you say this for Lowry then you say this about Smith's commendable play: when Smith has played twice as many minutes Lowry has had this season. basically its still way too early to pass judgment on Lowry (or smith for that matter) since Lowry is not 100% with a back injury and has only played in two games so far this year...thats a smaller sample size than Smith but yet we're already ready to dismiss Lowry as "Mr. Chucker" while its "too small" to say Smith is playing the PG spot better.
How does injury affect decision making? Smith has been playing better, because he has been playing like Lowry with his relentless attacking, meanwhile Lowry has been playing like Rafer with his ill advised threes.
Lowry has been doing this end of quater chucking since last year. The sample goes back to there. I'm not giving Smith any credit because its too early but I can see that Lowry is not playing any better from last year going into preseason and this year. He is out of shape and making poor decisions. But fair enough, lets hope he gets back on track. At this point, anyone or anything that helps this team is what i'm up for.
Lowry's passes have still been pretty good, but he has some odd turnovers but not being able to play or practice will throw off his timing with the other guys and having spasms is no joke i've had them once and it hurt to even get up out of a chair let alone run and then jump and causing contact. Lowry did do that in the first game and was drilled into the floor by Melo with no call (clean block up top clear foul on the body though) and got stitches..I am sure having spasms and already been cut once will make you think twice again before trying to attack the rim with the same abandon. right now until his spasms are completely gone he is going to probably take the easy way out by shooting jumpers when he should drive out of fear of re-triggering his back but once those things are a thing of the past he is going to be the same "bowling ball" he was in previous seasons. didnt want to post again: as for the end of quarter shots most of those plays run are meant for a jumpshot to be taken there is no spacing otherwise in a 1-4 flat set if he drives in the baseline is way to compacted with players. Now considering who he is with on the floor when running the 1-4 flat it would be him, possibly Budiger or Ariza/Battier last season and out of those 4 though he doesnt shoot it as well as Chase or Shane he has the best handles to be able to get that shot off. Same reason why AB rarely gives it up in that situation..there are no passing angles in a 1-4 flat so give it to your best ball handler and let them get a jumpshot by breaking that man off the dribble. Its not the best play but its often effective and why you see it only at the end of the first 3 quarters and not at the end of the game since there is only one guy involved (and unless that one guy is kobe, lebron etc) you dont want one guy involved only at the end of the game
Exactly. I don't know why some people are surprised by the level of play Lowry has shown in the few minutes he's had so far. It shouldn't surprise anyone.
I understand your point about being injured and reluctant to drive to the hoop and settling for a jump shot. But what about the end of quarters ill advised 3's? He can look to pass and make a smarter play without risking to hurt his back. He is effective as the "bowling ball" but his decsision making as of late has been poor.
Interesting theory by OP. Like many people, I would like to believe that all our players (except Yao) are indispensable, and can be put in a trade to bring back All-Stars. AB + Martin + Battier + Jeffries + Scola + Hill + JT + picks for today's version of Jordan and Pippen.
If I may remind you...There is such thing called the NBA playoffs. Ish Smith, nor Kyle Lowry are known as great playoff perfomers. Theres a good chance we will square off against the Lakers (the world champions) in the playoffs. Whenever we play the Lakers it's pretty much OBVIOUS who our best player is, AARON BROOKS. After years of frustration of not reaching to 2nd round, it was AARON BROOKS who helped lead us there. It was AARON BROOKS who lead us to what couldve been the biggest upset in NBA playoff history. Without Brooks, who's gonna hit those daggers? Who's gonna have that huge 4th quarter to put us over the edge? Aaron Brooks is currently our best closer. Who's gonna create his own shot? Not Kevin Martin. Not Ish Smith, not Kyle Lowry. For those who claim "Brooks needs to be traded", you actually trust Lowry or Ish to lead us in the playoffs
duh. For whom? as part of a trade for Melo, quite possibly for Iguodala. Definitely for an Iguodala that didn't have the big contract. Part of a trade for Chris Paul.
Chris Paul for Aaron Brooks, thats a no brainer But Chris Paul is Melo like, in the way he wants to sacrifice wins just to be "seen" in bright lights. Dont think Paul would come here
I really don't like Chris Paul, but that is the one guy that the team would probably instantly be a contender if acquired. DD
No agenda here other than wishing the best for the Rockets, but you may want to remember that when Brooks was the leader and "Best player" on the team last year they went 42-40 and went straight to the lottery. A good pg does not need to create shots so much for himself, but rather, he creates shots for all his other team mates. It may not be Ish or Lowry who would lead the Rockets in the playoffs but it certainly cannot be Brooks and expect success.
