As this year’s mid-September content desert remedy that is ranking season continues ahead of the Boston Celtics‘ 2022-23 campaign, the folks over at CBS Sports have passed judgment on the Celtics’ starting point guard in this year’s assessment of the NBA’s floor generals.
That of course is veteran guard Marcus Smart, who checks in at No. 18 for CBS — a bit low in our estimation. With a nod to the Flower Mound native’s Defensive Player of the Year season in 2021-22, CBS’ Jack Maloney says it is Smart’s point guard skills that were “just as important in the Celtics’ run to the Finals.”
“He averaged a career-high 5.9 assists, refined his shot selection, and had the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.8) in the league among point guards,” adds the CBS analyst.
If he was so critical in Boston’s Finals run and was the league’s top defender, we’re confused as to why inferior defenders who are also not as good of a floor general like CJ McCollum, Cade Cunningham, and LaMelo Ball are ranked higher.
All great players, but sans the resume or team success of Boston’s loved and trusted lead guard. If nothing else, a little bulletin board material for Smart, we suppose.
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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire