From DPOY to career trough, why are defensive experts becoming abandoned in the free market

Marcus Smart was the soul of the Celtics' defensive. As the defensive core of the Boston Celtics, he helped the team establish a rock-solid defensive system with his outstanding physical fitness and defensive awareness. In 2019, Smart won the NBA's best defensive player (DPOY) trophy and became the defensive benchmark in the history of the Celtics. His tough defense, excellent basketball wisdom and selfless spirit have made him the "god of defense" in the hearts of many fans.

However, what factors have brought down a former stadium hero. Smart, 31, is no longer the darling of the league, and is even facing the dilemma of being ignored in the free market. From the Celtics to the Grizzlies, and then to the Wizards, Smart's defense is still interesting, but his weaknesses on the offensive end and dependence on the defensive system have gradually lost his appeal in today's NBA.

Offensive Bottleneck: In the era of small balls, there is no doubt that Smart's defensive ability is not planned, but his offensive ability has not met expectations. From the day he entered the league, Smart has been placed with high expectations, and some fans even compared him to "Wade's successor." Unfortunately, although Smart's defense is one of the best in the league, his offensive end has never matched it. His shooting percentage was only 38.8%, and his three-point shooting percentage was as low as 32.4%. For a point guard, such offensive efficiency obviously cannot meet the requirements of modern basketball for players. In today's small ball era, players' offensive firepower has almost become the key to determining the outcome of the game, but Smart has never stood out at this point.

In addition, although he relied on defense and organizational skills to make up for his offensive shortcomings in the Celtic tactical system, he struggled more and more after leaving the Celtics. The new team system cannot provide him with the same support, and the bottleneck on the offensive end is even more significant.

The defensive ability declines: Time is unforgiving

The former Smart, with his own strength, has repeatedly led the Celtics' defense system to the entire league. With a height of 1.93 meters and an arm span of 2.06 meters, he has almost no opponent to stop on the defensive end. Whenever the opponent's offensive threat approaches, Smart can always stand up at critical moments, block, steal, force mistakes, and make critical defenses.

However, as time goes by and the troubles of injuries, Smart's defensive ability gradually declines. This season, Smart's data in the Wizards is 9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 20 minutes of playing time. His speed and flexibility are no longer as fast as his peak period, and his physical consumption also makes him unable to maintain consistent performance when facing stronger opponents. Although he still showed extraordinary fighting spirit on the defensive end, Smart's competitive state no longer has such a big advantage compared to young players.

Market indifference: Unable to adapt to modern basketball, accompanied by the bottleneck of offense and the decline of defense, is Smart's cold acceptance in the market. The modern NBA is increasingly emphasizing players' offense and diverse skills, especially in terms of outside projection. With the proliferation of three-pointers, the team's demand for players is increasingly focused on comprehensiveness. Only those who can defend and score stably can occupy a place in modern basketball.

However, Smart's shooting ability and offensive organization ability have always failed to meet this standard, causing his market value to decline year by year. Although his defense is still remarkable, after leaving the Celtics, Smart never found a role for him in other teams. His defensive system relies too much on team defense like the Celtics, and other teams cannot give him such support.

Marcus Smart's basketball career, the best defensive player, is now facing career difficulties. Perhaps, Smart's story is a warning to every professional player: basketball is an evolving game, and the shortcomings of any link can lead to a decline in the entire career.

What do you think of Smart's story? Have you ever thought of the glory and trough of our own career? Share your views in the comment section and let’s discuss them together!