The unplanned rise of Arcus Smart was bound to happen after the Boston Celtics traded the 10-year veteran to the Memphis Grizzlies during the offseason. However, the struggles in the early part of the season were not as easily predictable.
In just five games, Smart has found himself facing a challenging situation. The Grizzlies, desperate to keep their ship afloat until Ja Morant returns from his suspension (which will last for 25 games), appear to be in disarray. Smart, known for his strong defensive skills, hasn’t been able to inspire the same level of defensive effort in his teammates as anticipated. Instead, Memphis has quickly developed a glaring weakness in preventing opponents from scoring, and the situation is getting worse.
It’s worth noting that the Grizzlies have one of the youngest teams in the NBA, with an average roster age of just over 25 years. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see the consequences of inexperience coming into play, or in their case, hitting them hard.
Smart explained on the “Just Grizzlies” podcast, “As a young player coming in, you don’t have a deep understanding of the game. You’re out there trying to prove yourself and compete. You haven’t fully grasped the nuances of how the game should be played. With more experience and playing time as you get older, you start to learn what works and what doesn’t.”
Smart, as a member of the 2023-24 Memphis roster, knows firsthand the challenges that come with being part of a young and developing team.
In 2014, Smart entered the NBA as the sixth overall draft pick for the Boston Celtics, and he experienced the lowest point in his basketball career. The team lacked a star player or a clear leader to guide them in the post-“Big Three” era, and the Celtics had to work hard to escape the position of being a punching bag in the Eastern Conference. This situation was far more challenging than what Memphis is currently facing.
The Western Conference presents an opportunity for the taking, and while the Grizzlies cannot control Ja Morant’s actions on Instagram Live, they can take steps to minimize the damage inflicted on them by opponents in terms of scoring. After allowing the Utah Jazz to score 133 points in an easy victory, Memphis fell to a league-worst 0-5 record. This marked the fifth consecutive game in which Memphis’ opponents scored over 100 points while shooting over 43%.
This defensive performance is not just poor but abysmal for a team led by Smart, let alone a team with aspirations to make a strong run at the NBA Finals.
The Grizzlies currently have the ninth-worst defensive rating at 113.7, a significant drop from finishing as the third-best defensive team in the NBA last season, and that was without Smart.
Smart, who was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year just two seasons ago, hasn’t lived up to his usual standards in the early part of the season. This could be attributed to playing outside of Boston for the first time and being the primary ball-handler for the Grizzlies, focusing on offense. However, their potential partnership has not lived up to expectations so far.
Memphis also has 24-year-old Jarren Jackson Jr., who, like Smart, was named Defensive Player of the Year last season.
Is it too early to be concerned? That’s a topic up for debate and open to discussion.
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