Boston Celtics: The true value of Marcus Smart post-ups

Post up plays are becoming almost extinct in the league. For example the Boston Celtics run just 3.7 post-ups per game. That number is a bit strange, because the Celtics have a unique weapon, that they still haven‘t used enough.

Quite often, they start first play of the game with Marcus Smart in the post and Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown cutting or coming of screens.

But that‘s about it. The Cs tend to use Smart more in pick-and-rolls the rest of the way. Smart running the pick-and-roll isn’t ideal because he‘s not a true point guard or an elite creator. Sure, he gets his assists, but more often than not, he‘s running pick-and-rolls just to initiate movement, so Tatum or Brown could get into attacking positions.

Opposing defenses could live with him being as offense initiator or decision maker. In this writer’s opinion, he could be more effective in the post.

Marcus Smart could create matchup mismatches for the Boston Celtics

Imagine, if the Boston Celtics would be playing against the Atlanta Hawks or the Portland Trail Blazers and Trae Young or Dame Lillard would be guarding Smart. They are not as physical as Marcus Smart, so he could get a good shot, get fouled or just create a shot for other teammates. Even if none that happens, he would still make them more tired.

You don‘t have to post him up a lot. The Cs can go there in spurts, particularly if Joe Mazzulla wants to change the momentum or slow down the pace.

Eventually, the Celtics should try that kind of stuff, because they‘ll need that down the road. In the postseason, predictability is a killer, so Mazzulla should aim to come up with as many weapons as possible.

The regular season is a good medium for those experiments.