he should do when a man leaves to double off him. As soon as his defender turns to hedge towards Smart, Brown relocates. The defender has to turn, look, process that it’s his guy, and then close out on him. By then it’s too late.
Even the threat of Smart posting can create the lane for his teammates.
Smart looks like he’s preparing to back down his guy for a fadeaway in the lane, so Malcolm Brogdon’s man turns and looks. Brogdon bolts the instant he sees the back of his defender’s head and before you know it, he’s at the rim.
I love players cutting behind post-ups. It’s one of the easiest ways to score because the gravity of a guy posting up who is a threat to score can create a lot of opportunities. It used to be the domain of a good-passing big man, but recent years have given players all over the court a chance to create from the post. Jayson Tatum does well, too, and the Celtics should keep hammering that play when they get mismatches.
Smart is one of the few guards around who can use the post-up this effectively. It’s something to watch for more often, and something he should definitely be doing a few times a game.