Gilbert Arenas has been the last star to chime in on the little dispute between Marcus Smart and Boston Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. After blowing a 19-point lead to the Chicago Bulls a couple of weeks ago, Smart wasn’t happy with the ball movement during the match, calling out his teammates.
“Every team knows we’re trying to go to Jayson and Jaylen. Every team is programmed and studied to stop Jayson and Jaylen. I think everybody’s scouting report is to make those guys pass the ball. They don’t want to pass the ball. That’s something that they’re going to learn. They’re still learning.”
Smart continued, “We’re proud of the progress they’re making, but they’re going to have to make another step and find ways to not only create for themselves but create for others on this team to open up the court for them later down in the game where they’re always going to have to take those tough shots or take tough matchups when they do get the 1-on-1 or they bring the trap. It’s something we’ve been asking them to do and they’re learning. We just gotta continue to help those guys do that… There’s only so much I can do when the ball isn’t in my hands and I’m standing in the corner.”
These remarks drew a lot of attention from the rest of the league, and even though the situation is apparently over, people keep talking about it. Recently, Gilbert Arenas gave his two pennies on this situation, explaining what he would’ve done if he was on the Celtics.
Talking with Josiah Johnson on fubo Sports, the former Washington Wizards star said Smart would have fought him if he asked for the ball.
“Now you got two guys coming into their stardom and a bunch of nothing on the rest of that team. I personally don’t understand what Marcus is expecting. You’re the defender. Defend. You’re good at your job. Do that. We’ll figure out this offense, we’ll pass it to you when we feel you are open enough to get the ball. If I was on the team, he would have wanted to fight me because I would have said it, ‘who said it? Who needs the ball? Oh, Marcus. Ok. How many shots he took? 8? That’s far too many.'”
Then Arenas stated that as long as nobody calls Smart out for doing his job, he shouldn’t worry about others doing what they’re good at.
The Boston Celtics are still struggling to get things going. They currently rank 9th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 7-7 record. The C’s want to be a competitive team, but things haven’t gone in their favor this season.
Ime Udoka hasn’t figured out this team yet. The front office didn’t make big additions to the roster and it’s still hard to see Tatum and Brown leading them to win a championship this season. Perhaps, once they put the pieces in the right place, their star duo will be able to lead them to the promised land.
