Boston Celtics: The argument for Marcus Smart logging minutes at center

The Boston Celtics should give the incredibly versatile, Marcus Smart solid minutes at the center position.

Throughout the duration of the NBA’s suspension, I have spent most of my time thinking about the Boston Celtics, the NBA playoffs, and different ways the C’s could use their lack of size as an advantage.

After months of brainstorming, one specific hypothetical kept creeping back into my mind: a small ball lineup with Marcus Smart guarding opposing centers.

That may sound crazy to some, but, frankly, what can’t Smart do defensively? What challenges has he ever backed down from?

According to NBA.com, Marcus Smart has had great success when guarding centers this season. In 27 and a half minutes of matchup time, the defensive star has held all centers to just 42 percent shooting from the floor (11 for 26).

In comparison, Smart has held all guards to 41 percent and all forwards to 43 percent shooting from the floor. Sure, there is a much smaller sample size of guarding centers compared to guards and wings — roughly 200-300 matchup minutes — but any guard that has the ability to defend centers that well has a special talent on that end of the floor.

His rim-protecting ability is second to none, too, when talking about guards:

The highly appreciated Celtics superfan Tomasz Kordylewski, the YouTuber that puts together all of the amazing Celtics highlight videos, put together a masterpiece of Smart against opposing bigs like the video you just watched.

Enjoy the show.

Those six minutes of video are so incredibly fun to watch. What other 6-3 guards can do what Smart does?

Don’t worry, I’m not just suggesting this idea because it is fun. There are some real benefits for the Celtics with this strategy.

But yes, I must admit, it is a blast to simply just think about.

With the young duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, a lineup where they would be able to get out and run in transition at a fast pace could be very beneficial for them on the offensive end — get a rebound and run.

Here is an example of Smart doing just that, battling the seven-footer Nikola Vucevic for a rebound and chucking a touchdown pass down the court for an easy two points in transition:

The Boston Celtics love to run in transition, which explains why they currently rank sixth in the NBA in fast break points per game (15.5). Why not use that ability to more of an advantage?

Even in the playoffs when the game typically slows down into more of a half-court offense, the Cs would be able to space the floor a lot better with the potential small-ball lineup. I don’t know about you, but the idea of Kemba, Brown, Hayward, and Tatum having more room on the offensive end to create shots for themselves sounds really attractive.

Plus, being able to have any combination of those five hanging around the perimeter as a drive-and-kick option would be incredible, as they all five are shooting above 35% from deep this season on four-plus attempts per game.

Unlike most teams, the Boston Celtics rarely have their five best players playing together at the same time. The lineup of Kemba, Smart, Brown, Hayward, and Tatum has played just 15 minutes together all season long.

A group where four of the five can rotate and defend all five positions, all shoot exceptionally well from anywhere, and score a bunch of points at an efficient rate. With three of the five averaging 20-plus points a game, this lineup could be a huge threat come postseason play — and provide us with many more Smart defensive moments that I know we all cherish.

With the league planning on three exhibition games starting on July 22, that could be a great opportunity for the C’s to test out a small-ball lineup in live-action.

This strategy could work.

Heck, it could also backfire.

But I think Stevens and company need to try it out when basketball returns.

Smart’s versatility has left the coaching staff with ample options and strategies to roll out on teams in the Playoffs. While it probably isn’t a good idea to have Smart checking guys like Embiid or Giannis for the majority of the game — or even Anthony Davis if the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers meet in the Finals — his playmaking on the defensive side of the ball could end up making the Boston Celtics’ size a threat as opposed to what many consider the teams’ biggest weakness.