Okay, I'm going to start off by saying that I don't do the advanced statistics. Someone can use them to back me up, or take me down, it's whatever. For those of you that are still reading... In a small sample size, I'm thinking that Greg Smith is the perfect compliment to Omer Asik. He provides the help on defense that Omer has needed all season long, especially after the trade(s). In the last two games, We have not gotten beasted on as much on the inside game because of these two. With Smith down low, Asik still gets his space, but men are pulled away from him on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, which leads to more opportunities for Omer to be Omer. His rebounding and scoring have both improved, and I think it's a direct effect of Greg Smith. With another big body down low for the Rockets, there's one more guy to box out, as well as one more body to cover on offense. This leads to more rebound opportunities for Asik, as well as more open looks on offense. As Omer spends slightly less energy on defense, his offense is improved. This, coupled with the fact that there's another post threat down low (Smith), spreads the floor a bit more for Asik, giving him a few more opportunities for easy buckets per game. When the double team transitions to Asik or Smith, they are both good enough to kick the ball to the open man. This has helped keep other teams on their heels the last two games, and will do wonders in the playoffs. In fact, Smith and Asik on the court are perfect together because they still give us the ability to run the up-tempo stuff, but they also allow us to smoothly transition into a great half-court team - something made all the more important when we have starters missing. Like I said, I know this is an extremely small sample size. I also know that his stats may be padded by the fact that the team's leading scorer has missed these two games, but I expect more of the same from Omer. I think he could legitimately be a 16-18 ppg and 12 rpg player in the near future. I also understand that we tend to want to root for D-Mo and T-Rob (big fan of both), but let's not forget about Smith. What a find this guy has been. He's vastly improved since the beginning of the season, and at this point, I don't even want - or feel the need - for us to bring in another Power Forward this offseason. I think our money would best be spent on saving for Pasons' decent upcoming payday, and a good quality backup at center. As much hate as I have for McHale's rotation, I have to applaud him. I think he's slowly starting to (finally) find his starting five for the playoffs. At the same time, Harden is getting some much needed rest (and Chandler, too), and some of the reserves are getting some minutes to gear up for the playoffs, too. This is the most exciting Rockets team I've seen in a while.
At the beginning of the season not many people would have predicted Greg Smith to become the starting power forward. Going to be interesting to see how him and Beverley perform in playoffs. Love the move by McHale. While they both can score efficiently on easy looks neither are really post-up scorers. Not really something the Rockets need, but at least D-Mo has that for him going forward.
I have been saying this the entire season...Asik value in the middle will only increase by having a true 4 play beside him...the Rockets would excel...Greg Smith is a decent answer, but i still would like to see a more dominant offensive threat...DMo is too skinny, TRob is too raw, and TJones is just not on mchale's radar...
My problem with that, though, is that having a dominant 4 down low would potentially eat up Asik's space to operate, possibly leaving him timid and less effective.
Well here's the deal, Asik and Smith together just dominate the front court from a physical standpoint. I can't think of too many guys that can overpower Asik in the league as it is, and I think matched up against power forwards Smith is the most physical 9 times out of 10. Defending two really big guys who sit near the paint and can out-muscle you is very hard to do, and when being defensed well both Asik and Smith have shown the capability of kicking it out to an open shooter. Also think of all the second chance points we get now with Smith starting next to Asik. This is great for the offense.
Thing with Smith is...he's 21. Rockets definitely don't need to waste cap space on a guy like Millsap. Smith is pretty good and lots of potential behind him.
Smith is 2 months older than Thomas Robinson and light years ahead in terms of NBA skills, in particular skills in finishing around the rim.
Great post by the OP. Smith has been impressive recently not just the last two games but obviously the SAS game as well. I don't know if I am crazy for thinking this but Asik and Smith starting in the playoffs changes my perspective of our potential success in the first round.
They did well. But remember that the Clippers have will have lost 4 out of their last 5 games by the end of tonight (they were in the 4th game in 5 nights when they played HOU) and Orlando is just horrible. I'd wait for both a larger sample size and a more representative sample size.
Man Smith has more experience not only that, you even at time said that Smith was playing horrible and at a time he was.
Smith is also 3 years younger than Patterson, will be making 1/3 of Patterson money next year, and needed Patterson to be traded so he can be the starting PF. Missing Patterson still?
Career NBA minutes coming into tonight: Greg Smith: 975 Thomas Robinson: 1019. When Smith got sent to the DLeague, he sure wasn't playing well enough for coaches to trust him with minutes. But Smith could always finish around the basket even when he was getting confused on defensive assignments and looking kind of lethargic. In any case, right now Smith is by far the more useful player, especially on the offensive end (125 ORtg vs. 91). Not sure Robinson will ever become a great finisher around the basket, either. He's kind of undersized and just doesn't have the right touch with the ball. On D, they are probably similar right now. Robinson is quicker but Smith is stronger can can body up guys in the post better.
I'm big on Smith as well. D-Mos been underperforming but the talent is there. He just needs up calm down and bulk up. I like the Asik-Smith combo. I also like the Bev-Lin combo and I like either Delfino or Garcia on the court as well. Can't wait to see a rested Harden come back and kill it for us down the stretch. The recent problems we've seen, I assume its a case of Lin and harden being too cool on defense and our bench has been showing us how defense is played. Good job by our boys. Great kids all around.
Yes. First, Smith may or may not keep up this level of play. I hope that he does, but we've seen him being really good before and then dropping off. So, Smith+Patterson+Motiejunas is still better than Smith+Robinson+Motiejunas. Also, Smith could have gotten PF minutes without the Pat trade. If Morris is gone, DMo gets those Morris minutes and struggled as he did, Smith would likely have gotten a shot at those DMo minutes. And if Smith really outplays Pat, he could definitely earn more of Pat's minutes (see Lin/Beverley) and maybe even the starting job.
But you know it's more about minutes. It's also just about being with a NBA team longer. Jones hasn't played much but I bet he'll be more prepared than any other rookie we get next year if we play him. Even so, every player does not grow or develop the same.
I've been a huge Smith fan since his one breakout game last season. he had it in him the whole time and needed a chance. starting him was one of the best moves all season.
Of course, it helps being with a team longer. However, Greg Smith was signed on February 8, 2012. Thomas Robinson was drafted on June 27, 2012. Greg had barely a 5-month head start with the NBA, and most of that happened during a lock-out shortened season in which he didn't get many minutes and there wasn't much practice time. His "head start" advantage really isn't that great.
