I understand your concerns. But I don't get how you can be so certain and "no doubt" Morey will talk to him before and he will understand his role. He wants to win that is one thing I am certain of.
I wont comment on that first part but to the bolded part - I have in the past What exactly do you mean by "serious decline for years" because I have no idea what you are trying to get at by saying that Here are Josh's career averages in major categories: 15.4ppg 7.8 rpg 3.3 apg 1.3 spg 2.0 bpg 2.5 TO pg 45.6 fg% 27.8 3pt% 63.8 FT% These are his averages so far in detroit (including the abysmal season this year) 15.5 ppg 6.9 rpg 3.7 apg 1.4 spg 1.5bpg 2.6 TO pg 41.3 FG% 26.2 3pt % 51.5 FT% But thats not even a full 1.5 seasons taking the last 2 seasons in ATL (so at least we have 3 full seasons worth of stats since that would be seem to qualify as "years" to me) 2012/2013 17.5 ppg 8.4 rpg 4.2 apg 1.2 spg 1.8 bpg 3 TO pg 46.5 fg% 30.3 3pt % 51.7 FT % 2011/2012 18.8 ppg 9.6 rpg 3.9 apg 1.4 spg 1.7 bpg 2.5 TO pg 45.8 fg% 25.7 3PT % 63 FT% Has he scored less in detroit in the 1.25 seasons there compared to his last two seasons in ATL? Of course he has but he has also been playing out of position in Detroit. Josh Smith is a PF who was forced to play SF and was taken out of his comfort zones defensively and offensively (well if he has any offensive comfort zones that is) -- yet his detroit averages are for the most part in line with his career averages with the notable difference being the shooting percentages are lower -- again i probably would attribute some of this to playing out of position. But there is nothing to suggest he is in "serious decline" over the last few years. What has happen is he went to a team in Detroit that was terrible, and had to play out of position there and it hurt an already average offensive player. It would be like asking Terrence Jones to play SF on this team - how well do you think Jones would fare if McHale was insistant on playing a lineup of Dwight, DMo and Jones with Jones being the SF? Thats basically what Detroit did with Drummond, Monroe and Smith.
I understand what you are trying to say and I agree to some point. But don't you think that coming to a team like the Rockets can possibly change the way Smith plays the game? It seems you look at it as Smith coming in and ruining chemistry but what if you looked at it the other way. The players we have now and their chemistry could more of a positive impact on Smith than the negative impact Smith could bring to their chemistry.
If Smith signs here, he is going to come knowing that basically NO ONE believes in him. I like the chances he will be humbled and motivated to prove everyone wrong.
winning solves everything in my opinion The detroit situation is a mess, and I think everyone on that roster is frustrated at the situation. it's narrow minded to believe can't change the way he plays
If you were a business major in college, this deal is a no brainer. Here is my fool proof step by step questionaire you should ask yourself. Question #1: Are we overpaying for him? He is on the downturn of his career and has been major suck for the past two seasons. ==> that was why he is cut and is getting the basic minimum we can offer him AND still get his services. Answer: No, for his resume and age... this is a low risk, high reward situation in terms of salary. I don't think anyone will argue with me on this. Move on to question #2. Question #2: Will this affect our long term ability to get a third star? This puts us about $4 million under the luxury threshold and makes it difficult to sign a star in free agency. However, there has been talks of increasing the salary cap next year. Any trades will have matching salaries and so we should exceed the luxury tax. This question also depends on the structure of Josh Smith's contract. Answer: It could or could not but more than likely it won't unless we can convince a free agent to sign over the summer. I would like Bimathug's help in a numerical answer. Question #3: Will it affect the chemistry of the team? Answer: We DO NOT KNOW. None of us is in the locker room. None of us know these players personally. If anything, the chemistry won't be affected because Josh Smith is good friends with Dwight Howard. Listen, Dwight Howard was considered a locker room cancer.... look how that turned out. The only person this can affect is D-mo. D-mo is still going to get 25+ minutes even with Josh Smith because out of Dwight, Dmo and Josh Smith, D-mo has the best post offense. Question #4: Who would we cut? We would probably cut Dorsey or Black. If you believe Dorsey and Black are better than Josh Smith, stop reading as we will end this discussion to agree to disagree. Happy Holidays! Essentially we will be calling Detroit and offering Dorsey or Black for Josh Smith. That is a steal. Question #5: Can we win a championship now without Josh Smith? The answer is no. We lost Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin, and