Speaking to reporters prior to their primetime matchup against the Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens made an impassioned plea for starting shooting guard Marcus Smart to make the All-Defensive team this season.
“I really hope Marcus [Smart] finally gets recognized as an All-Defensive Team member,” Stevens would say. “We’ve though ever since he got here that he’s one of the best defenders in the league.”
Stevens continued:
“I’m sure if you took a poll of platers around the league — even though they might be annoyed by him sometimes — they would all say that his is [one of the best defenders in the league]. Because [he gets] into people, he’s physical, he’s tough, he’s got a motor, he’s got great hands. He should be on that team.”
Despite being a renowned defender for the bulk of his career, Smart has never earned All-Defensive Team honors.
Perhaps it’s in part because of the numbers, with Smart only having one season ranking in the top-15 in steals per game (1.6 steals per game; 2016-17) since coming into the league in 2014 prior to this season (he ranks sixth in steals per game (1.7) this season). Nonetheless, with 12.3 career defensive win shares, a career defensive rating of 105, a career defensive box plus-minus of 1.2, Smart has been one of the most successful defenders in his draft class while passing the eye test.
He’s physical, assertive, alert, athletic, quick and strong. With his combination of physical tools, mental toughness and limitless energy, he’s seen as a relentless defender who may be an irritant, or over-the-top at times, he’s still one of the players in the league whose reputation on defense precedes him.
Players like Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green are going to be the familiar names on the All-Defensive Team lists but Smart deserves his credit for being one of the most productive backcourt defenders in the league.
Even if the numbers don’t reflect his complete impact.
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