DEFENSE. Which is what that post was about. Harden is just now coming around on displaying some. I'm talking about proven disruptive defenders and Brewer is still ranked a better defender than Harden. Just because he is actually playing D this year does not make him legit. Just 3 months ago he was the joke of the league and he is still trying to earn some recognition. He has to remain consistent though. On guarding the last play of a game, I want that lineup on the court 10 times out of 10!
Done deal, IMO. Strong mutual interest Fits a role Money Playoff team Best man would be a teammate Smith likes it here. (aka parties here)
Really? Jones is already better on the 'I am not necessarily needing to chuck up majority of shots that belong to Harden, Ariza, Beverley....' Bball IQ
"I just play basketball," he said. "I'm a basketball player. People try to throw statistics in there. I'm not one to look at where I am on the court (when I shoot). "I'm confident in each and every play I make. I don't think about it. I just play and play with confidence." NBA veteran Josh Smith on shot selection, January 2014 http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2014/01/14/josh-smith-nba-detroit-pistons/4480085/ So let's sign him, run our offense, and hope he does not get the ball outside the paint.
He wont play of he does'nt adapt to our philosophy... he is a great fit if he would stop taking long jump shots and on a team like ours if he doesn't Mchale will pull him.
I understand that to an extent but someone got to Harden to shift his attention/focus to the defensive end. It's worth the risk because as of now we are not a TRUE NBA championship contending team. Are we beating GS, SAS, MEM in a 7 game series? You can never have enough good defenders.
And there remains one more potential hurdle in all of this. Rondo and Smith were teammates at Oak Hill. They've always said publicly that teaming up together would be a dream. Don't count out the Mavs. (Just threw up a little)
The beauty about getting Smith at a low cost: we can still do another move (for Dragic?). One of of Ariza, Brewer or KPap will be dealt and one of DMo or TJones will be dealt. All of these should have decent value on the market, add the Pelicans pick and we have one of the best trade offers available. Smith would cost us 2 million per year. That's not even half of what KPap or Terry are making. Like I said, he is flawed, but he brings a lot to the table. The biggest question mark is: would he understand his role? If he would, this is a no brainer, if he wouldn't it would still make sense...
McHale likes Donuts taking 3's. How many in the game threads scream for posting him up? If he doesn't work out it could kill chemistry. I think it is a gamble. Not a 100% safe move like Brewer was.
As long as we know that having him for couple years and not as the ultimate prize and 'dream target' I am ok with it. Another cobble stone on the way to GREATER FINER THINGS
lol im sorry but i dont think mchale has the pop like mentality lol he doesnt have the balls to pull a player out of the game just cuz of one bad defensive or offensive possession
Agreed. For the price we're getting him this is a no brainer as it still gives us moves in the future to do. Another pretty good reason is to keep him away from the Mavs.
Rondo is a tough guy, even though he can hardly shoot the ball. He can set Smith up on the fast break and increase his FG percentage, I admit. He simply wouldn't allow him to take many poor shots, even if he was demanding the ball. Who can do that for us? Harden to some extent, and we will have to see if Shved can become a secondary passer for us. K-Pap and Ariza might be able to help there to some extent. Can Howard rein him in? I still feel Josh Smith is too inefficient for us, but the situation with Jones has put us in a difficult position despite D-Mo's progress.
