1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Greg Smith should start at the 4. Your thoughts.

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by rocketsfan4, Dec 4, 2012.

  1. rocketsfan4

    rocketsfan4 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2011
    Messages:
    1,348
    Likes Received:
    53
    I have been waiting to make this a new thread since the preseason, but I wanted to give fans a chance to see him with some real minutes. He gives the Rockets a solid inside defensive presence. Howard seemed to have as much or more trouble getting position against Smith as against Asik. You can't just ask Asik to block shots, play position defense, stay out of foul trouble, AND get rebounds. Having the second inside defender is critical.

    You also need someone who will intimidate so as to reduce the cheap shots on your key players. Smith is not dirty like guys like Mahorn, Rodman, or Artest (forget the MWP moniker), but he sure is alot more menacing than our other PF options.

    On top of Smith's defense and hustle, he has great hands, makes catches, never looks or acts intimidated or rushed, can get decent post position, and passes and hands off decently from the post. I say this is worth more even than Patterson's outside game.

    I like PPat alot (and our other rookies, Morris, DMot, and Jones), but Smith brings far more to the table at the moment. And, he is only 21.
     
    1 person likes this.
  2. SuperBeeKay

    SuperBeeKay Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2008
    Messages:
    6,185
    Likes Received:
    258
    If he can consistently pop a jumper, sure
     
  3. yahboyryan

    yahboyryan Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2010
    Messages:
    516
    Likes Received:
    7
    He had that one game..... I like him as a back up 5..
     
  4. jbasket

    jbasket Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2012
    Messages:
    4,361
    Likes Received:
    1,187
    This has knee-jerk written all over it.
     
  5. ElPigto

    ElPigto Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2006
    Messages:
    14,681
    Likes Received:
    23,139
    Either him or Asik need a jumper then. You need to have the floor properly spaced when you have Parsons/Harden/Lin.
     
  6. TheMystery008

    TheMystery008 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2012
    Messages:
    4,651
    Likes Received:
    1,277
    If he starts at four, who is going to back up Asik?

    I think Aldridge is still injured.

    PPat?

    No thanks.

    It is one game.

    Let him improve.
     
  7. rocketsfan4

    rocketsfan4 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2011
    Messages:
    1,348
    Likes Received:
    53
    He is incredibly valuable as a backup 5, so I would keep him in when Asik goes out and slide him to 5. Of course, when he needs rest, Asik stays or comes in and we play one of our other 4's.
     
  8. durvasa

    durvasa Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2006
    Messages:
    37,910
    Likes Received:
    15,377
    Asik and Smith together is not a good combination. Harden and Lin rely too much on penetration to the basket, they can't have two bigs clogging the paint like that.

    So if you want more minutes for Smith, it will have to come at the expense of minutes for Omer.
     
    1 person likes this.
  9. rocketsfan4

    rocketsfan4 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2011
    Messages:
    1,348
    Likes Received:
    53
    Smith's FT's show that he has a decent touch. We haven't seen him take any 15-18 footers yet, but I feel like the potential is there, especially given his age. I realize this is not Morey's favorite shot, but guys like Karl Malone did just fine at that range.
     
  10. rocketsfan4

    rocketsfan4 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2011
    Messages:
    1,348
    Likes Received:
    53
    Agreed, but I think this might change the nature of their penetrations, not necessarily their effectiveness. Instead of going all the way to the bucket, they might pull up more for midranges, and Smith could make tough interior catches in traffic. Plus, both could offensive rebound like crazy even if the original shot % goes down slightly.
     
  11. Sydeffect

    Sydeffect Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2010
    Messages:
    5,919
    Likes Received:
    440
    No, Patterson is a much better fit with the starting lineup. He actually spaces the floor. And I'm not saying Patterson > Smith btw
     
  12. nachbarFTW

    nachbarFTW Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2009
    Messages:
    994
    Likes Received:
    49
    Completely disagree.
    You need a guy who can step out and hit the open jumper and occasional 3 pointer. Smith is a physical inside scorer.
     
  13. split41

    split41 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
    Messages:
    1,504
    Likes Received:
    343
    I'm pretty sure another thread is already discussing this. I thing G Smith has been playing good all year, but I agree with other posters this has knee-jerk written all over it.
     
  14. Midixinormous

    Midixinormous Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2012
    Messages:
    472
    Likes Received:
    27
    LOL Smith and Asik at the same time? Seriously?

    For our offense you need to spread the floor, which is why Patterson has been shooting more 3s this year.
     
  15. cytrynowa

    cytrynowa Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2012
    Messages:
    974
    Likes Received:
    20
    Patterson spaces the floor.

    Sampson talked about playing Harden more with the bench, so maybe you'll see more lineups like tonight.
     
  16. skyline07

    skyline07 Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2009
    Messages:
    837
    Likes Received:
    22
    eh 1 good game doesn't mean he should start...plus we need some energy and scoring off the bench.
     
  17. oelman44

    oelman44 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2012
    Messages:
    4,912
    Likes Received:
    1,126
    Backup center is a good position for him, building a good team isn't necessarily just stacking all of your players into the starting lineup, but putting together lineups with proper role-players and spacing. With Asik and Smith there really isn't much spacing for offense, and neither of the two bigs really have a jump shot so I don't think it would make much sense at the moment.

    So would you rather have Smith play 30 minutes with avg/below average results or around 25 minutes with good results?
     
  18. TdashDUB

    TdashDUB Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2007
    Messages:
    1,759
    Likes Received:
    365
    Not at all to start or during majority of the time..

    But what if Asik and Smith played 5/4 with the rest of the back ups for certain periods?
     
  19. Dei

    Dei Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Messages:
    7,362
    Likes Received:
    335
    He is a center. That's all there is to it. He was impressive tonight but let's not count that he'll put these kinda numbers up night-in, night-out to displace Asik as starter, yet. He definitely impressed me tonight, though. I think he's more valuable than Patrick, now.
     
  20. xtruroyaltyx

    xtruroyaltyx Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2011
    Messages:
    10,739
    Likes Received:
    12,936
    Just start him over asik.

    Start harden and delfino and let Lin asik and Douglas man the second unit.
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now