Josh Smith has agreed to sign with the Rockets

HR Dept · Dec 24, 2014

Cohete Rojo said: ↑

God help the Rockets
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He has, and we are grateful.

Sydeffect · Dec 24, 2014

If anything, this won't let LMA to put up historic numbers vs us. He also gives us quickness vs pfs like Anthony Davis, and has length/quickness to guard Dirk.

Doctor Robert · Dec 24, 2014

We've tripled our headband count within the last week.

NotChandlerParsons · Dec 24, 2014

Easy said: ↑

So someone with cap room can throw money at him to pry him away?
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That is likely what will happen, unless he doesn't get his act together here or decides he wants to contend more than make tons of money.

BossHogg713 · Dec 24, 2014

Sephkane · Dec 24, 2014

Insider help? http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12076582/josh-smith-join-houston-rockets

cdrive · Dec 24, 2014

BossHogg713 said: ↑

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Oh hell yes

Sephkane · Dec 24, 2014

Sorry, that was the wrong link.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12076642/nba-how-josh-smith-fit-houston-rockets

Panda23 · Dec 24, 2014

a chance at actually winning something can really change a player. Huge pickup for the cost.

forchette49 · Dec 24, 2014

Crazy to think that Morey finally got his Big 3 today, let's see what we do with it!

DudeWah · Dec 24, 2014

LelWestbrick said: ↑

Harden and Howard are each better than anyone he has ever played with.
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That wasn't the point made by the poster I responded to. Nor is it relevant to what I said. So I actually don't understand at all why you would respond to my post with an obvious statement that adds nothing of value.

Sydeffect · Dec 24, 2014

I wonder what jtr must be thinking atm

clutz · Dec 24, 2014

BossHogg713 said: ↑

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Why so many Rockets players wearing headbands now? Is this part of the increasing urbanization of the Houston Rockets rotation?

Dr of Dunk · Dec 24, 2014

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>REPORT: In preparation for the arrival of Josh Smith, Houston executives have begun erasing all three point lines in the NBA.</p>— NOT NBA Tonight (@NOTNBATonight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NOTNBATonight/status/547819661421993984">December 24, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

TruthBeTold · Dec 24, 2014

Sephkane said: ↑

Sorry, that was the wrong link.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12076642/nba-how-josh-smith-fit-houston-rockets
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"James Harden's alleged defensive renaissance"......How can this guy analyze our players without even watching us play?

vince · Dec 24, 2014

not a big three as I would define. but a heck of a pickup.

tim562 · Dec 24, 2014

HR Dept said: ↑

He has, and we are grateful.
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Nice comeback. Repped

Houston22 · Dec 24, 2014

Hope we get the best out of him, though I don't suffer fools well.

pippsux · Dec 24, 2014

Welcome to htown!!!!!!!!!
Its safe to say we are all in.

J.R. · Dec 24, 2014

Sephkane said: ↑

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12076642/nba-how-josh-smith-fit-houston-rockets
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With reports that Josh Smith has agreed to sign with the Houston Rockets upon clearing waivers, there have been questions as to whether he's the right fit for Houston's style of play. Smith has underwhelmed in a year-and-a-half in Detroit, and while he certainly isn't worth the approximately $36 million the Pistons will be stuck paying through 2020, he's still a serviceable NBA player who can help the Rockets. Here's a quick primer on where he is as a player:

Smith's offense

Smith's efficiency struggles have been well-documented, as he's posted one of the worst true shooting percentages in the league. As ESPN Insider Tom Haberstroh mentioned on the NBA Lockdown Podcast, Smith's athleticism has taken a drastic nosedive. He went from dunking 123 times two seasons ago to 10 this year. He's no longer the above-the-rim talent many remember from Atlanta. Instead, he relies on his length and footwork to finish over and around defenders. He's shooting 55.4 percent in the restricted area, down from almost 74 percent two seasons ago.

Without the lift to create space or explosion to get closer to the rim, Smith will often resort to tougher "touch" shots away from the rim, ones that he lacks the ability to finish. At the same time, his perimeter game is sorely lacking. He's struggled mightily from the perimeter, taking an inordinate amount of long two- and three-point shots that are not his strength. All this has conspired to make Smith a poor contributor in pick-and-roll from a finishing standpoint

Smith does bring one strong offensive trait to the table, however: passing. He's made himself a threat by creating off the dribble and making plays for others, either out of shallow pick-and-roll (particularly when the defense predictably sags off him) or off post-ups, where he can still overwhelm smaller defenders. He's not a quick playmaker -- the ball does stick in his hands -- but he more often than not will make the right play, provided he hasn't overextended himself into a tough situation. He also displays good awareness of where the double-team is coming from and makes the appropriate pass out.

Smith's defense

Despite his problems on the offensive end, Smith still is a more than adequate defender. He combines his length and decent lateral quickness with excellent anticipation and timing, and can guard a wide array of positions. He is excellent at disrupting in the passing lanes, and in pick-and-rolls has the mobility and feel to either hedge hard and recover or switch onto the ball handler. Indeed, in Atlanta, he played in a defensive scheme that featured a high number of switches, and he played it well.

As mentioned, he's not the leaper he used to be, but has managed to maintain an above average block percentage, acting as a de facto rim protector who can close ground fairly quickly and contest at the rim. He's a good defensive rebounder as a wing, but probably not good enough in that area as a big -- unless he plays alongside a dominant inside presence.

Fit with the Rockets

The $2.1 million question is why Smith experienced the sort of plummet he did from 2012 to now. Is it a case of a player hitting the declining part of his career, or were there environmental causes for his descent? It's safe to say it was a little bit of both: He's no longer the athlete he was in Atlanta, but he was not put in a position to be successful in Detroit. Smith needs to be in a situation where the floor is spaced with shooters, with a strong team identity where he is not looked upon to lead.

In Houston, he fits a strong need on the defensive end, giving the Rockets another long defender who can guard on the interior and exterior, giving them a ton of versatility. His presence also allows James Harden's alleged defensive renaissance to either become a hard reality or dissipate over time. Either way, the Rockets won't need Harden to exert as much effort on the defensive end (although they would certainly welcome it).

The offensive end is where there are a ton of question marks. Like the Mavs with Rajon Rondo, the Rockets will have to make significant adjustments to their playbook and rotations to take full advantage of Smith's skill set. His lack of shooting makes it tough to leave him on the floor as a spacer alongside Dwight Howard, although Donatas Motiejunas has performed well as the opposite big and he's not a shooter either. Putting the ball in Smith's hands could yield some Blake Griffin- DeAndre Jordan type connections between Smith and Howard, but it also means the ball isn't in Harden's hands, and with the Rockets at 20-7, it's tough to argue against the results of Harden's primary role.

Head coach Kevin McHale will have his work cut out in trying to make this marriage work on the fly, without the team experiencing any slippage during the adjustment period, and without alienating his current players.
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Josh Smith has agreed to sign with the Rockets

Do you like the move for the Rockets to sign Josh Smith at the bi-annual exception ($2.1M)?

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Josh Smith has agreed to sign with the Rockets

Do you like the move for the Rockets to sign Josh Smith at the bi-annual exception ($2.1M)?

YES

NO

HR Dept Member

Sydeffect Member

Doctor Robert Member

NotChandlerParsons Member

BossHogg713 Member

Sephkane Member

cdrive Member Supporting Member

Sephkane Member

Panda23 Member

forchette49 Member

DudeWah Member

Sydeffect Member

clutz Member

Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

TruthBeTold Member

vince Member

tim562 Member

Houston22 Member

pippsux Member

J.R. Member

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