Why the Boston Celtics need Marcus Smart more than ever

There are few players in the NBA that better embody the spirit of the Boston Celtics than Marcus Smart. The hard-nosed guard was a key piece of the Celtics last season and he will have to step up even more in the 2019-20 season.

Marcus Smart came to the Boston Celtics in 2014 after being selected with the 6th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Smart has been a member of the Celtics longer than any other player on the roster and will likely be assuming a leadership position following a stunt as co-captain on Team USA.

During this period of change, the Boston Celtics will need Smart to be a leader but more than that, they will need an efficient player. Kemba Walker may be the new sheriff in town, but Smart has the most experience playing in the green and white treads.

Boston will have to make some adjustments with the departure of Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Marcus Morris, Terry Rozier and Aron Baynes. We are also unsure how Walker, Enes Kanter and the rookies will fit into the system.

With all the moving pieces, the consistent presence of Smart will be crucial for the Boston Celtics. Smart is a vocal leader and new players will look to him for guidance on how Brad Stevens runs things in Beantown.

The Celtics will not only rely on Smart’s leadership, but also his production on the court. Smart should have a similar role to the one he had last season, but this new look roster may require him to shake things up a bit.

Since he entered the league, Smart has never been a high-volume shooter because he has never been the top offensive weapon on a team. I don’t expect him to step into that role in 2019.

As a matter of fact, Smart should be less involved in Boston’s scoring and more involved in facilitating. Sure, Walker can pass, but he is considered more of a score-point guard. His career averages don’t sniff double digits, which is typically the bench mark of a top point guard.

Now when it comes to where the scoring will be coming from, there is no doubt that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will be two of the three primary scorers for Boston. If Smart can take on that facilitator role and create open looks for Tatum and Brown, you will almost certainly see their shooting percentages go up. Smart’s improvement in that department could go a long way towards Boston being able to give Walker sufficient rest given the lack of established depth at the point guard spot.

In terms of his defensive intensity, the Celtics will need Smart to be the same lockdown defender he always has been. The Boston Celtics frontcourt has many questions heading into the season, so it will be pivotal for Smart and the backcourt to set the tone on both ends.

Smart has averaged over a steal per game in all five years of his professional career. The guard’s ability to wreak havoc on opposing backcourts can take a ton of pressure off the inexperienced Celtics frontcourt.

Smart doesn’t grab your attention with flashy offensive plays, but he is the heart of this Boston Celtics team. I expect a big year for him even if he doesn’t stuff the stat sheet.