Daniel Theis wants to play like Marcus Smart, will fit right in

I'll start this off by saying that I'm a big Marcus Smart guy. He's the ideal role player to have on your team. The guy never takes off a play, he dives all over the court for loose balls, he can defend the 1-4, making him one of the best defensive players in the league. It is known. You know that Marcus lathers on elbow grease before every game for maximum tenacity.

Heck, I would take an entire bench of Marcus Smarts. Even better, give me Marcus Smart in various shapes and sizes. Just a fleury of #36s maneuvering around the floor in perfect synchronicity. I can see it now: a seven foot Marcus defending the other team's point guard. Absolute lockdown defense, and then he steals the ball, dribbles down the open court, has a wide open basket to jam on, but instead he kicks it out to the 6'2" Marcus who drain the three. Celtics are up by 50 at halftime. Teams would absolutely hate to play us. There'd probably be a scuffle every single game. So I love this Daniel Theis mentality.
Is that what Danny is plotting here? A super team of Marcus Smart-esque players? Because Daniel Theis seems exactly like my dream man: Marcus Smart, but taller. The Globe article kept me randy, by later saying:
This past season the forward made a career-high 41 percent of his 3-pointers in Euroleague play, and he was also named the Bundesliga’s defensive player of the year. “It worked out really well,” Theis said. “I think one of my biggest strengths is my versatility.” In Europe, Theis was capable of defending centers and point guards. His range will probably be a bit more condensed in the NBA, where players are faster, stronger, and more athletic. But the Celtics still believe he will be able to guard multiple positions. - Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe

Ding ding ding! Did anybody catch the Celtic's Buzzword of the off season? Verstility. He fits the offensive scheme from last year perfectly: a big man who can spread the floor and hit the deep shots. He's going to be popping in and out of the key like a god damn jack in the box, defending every position like Brad has been fantasizing about all offseason. Another position-less addition to the Celtic's new position-less strategy. I can't wait to put opposing teams into defensive pretzels all season.

And then the icing on the cake KG comment to put him over the top. My lord. Is it getting hot in here, or is that just me? Theis will be competing for that 15th roster spot, and I'm rooting hard for him to make the cut. Welcome to Boston, Daniel - I think you're going to fit in just fine.

photos:
1: Mike Lawrie, Getty Images.
2: euroleague.net
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