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!

Josh Smith

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by shastarocket, Feb 5, 2008.

?

Will Josh Smith give Hakeem a run for his money?

  1. yes

    14.5%
  2. no

    63.6%
  3. no, but he will finish in the top three

    22.0%
  1. shastarocket

    shastarocket Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2006
    Messages:
    13,773
    Likes Received:
    1,082
    This guy is absolutely insane; i know you have seen his line from yesterday's game: 19pts 9 blks 4stls 9assists 6reb!!!

    Over the season he has been averaging 3.3 blocks!!!
    He is only 22 and he is currently standing at a career total of 702 blocks, currently in his 4th year.

    Let me put it this way, 5+ block games are nothing out of the ordinary to him.

    You can check how he ranks to the other players in the NBA in shot-blocking: he is for real.

    http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/blk_career.html

    My question is, at this rate, does he have a chance to touch Hakeem's NBA record of 3830 or Mutombo's record of 3234 (and still counting)?
     
  2. tulexan

    tulexan Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    1,765
    Likes Received:
    5
    He blocks with authority too. I've seen him send balls to the second or third row.
     
  3. London'sBurning

    London'sBurning Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2002
    Messages:
    7,205
    Likes Received:
    4,810
    That's nice and all, but Hakeem was such a good shot blocker that he would deflect the blocked shot to a teammate to run a fast break. I don't really know of any shot blockers in the league that do that on purpose, let alone consistently.
     
  4. Asian Sensation

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 1999
    Messages:
    17,883
    Likes Received:
    6,874
    ....... is a freakn BALLER. I love his game.
     
  5. Honey Bear

    Honey Bear Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2006
    Messages:
    5,102
    Likes Received:
    555
    He'll slow down exponentially as his career goes on, as he is a guard relying on athleticism. No chance.
     
  6. thacabbage

    thacabbage Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 1999
    Messages:
    6,993
    Likes Received:
    144
    Right, except that he's a 6'9 forward.
     
  7. Honey Bear

    Honey Bear Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2006
    Messages:
    5,102
    Likes Received:
    555
    Who plays on the perimeter.
     
  8. RudyTBag

    RudyTBag Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2006
    Messages:
    28,028
    Likes Received:
    21,116
    Wrong, he is all interior.....

    All his points are post up jump hooks and fastbreak dunks. He takes very few jumpers. He plays PF most of the time on D. You do not get 9 blocks on the perimeter;)
     
  9. Dave_78

    Dave_78 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2006
    Messages:
    10,809
    Likes Received:
    373
    No.

    Or at least I should say it is way, way to early to talk about him passing Hakeem or even finishing in the top 10 of all time. After he averages 3-4 blocks a game for 7-8 years we can talk about it.
     
  10. baller4life315

    baller4life315 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2003
    Messages:
    12,648
    Likes Received:
    2,910
    Coming from somebody that's forced to watch nearly every Hawks game I can back this up.

    He doesn't take many shots on the perimeter and when he does you're always left wondering why. He has the range but he's not a high percentage shooter and his overall shot selection is pretty bad.

    To quote my buddy that's a giant Hawks fan after everytime Smith takes a 20-footer or deeper, "Ohhh ok. Because that's what we want, right?!". Kind of like whenever Yao takes college three pointers.

    He's a very crafty scorer inside with a nice jump hook and vastly improved footwork. I guess working with Dream for a summer will do that to you. ;)
     
  11. Honey Bear

    Honey Bear Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2006
    Messages:
    5,102
    Likes Received:
    555
    Half of his shot attempts are jumpers (http://www.82games.com/0708/07ATL9A.HTM) but that's irrevelant when discussing what he does on defense.

    He essentially roams the court and has great timing and athleticism, but he isn't your prototypical forward who can defend close to the basket throughout his career. I know he plays alongside Al Horford right now but I can't see him playing PF 5 years down the road when guys like Kobe and TMac at the same age have half the athleticism of when they initially came into the league.
     
