Post by marcus on Jan 16, 2006 3:44:04 GMT -5
Marcus Smith
Marcus Smith's creativity from the wing and ability to keep defenses honest with his outside stroke consistently tormented collegiate coaches in trying to find a serviceable match-up. At the next level, his success may be completely dependent on his ability to adapt to the physical play and increased playing schedule. While Marcus offensive game resembles Shawn Marion inside-out play at the 3-spot, with a body-type similar to Carmelo.
Offensively, Marcus has an arsenal of moves that will create havoc even against the elite defenders of the CSSL. While he has the ability to score simply on his quickness and athleticism, the most impressive part of Marcus’s game is his ability slice through defenses under complete control. From any spot on the floor, he’s a threat to penetrate with moves as smooth as “Clyde the Glide” and a quickness similar to Marion. Once he has a step on his opponent, Marcus can either pull-up or take it all the way to the rack. While aerobatic “up-in-under” finishes highlighted most of his collegiate career, the frontcourt giants in the CSSL will not allow him to travel through the lane more than once without a trip to the floor. Marcus has shown the skill to be a phenomenal interior passer when he desires, but expect him to attack the basketball with relentless determination to prove his skeptics he’s strong enough to compete at this level.
What separates Marcus from most collegiate scorers is an off-the-ball creativity that enables him to find easy scoring opportunities. He uses screens with the slyness of a crafty veteran, and can create separation from the defense by simply reading the spacing of his teammates. While these abilities will contribute to a team’s decision to draft Marcus, expect him to adjust slowly to a half-court game that doesn’t necessary revolve around his ability to find an opening. Marcus must consistently knockdown the wide-open 20 footer before he will ever become the integral part of a team’s offensive schemes. Similar to many of today’s younger stars, Marcus outside stroke has developed mostly off of his own penetration and not from the conventional skip-pass or kick-out prominent in the CSSL.
While Marcus will improve a teams offensive opportunities, his defense will determine the amount of time he spends on the floor. Off the ball, Marcus has the quickness to credit turnovers, but must improve his strength in order to withstand the double screens and low-post elbows absorbed by most perimeter defenders. On the glass, while Marcus production will look good in the box score and occasionally provide a highlight worthy putback, opponents will attack the basket more incessantly against him if they feel they can push him straight through the basket.
In closing, players with Marcus ability will not be given 3 or 4 years to develop into their position. To utilize his talents, Marcus must learn to play both ends of the court at Small Forward, while adding the strength necessary to occasionally compete against the inside-out threats at point. While Marcus was deserving of the 1st pick in this year’s draft, expect him to step up to a team lacking in scoring, or desiring a player who can create his own shot.
