Hardwood Houdini
Fansided

Boston Celtics: a data dive into the impressive play of Marcus Smart

By Ian Riaf

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 07: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics attempts to save the ball from going out of bounds during the fourth quarter of the game against the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden on February 07, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 07: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics attempts to save the ball from going out of bounds during the fourth quarter of the game against the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden on February 07, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Boston Celtics (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Shooting

With more minutes at his disposal, Marcus Smart, this season, was averaging a career-high 13.5 points per game. But we can do better than just conclude he is having a better year because scoring is up.

Brace yourselves for some numbers!

Let’s first touch on his three-point shooting. Right away, one notices a slight dip in his three-point percentage from 36.4 percent last year to 34.8 percent this year. But this isn’t a bad dip. Why? Because of his increased number of attempts. Smart never averaged more than 4.7 three-pointers per game in any season. This year, however, things are different, as Smart is shooting close to seven three-pointers per game. He has  increased the number of attempts while failing to show a significant percentage dip.

Think about it this way. Millkwakee’s, George Hill is shooting 48 percent on 2.9 attempts per game while JJ Redick is shooting 45.2 percent on 6.4 attempts per game, Redick is undoubtedly a more valuable three-point shooter because of this increased volume. This season, more than half of Smart’s shots came from beyond-the-arc as he ranks third on this Celtics team after Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum in three-point-attempts.

In a jaw-dropping performance, Smart broke the Celtics record for most three-pointers attempted and made in a single game this season. Surpassing Isaiah Thomas and Antoine Walker‘s shared record of nine triples, Smart went 11-22 from beyond the arc and almost single-handedly brought the Celtics back from a late-game, 14-point deficit against the Phoenix Suns.

Looking beyond just this historic performance, Smart’s increased number of attempts makes him a more legitimate floor spacer. Yes, we have the data to back this up. Smart has improved his gravity.

Gravity, measured by BBalIndex.com, is a way to quantify how much spatial stress a player puts on the defense, that is, how much floor spacing they provide. Due to his increased role as a three-point shooter, Smart has improved his gravity ranking from 93rd last season to currently 38th, putting him in the 91st percentile for overall three-point shooting gravity, a significant improvement.

Home/Celtics News