Chad Ford's write-up of Marcus Smart included: "His weaknesses right now (his jump shot and his court vision) are fixable."
Obviously, people can improve their shooting but is court vision really THAT fixable? How many tweener point guards have improved their court vision over the years? I know big men can often improve but they usually aren't even bothering to try to find the open man in the first place. But how much can a point guard, by the time he gets to college, improve?
To me, shooting seems like a skill while court vision seems like an instinct. It's kind of like the difference between strength and toughness. Anyone can get stronger but by the time you reach college, your toughness (while it can shift a little bit) seems pretty defined or would take a shock to the system to really make a big difference.
His assist numbers haven't gone up but he makes some great passes. I think that was an aspect of his game I had no idea about last season. He had some nice passes but a lot more drive and kick. This year he's shown great outlet passing and finds a lot of people in traffic. Maybe it wasn't asked of him much in my but was always there. I think in general as the game slows down for people, their "vision" improves
--- "though time has passed, im still the future" (c) black thought
11. "great vision doesnt equal great passing" In response to Reply # 2
great passing is more about accuracy...putting the ball in the shooters zone.
vision is about reading the defense and seeing things before it happens.
To use an example a qb can be accurate but not be able to read the defense properly.
Ideally the top pgs in history have both.
Vision can be improved but it also takes study of game film of opponents and a player's own team alike. along with learning weakness in the defense that teams throw to you.
It's harder to improve vision than passing but doable.
happiness is a mediocre standard for a middle class existence - S. Williams
I don't not like you because you have dumb ideas about the world, I don't like you because you have other people's dumb ideas about the world. - Rjcc
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Feb-27-13 07:09 PM
3. "I've never once thought of Smart as a PG." In response to Reply # 0 Wed Feb-27-13 07:10 PM by Frank Longo
He's a PG in the same way that Dwyane Wade is a PG. Which is, not really at all.
I think people fall in love with the idea that these 6'4-6'5 shooting guards who excel with the ball in their hands could be really tall point guards instead.
I'd pair Smart with a less ball-dominant PG who distributes and shoots a good percentage from 3, not unlike how Wade was paired with Chalmers, or with the aging Williams the year they won the title. He's played better the second half of his freshman year than the first half, when he's shared a little less and shot a little more aggressively, and I love his stock.
... but not necessarily at the point.
The question of whether someone can improve at a particular skill as a pro is a strange one, as you can find examples of anyone improving any aspect of their game as a pro. It comes down to the individual: some people can develop better court vision, better handles, better accuracy from 3, better aggressiveness on the glass, etc... and some just can't.
(I know that this point will inevitably become the usual Kyrie pissing contest. But I'll ignore that as Smart isn't anything like Kyrie.)
5. "describes his hs and okst teammate phil forte to a t" In response to Reply # 3
>I'd pair Smart with a less ball-dominant PG who distributes >and shoots a good percentage from 3,
smart is the mkg of guards. all he's ever been described as is "winner, leader, warrior." this pg thing is, weird, for the time being necessary, but by no means should he be anyone's long term answer at the point.
9. "Again, I don't see court vision as a skill" In response to Reply # 3
Skill is something that you can work at and train yourself to do better. There isn't really a way to practice court vision. There's no way to teach it.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Feb-27-13 07:44 PM
10. "Skill's the wrong word. Perhaps "focus" fits the bill better." In response to Reply # 9
If a player is looking to score more, then we don't see his court vision as often as we see with a player who passes more.
And we have seen players who have learned how to spot the open man or the cutter with increased regularity. So maybe "improving the court vision" isn't accurate... but it's certainly something one can work on using more frequently.
I think "needs to improve court vision" is something people just say thoughtlessly when they really mean "I personally want them to get more assists." Which is what I suspect Ford is trying to do.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Feb-27-13 07:23 PM
6. "Also, since when has Marcus Smart had poor court vision?" In response to Reply # 0
I've watched seven or so Cowboys games this year, and I've not once thought he had poor court vision.
He forces the ball up too often, settling for poor shot selection instead of kicking it out on occasion. That doesn't have anything to do with his court vision, that has everything to do with him being a young aggressive scorer learning when to shoot and when to reset.
7. "Well, that's on Chad Ford" In response to Reply # 6
I wasn't making a comment on Smart (who I haven't seen much of), more on the idea that people can improve their court vision when they get into the pros. I feel like the NBA is littered with guys like Randy Foye, Marcus Banks, etc. who scouts draft hoping that they become a PG but basically prove to be what they are when it comes to running a team.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Feb-27-13 07:38 PM
8. "Well, I get why they'd try to force Banks." In response to Reply # 7 Wed Feb-27-13 07:38 PM by Frank Longo
Isn't he like 6'2, 6'3?
And Foye was on that guard-heavy Nova team, maybe scouts thought that on a traditional roster he could be that guy.
I feel like Smart is bigger than both of those guys though. Seems like from the eye test he matches the height, wingspan, and muscle mass of Dwyane Wade.
Ford might've gotten cysed by Smart's first few games, in which he shot less and distributed more. He's such a tit.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Feb-27-13 09:53 PM
15. "^^^ this is what I was talking about. Utter insanity." In response to Reply # 13 Wed Feb-27-13 09:54 PM by Frank Longo
Tony Parker has always been a floor general with terrific court vision. There's not a soul in the world who would've looked at that championship team and said "Speedy Claxton is a better point guard than Tony Parker." There's not a soul in the world that would've looked at Speedy Claxton on his best year and said he is a better point guard than Tony Parker. There's not a soul in the world who would have described Tony Parker as a shooting guard for the Spurs.
Just because his assist numbers are higher now doesn't mean his court vision improved in the last two years.
Court vision does not directly correlate to assist numbers. Never has, never will.
17. "Shut the fuck up (c) Pop" In response to Reply # 15
San Antonio put on a free throw-shooting clinic in the third quarter, making 16 of 20, including 12 during a 14-4 run that extended its lead to 81-53.
Popovich said he tried to call a couple of plays, but Parker overrode him.
"He's really matured as a player," Popovich said. "He just used to be a scoring point guard. Now there's a whole new world out there. He's a complete player."
Parker said, "He's always trusting me and letting me grow as a point guard and calling plays. Before in my career, I was always looking at him. Now I don't look at him."
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Feb-27-13 10:19 PM
18. "... Pop just referred to him as a point guard." In response to Reply # 17
And didn't say anything about how Speedy Claxton was a better point guard than him.
And didn't say anything about how Tony Parker had inferior court vision until recently.
He said Tony was a scoring point guard. Which he was. Which is totally fine. Which a team can use to win a title. Which can lead a team in the Finals. Which can facilitate and run the offense. With COURT VISION.
lol
The quote you pulled doesn't make your comment any less insane.
28. "well got damn. smooth shut that shit down" In response to Reply # 17
>"He's really matured as a player," Popovich said. "He just >used to be a scoring point guard. Now there's a whole new >world out there. He's a complete player." >
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