Chandler Parsons and replaced them with Joey Dorsey, Jason Terry, and Trevor Ariza. None of those are upgrades or downgrades (except for Dorsey). We essentially stayed at the status quo. Harden is playing out of his mind right now, but the west has gotten even better. Question #6: Can we win a championship with Josh Smith? The answer is we don't know. However, based on the answer to the last question, we need to make this move because it is the best opportunity to not lose any pieces and make a big change. Math Summary: Current Rockets team + No assets lost - Minor changes in short term flexibility + Cheap, short term contract for a former allstar on tail end of prime + improving front court depth +/- chemistry change _______________________________ Low risk, High reward
We all understand that this version is Josh Smith is a shell of his former self. That being said, there is essentially limited risk when you consider that he can provide something far better than Black or Dorsey... How will the Rockets minimize the risk of having a player like Smith on the floor? 1. eliminate his mid range game...The coaching staff will cut those shots out of his game entirely and he will soley have to focus on the "corner" 3, putbacks, and attacking the rim on post up moves... 2. Yes while I agree, at this time, there isnt a huge incentive to move DMo from the team(an alige 7 footer that has evolved in his 3rd season as a pro)...The Rockets will have to address the fact, that teams will get adept at stopping Harden from destroying them first...and force other players to make plays. (This is why a player like Dragic could help the Rockets) 3. He no longer has to be a creator/facilitator (something he has always been terrible at) 4. Get him focused defensively...This I feel will be his biggest task..In order to get any player going, getting steals/deflections and starting the fast break can get a player in rhythm. The Rockets getting out in transition is going to be fun with a guy like Josh trailing any given play or playing at the wings. 5. Pairing an athlete with colleagues he respects/ and cares about off the bball court. There has been no shortage of info in regards to the bromance Smith and Howard have off the court...but that it self has a tendency to evolve on the court. They will pick each other up and may improve each other's game. There is no secret that the Rockets are trying to go all in for a title THIS year. The way this team has played defense and has used that as its calling card has completely changed my outlook for this team. This team can contend. They have the right pieces (far better than anything Yao or TMac had to work with)...and any failures at achieving a title...wont be because of a lack of depth..but the inability of the stars delivering...But even if the stars have a bad game, there are players on this team that can deliver and that has me excited as a Houston Rockets homer...
The old DD is awakening Josh is not great, not very good but is still decent in some categories You can't just fall totally in love with one specific player and refuse to acknowledge everything that is good about a controversial player who was a Atlanta Hawk not long ago. (He was pretty decent and borderline allstar when he was with the Hawks)
DD - Josh Smith is a career 48% 2P% player. That's much better than Spanoulis, why do you think he's a low BBall IQ player?
After we get SMITH I need a experienced (GET BUCKETS) player off the bench, he can be a chucker, just need him 15mins a night when harden sits and to run with brewer. I. Thomas Crawford Lou Williams Waiters nick young Dragic
Dream has worked with him before (very blurry video, but it is them and they do know each other, if that means anything): <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Bqny1IUa2Wc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The point that I'm trying to make people realize is that he hasn't played at a higher level than Black or Dorsey this season. In fact, the Pistons would have been better off playing Joey Dorsey than Smith. Change Josh Smith's name to a neutral name and have people look at what he actually brings to the table and I'd bet there would be significantly fewer people thinking that this is a great idea.
He just turned 29 a few weeks ago. You think he can't do at barely 29 what he could do at 27? He put up 17.5 ppg, 8.4, rpg and 4.2 apg on 47% shooting two seasons ago.
After this post, I can't take you seriously anymore. You're either delusional, or don't watch basketball. Sorry if this upsets you, but you've lost credibility.
The Detriot thing was doomed from the beginning. Drummond, Monroe, and Smith couldn't co-exist, and their guard play was terrible. I don't think we are going to get Atlanta Josh Smith, but I also don't think we will get Detriot Josh Smith. Someone in between these two. My main concern is that neither Smith nor Dwight can stretch the floor (Horford could).
