Boston Celtics: 3 players who must fill Jaylen Brown’s All-Star shoes

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 25: Aaron Nesmith #26 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 25, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 25: Aaron Nesmith #26 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 25, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart

One of the more overlooked aspects of the Celtics run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season was the play of Marcus Smart.

With Gordon Hayward out for most of the playoffs, and Kemba Walker struggling with a knee injury, Smart was arguably the Celtics third best scoring option behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

After struggling in the opening series against the Philadelphia 76ers, a switch flipped in Smart, and he played some of the best basketball of his career. He averaged 15.7 points per game in the series against the Toronto Raptors, and then upped the ante against the Heat, scoring 17 a game. He also was a huge help on the glass, and averaged 5 assists per game in both series as one of the offenses primary playmakers.

It seemed like Smart had finally turned the corner and was becoming a more consistent threat offensively, but he has regressed back to his old ways this season. While he is averaging career highs in points and assists per game, it’s been the same old Marcus Smart for the most part. He shows flashes of his scoring potential, but then follows it up by missing shots in bunches, which is what he finally had gotten away from during last season’s playoffs.

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Smart has always been an iffy three point shooter at best, and his efficiency from behind the arc has decreased for the second season in a row, sitting at 33 percent. For what it’s worth, Smart shot 39% on three pointers in their series against Toronto last postseason. The closer to the hoop Smart is, the better a player he is, but he seems intent on firing up a bevy of three pointers night in and night out, regardless of whether or not they are falling.

Smart’s erratic offensive play in nothing new, but his struggles on defense are. Smart’s calling card throughout his whole career has been his defensive tenacity, but Smart seems to be a step slower this season. Part of it could be he hasn’t fully recovered from his calf injury he suffered early on in the season, but Smart hasn’t been on the same level defensively that he had been for his entire career.

While the eye test can certainly spot Smart’s declining defensive play, the numbers back it up. Defensive Win Shares, which is a statistic that estimates how many wins a player contributes through his defensive play, sits at 1.4 for Smart this season. For reference, Smart’s second lowest DWS total was 2.2 in his rookie season, so clearly his defensive play hasn’t been up to the level that has become expected of him.

With Brown now out, a large burden has quickly fallen on Smart’s shoulders on both sides of the ball.

Brown was arguably the Celtics second best defender behind Smart, meaning Smart will basically draw the toughest defensive matchup for the rest of the way out. And more shots will now be available each night, and you know Smart will take them. We saw Smart step up last season when the playoffs rolled around, and the Celtics will need him to answer the bell for the second straight season if they want to make it anywhere in the playoffs this season.