Kenny Smith was the Jet because he could go north/south fast as hell and dunk. But you ask him to guard anybody and you'll see east/west, he's more like a tree stump. I've never seen anybody that fast going forward look that inept going sideways. Whenever he had to guard Gary Payton, Derek Harper, etc., I just covered my eyes. It could look brutal. He's had that nickname since high school.
Kenny almost single handedly ceded the 1st title to Harper. Kenny was great (from 3) in Game 1 a year later. Kenny? Buried by Rudy T late in Smith’s Rox tenure came off the bench v LAL to a roar from crowd and went bonkers to snatch a W from the jaws of Defeat. Kenny gave his Championship ring to his dad who wore it PROUDLY every morning at bagel breakfast. Kenny treated his dad well.
There's no hand checking thanks to the 94 finals They hacked the crap out of Dream too, but he still whooped their entire front line
Perspective In 2011 Bleacher Report ranked Kenny in the top 50 coming in at 38. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/950542-50-greatest-nba-point-guards-of-all-time NOW, think of all the PGs since 2011 who have come out since. I would say Kenny definitely slides toward the bottom of the top 50 and eventually will fall off the list probably in the next 5-10 years where some of those guys never will fall of the list. Best PGs not already on that 2011list! Steph, Dame, Conley, Kyrie, Ja, Luka, Tre He was solid but definitely a piece you could've upgraded if the opportunity ever presented itself.
Kenny could run an offense and give you more assists than turnovers when was the last time we had that ? Chris Paul ?
Kenny Smith was obviously an important player on those championship teams. I just remember Scott Brooks and Sam Cassell being the 4th quarter closers during the 93 through 95 seasons. Excellent shooter, great on the fast break, soft on defense, and below average as a dribble penetrator/finisher. Also, he was a reluctant shooter at times, even though he shot 40% from 3 point range for his career.
LOL, I was going to add something similar. It's like he was stuck in the mud for the first step of the guy he was guarding. He was good at closing out though. The whole team was. Kenny was glad he had dream behind him. He was awesome in the pick and roll with OT and a knock down three point shooter on offense.
kenny was traded to us from the hawks. his first appearance as a rocket was channel 2/11/13 clips of him practicing with the team wearing denim jorts jim petersen, not peterson
He’s a Houston legend. Whatever his shortcomings, I wouldn’t rewrite history and replace him with anyone. We won with him, and he had huge moments…he had deficiencies for sure. But I remember Kenny fondly, even if I used to make fun of his bullfighter defense — to be fair, if I had Hakeem behind me, I might play that way too.
Yeah, but Game 1 vs Orlando the next year was pretty ****ing awesome Man, we were spoiled with that group back then. Absolutely fell in love with every one of those guys.
