Marcus Smart is the Best Defender in the NBA
Now I want to give a quick shoutout to @DanteOnDeck for the inspiration of this article. Made me want to do some digging and see if the Celtics community is correct in saying Smart is the best. Well I can confidently say, he is. For the purpose of the article, I compared Smart to Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Three of the league’s most elite defenders.
Marcus Smart has guarded Giannis Antetokounmpo for a total of 7 minutes and 43 seconds this season. The only other Celtic who has guarded him more is Semi Ojeleye. Giannis only got 6 shots of. He shot 4 of 6.
In comparison, Kawhi has guarded Giannis for a total of 41 seconds, where Giannis shot 1 of 1 from the field. Davis has guarded Giannis for a total of 7 minutes and 28 seconds, where Giannis shot 8 of 13 from the field.
Marcus Smart has guarded Luka Doncic for a total of 7 minutes and 21 seconds this season. That is the most of any player on the Celtics. Luka got 5 shots off. He shot 1 of 5.
In comparison, Kawhi has guarded Luka for a total of 2 minutes and 32 seconds where Luka shot 1 of 4. Davis has guarded Luka for 3 minutes and 19 seconds this season, where Luka shot 2 of 5. Giannis has not guarded Luka this season.
Marcus Smart has guarded Trae Young for a total of 5 minutes and 47 seconds this season. That is the most of any player on the Celtics. Young has gotten 13 shots off. He shot 5 of 13.
In comparison, Giannis has guarded Young for 47 seconds this season where Young shot 0 of 2. Davis has guarded Young for 1 minute and 16 seconds this season, where Young shot 1 of 4. Kawhi has not guarded Young this season.
Marcus Smart has guarded Kawhi Leonard for a total of 12 minutes and 59 seconds this season. That is the most of any player on the Celtics. Kawhi got 14 shots off. He shot 3 of 14.
In comparison, Giannis has guarded Kawhi for a total of 1 minute and 43 seconds, where Kawhi shot 1 of 3 from the field. Davis has guarded Kawhi for a total of 7 minutes and 23 seconds, where Kawhi shot 7 of 15 from the field.
These are some of the top offensive players in the entire NBA, and Smart has guarded them as well, if not better than the three defenders I compared him to. You’re going to tell me that all three of them are ahead of Smart in the DPOY conversation? Not only is Smart guarding all these guys just as well, but he’s doing so at 6 FOOT 3 INCHES TALL. The man has the body of a point guard and is holding his own with players who have at least 4 inches on him. Smart is, at the very least, the most versatile defender in the NBA.
If stats weren’t enough to convince you, let me direct your attention to the amount of hustle plays Smart has made this season, and in the past few years. Just off the top of my head I can think of his steal on Kawhi with under a minute left against the Clippers, his two drawn offensive fouls against James Harden a couple years ago, and guarding FREAKIN GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO. That’s a feat in and of itself. If you don’t see it now, then I don’t know what else to say to you. Marcus Smart is the best all around defender in the NBA. Quicker than Giannis on the perimeter. Better perimeter defender than Davis. Dare I say a more trusted interior defender than Kawhi, as well? I mean it’s all there for you to look at. If you find any proof that says otherwise, feel free to tweet me @BannerTownJack and we can fight about it.