  12. RudyTBag

    RudyTBag Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2006
    Messages:
    28,028
    Likes Received:
    21,116
    He would have to play 15 seasons averaging 3 blocks a game to even come close.....

    Dreams record is truly remarkable.....

    Mutumbo on the other hand, could be had.....
     
  13. Honey Bear

    Honey Bear Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2006
    Messages:
    5,102
    Likes Received:
    555
    Also, it's very hard for roaming shot blockers to maintain a high level of consistency throughout their career. Look at Andrei Kirilenko, who has already peaked in that aspect despite having half the athleticism of Josh Smith.

    Kirilenko Career BPG:

    '02: 1.9
    '03: 2.2
    '04: 2.8
    '05: 3.3
    '06: 3.2
    '07: 2.1
    '08: 1.8
     
  14. baller4life315

    baller4life315 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2003
    Messages:
    12,648
    Likes Received:
    2,910
    No, that's incorrect.

    http://www.nba.com/hotspots/

    Pull up the hot/cold spots for him.
     
  15. RudyTBag

    RudyTBag Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2006
    Messages:
    28,028
    Likes Received:
    21,116
    Have you ever watched Josh Smith, or did you just look his name up online?
    If you wanna call those 6-8 foot push shots jumpers go right ahead, come back when you have actually watched some hawks games.

    Edit, Josh Smith is 240 lbs and is not going to get any thinner, I see him converting into a full time Power Forward......
     
    #15 RudyTBag, Feb 5, 2008
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2008
  16. DrNuegebauer

    DrNuegebauer Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2000
    Messages:
    11,891
    Likes Received:
    8,454
    In 10 years time the guy will be 32

    Assuming he can average 3 blocks per game over that period, while playing an average of 80 games per season, that gives him 2400 more blocks.

    add on his 702, and you've got 3102 blocks in 14 seasons.

    That's pretty damn good. But I'd like to see him average that many blocks per game as a 6'9 player while not getting injured, and still having the crazy hops at 32 to get up and spike the ball away.

    Clearly he has a great feel for shotblocking - and I wouldn't put it past him to sneak up there, but 3830 is an insane number of blocks....


    Just to put things in perspective here:
    Dream averaged 3.1 blocks per game over the course of his ENTIRE career - as a 37, 38 and 39 year old man he was swatting 1.5 shots each contest.

    At this stage of his career, Josh Smith is averaging 32 minutes per game and 2.6 blocks per game - those are Kirilenko style blocks numbers (which are exceptional), but Dream was something else...

    I agree with Dave_78 --> let's see if Smith is swatting 3 shots per game in 5 years time, then we can talk.
     
  17. DrNuegebauer

    DrNuegebauer Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2000
    Messages:
    11,891
    Likes Received:
    8,454
    Not a fair comparison

    Kirilenko played PF PF PF PF SF SF

    It's a tad harder to block shots when you're slotting in at Small Forward rather than Power Forward.

    But I hear what you're saying about 'maintaining the rage' on shot blocking
     
  18. Honey Bear

    Honey Bear Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2006
    Messages:
    5,102
    Likes Received:
    555
    This thread discusses Josh Smith's ability to block shots and if he will ever surpass Hakeem. I responded accordingly. If you and baller4life want to talk about his jump hooks and how many Hawks games you've seen, go right ahead. ;)
     
  19. RudyTBag

    RudyTBag Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2006
    Messages:
    28,028
    Likes Received:
    21,116
    Your the one that said half of his shots are jumpers,
    And you were called out.

    You also said he played primarily on the perimeter,
    And you were called out.

    Deal with your false statements, and research a bit before you post about something you don't know next time.
     
  20. baller4life315

    baller4life315 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2003
    Messages:
    12,648
    Likes Received:
    2,910
    Just being fair and accurate, that's all. He doesn't play on the perimeter on offense. He doesn't guard perimeter players on defense. I'm not sure where the ambiguity is but I think we all understand each other now.

    As for the question itself, I wouldn't be concerned at this time. 700+ blocked shots by the age of 22 in his 4th season is undoubtedly impressive but he's still in the Kirilenko boat, in my mind.
     

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