Smart talk
Marcus Smart and his commandeering of training camp is now drawing daily testaments from teammates. The third-year guard has set the tone for a very physical, contentious session.
“The fight. We’ve got guys that really, really get after it — it’s to another level,” said Horford. “Very competitive training camp. I haven’t been in a training camp like that in a lot of years. It’s good to be a part of.
“We’ve got guys playing hard, going at each other. Having fun, but it’s intense, diving on the floor, hustling, doing things that are just impressive,” he said. “It feels like we work very smart, but we work really hard. Guys out there like Marcus Smart are setting the tone in practice every day. It’s very impressive to see how hard he plays. And Avery ( Bradley), too. It’s very contagious.”
And for Brown, the experience has been predictably eye-opening.
“It’s been a learning experience. I didn’t know what to have an idea for coming in because I’ve never been to a training camp, never played with veterans or anything, so I just came in with my eyes open, willing to learn and accept anything anybody told me,” he said. “They really are about teaching and mentoring, and it’s not about them. I had heard it can be different in some places, so I really appreciate that. So I kind of just be myself and see how things go from there. Guys have been great. I appreciate them helping me and pulling me to the side.
“It’s a different kind of game with a lot of adjustment phases I have to go through. The veterans have been talking trash,” Brown added. “(Smart is) aggressive for sure and very vocal. We kind of feed off his energy.”
Brown has also been impressed by the sheer strength and speed of his new teammates.
“It’s a big difference — timing and speed, the size of guys,” he said. “You look out there and they’re not just athletic and strong — they’re bigger. I’m a pretty big guy for my age, and these guys are 20 or 15 pounds bigger than me. It’s about taking care of your body and continuing to compete at the same time.”