They already used their BAE, can't trade him, and there really isn't anyone worth picking up that has the upside that a "POTENTIALLY rejuvenated" Josh Smith has... if its even remotely possible for him to have a turnaround 2nd half of the season. The easy answer to the question is to sit Smith down and say something like this: "I know we said you can start, and its only been a few games, but the numbers don't lie.... you've been more productive off the bench. We are going to start D-Mo, but will try and work you in with the starting group as much as possible when we get the chance. However the team has to be doing well for us to experiment. If you don't like it, we can waive you after the trade deadline to join another contender where you will DEFINITELY not be a starter under any circumstance".
Are you sure, the New Orleans commentators said McHale was not happy that he has to put DMo on the bench after signing Smith because Dmo was developing so well - something like he did not like Dmo losing minutes due to the new signings. DD
It's the trickle down effect of signing Josh smith. Couple that with Beverley becoming a certified bonehead who is not only terrible at being a point guard, but also at defense now. Then combine that with Ariza becoming a black hole on offense lately and Dwight looking like he's playing hurt. This team has major issues.
Lol Corey brewer had the same stats as josh smith tonight if not worse don't see anybody saying anything about cutting him?. Perhaps smith will go to the bench but your a fool if you think he should be cut. He's a great assets as we've seen from his debut and past he can and will do things we need and even if that means playing ten minutes a night.
I think this was the Pistons' problem too. Very hard to unload this guy. Just cut him, better sooner than later
It's a Morey decision. A yes man like McHale becomes the scapegoat when his own ideas and on-court decision making abilities are secondary to the FO.
I wonder where Beverley's legs are. Seems like people drive by him more often now than ever. Maybe just my mistaken impression, though. His pressure defense (and that of the Rockets) worked well against an offensively incompetent team like the Hornets last game (without Al Jefferson) but it seems like some teams can take advantage of their aggressiveness.
Pat Beverley has been much less effective defensively this year compared to last year. Don't know what's going on with him. But I think a lot of it is the league has adjusted to his game. It's time to go with Canaan/Harden/Ariza/Dwight/DMo as our starters. That is/was arguably our most effective lineup.
I don't know what to think in terms of who is behind starting him in the first place . One part of me says McHale has shown a love for veterans and smith had a decent enough debut to think he might work . Morey's only incentive to push to start smith stems from his reported "promise" to start him and the negative effects as well as how Smith affects Howard's happiness. Hopefully the rockets can use this stretch of games to their advantage and use it as leverage to say that they tried. Then benching smith should have no negative repercussions.
There's an easy way around it. Play him 2 minutes then sub DMO in for him. Are the starters communicating with each other? The bench players are. There seems to be no teamwork on that 1st unit. The shooting has disappeared except for Harden since the last week. Tonight even the D was absent. Including Harden's.
I think Bev has just become a wee bit gamble-happy instead of playing sound, fundamental defense. A little too much reaching in for the steal, not quite enough just staying in front. But that's a minor problem compared to what we saw from Dwight tonight and, frankly, since he returned from injury. Players are passing their man off to Dwight in the paint, expecting the big man to protect the rim. Except guards, forwards and even centers (Asik!?!) are blowing by him en route to easy layups and dunks. We've seen Howard struggle on offense. Bu this is the first time I've seen him play so poorly on defense, too, and it's something to be worried about.
Dwight is just as bad, we should cut him too... :grin: Just run more pick and rolls ladies and we will be okay. MORE PAPA!!!
To be fair I think they drove past him quite a bit in the past as well. He's just a bad positional defender and when Dwight is not playing at full strength it really exposes Bev. Bev has had the luxury of playing with probably the two best defensive centers in the NBA in Asik and Dwight. He could get away with a lot of things he should have not been able to get away with. But playing hard does not equate to playing well. That could describe Bevrley perfectly. The team's rotation needs to be: Canaan/Bev Harden/Terry Ariza/Brewer D-Mo/Papa/Smith Howard/Dorsey/D-Mo That's a good mix of offense and defense in each unit. It'll also never happen though. But basketballholic is right. That starting line up is probably the best we have.
All right, people need to chill out on Bev. He's still earning the Rockets extra possessions with his tenacity on defense and rebounding. His 3-point shot is just regressing to the mean right now -- and given that he was up well over 40 percent from downtown, that was always going to happen. Once he starts making 3s again, he'll be fine. This team has much bigger problems elsewhere.
Will Bev start making 3's again? Ariza hasn't since early November. Sometimes players are just exposed for what they are.
