Marcus Smart is one of several Boston Celtics to garner some attention in The Athletic’s anonymous NBA GM survey on the league’s best defenders released by Jon Krawczynski and Josh Robbins on Wednesday.
The survey write-up features three Celtics, of which Smart is held in highest regard along with shooting guard Jaylen Brown and swingman Jayson Tatum.
33 coaches were polled with identities withheld, presumably so answers might be more honest if anonymity allowed for more freedom to speak one’s mind with any potential tampering fines alleviated while to avoiding “upsetting their own players or the opponents they have to game-plan against.”
Who are the league's best defenders? @JonKrawczynski + @JoshuaBRobbins anonymously polled 33 @NBA coaches to get the votes. Few surprises in here.https://t.co/jccwcawF8x
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) July 1, 2020
Krawczynski and Robbins also polled 23 coaches and assistant coaches on who should get the 2019-20 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, noting that coaching staff often have a much better idea of who the league’s best defenders are over media because of the latter’s over-reliance on stats over live action.
Smart made All-Defensive First Team in the anonymous poll, along with the Utah Jazz’ Rudy Gobert, Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Krawczynski and Robbins noted “Smart’s name was often mentioned first by coaches when they were asked about their All-Defensive First Team. He is an intense, rugged, determined defender who can guard multiple positions,” with one respondent calling him their “first pick without hesitation.”
NBA head coaches and assistants have Marcus Smart on their All-Defensive First Team.
There’s also some praise in here for the defensive tandem of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. https://t.co/lGkctzx6ml
— Chris Grenham (@chrisgrenham) July 1, 2020
Another related how they “really love his intensity, his willingness to guard anybody,” making sure to note his 6-foot-3 stature.
“You’ve got to admire somebody like [Smart] who sacrifices his body and takes charges. When there’s a loose ball, and if it’s our player or another player that’s going to get it, I’m sorry, Marcus Smart is coming away with that ball.”
While no other Celtics made the Second Team, both Tatum and Brown received votes — the former five Second Team votes and the latter a First Team vote and two Second Team votes.
Jaylen Brown wants to model his approach to the game on Kevin Garnett https://t.co/4CvsrGVUJ6 via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 30, 2020
No Boston players did well in the Defensive Player of the Year polling, though Smart placed a distant 12th.
All in all it shouldn’t surprise to see several Celtics in the results given the team managed to hold down a top-five defense for much of the season ahead of the shutdown.
But it’s certainly nice to see them getting the respect they deserve for it from their peers.
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