For now, this team is set. We need stability the remainder of the season. Integrating Smith, Brewer, and Shevd into the rotations is a lot of change...not to mention that TJones likely will be coming back from injury in another month or so. If the Suns have a fire sale on Dragic, then maybe...but it may be a case of better is the enemy of good...and this team is good.
Smith will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. If they don't use cap room to re-sign him, they'll need to use either Non-Bird rights (which only get him ~$2.5M) or the MLE to re-sign him. It'll be tough to retain Smith without him agreeing to take a discount with the Rockets.
Smith fits perfect on this team. Aslong as he keeps the jumpers down and plays pf. Honestly though I would like him to be able to hit the jumpers of left totally wide open
Maybe if we are contenders that MLE will seem a lot bigger for at least two years while the Pistons pay him.
Great performance tonight--I'm okay with some of the outside jumpers he took because everything else he brings offsets 3-4 bad shots a game which I think will be eliminated with integration. Smith plus the Brewer acquisition gives this team the talent to be a 60 win-caliber squad(pro-rata of course). We have a legit contender. No more: It's Happening. It happened!
Have you watched Love play,very glad he is not a Rocket. I am convinced there is no team that we cannot beat. We are stacked, tough and play with attitude. No Lin, no Parsons, no sulking Asik, no Garcia. We are much better up and down the roster than last year. This years team would take a playoff series against last years team in 4 games.
exactly. some people need to get their head out of the sand and admit they are haters. Smith shot 9 for 21 and while in the flow of the game. it wasnt quite 50% but it was nothing to call him out on. Smith had a really good game. plus he hit 2 clutch free throws in OT. Ariza got the game ball. but Smith was just as instrumental in the game if not more.
Last nights game turned into a play-off caliber victory at the hardest arena to steal a win in. We probably do not win that game with out JSmith. Thats all that anyone really needs to know.
If Smith continues to drive to the rim and not settle for midrange jumpers, he should be much better than 9/21.
He sure did look like the third man last night. I got chills watching this team play last night. They look a championship caliber team. I can't wait for this team to gel.
Hopefully, McHale will keep on encouraging him to do that. He can put the ball on the floor, and get to the rim with ease. A few open jumpers will be ok, but making the extra pass should decrease the number of attempts that he takes too.
For his first game with only a shoot around, Smith looked great! Dwight was intimidated by Gasol after he made him look silly on that block. Dwight needs to stay aggressive. A front line of Dwight, Josh and Trevor is an All-Defensive caliber team. If Josh continues to create off the dribble, Dwight, Trevor, James and Pat will all get open looks/dunks. I'm really happy so far, but we still have a ways to go.
