agreed. he didn't try to do too much, just focused on what he can do well. defense, rebounding, attacking the basket. although there were some nice passes, i think he's a pretty high-risk passer. he always jumps to pass, which you teach 5 year olds not to do, and then gets caught in the air with no one to pass it to... obviously leading to a turn over. you can see it coming a mile a way. he drives, jumps, and you say to yourself "oh god another turn over" as he looks around for an open man to pass it to before coming back to the ground.
He's getting more comfortable and limiting mistakes. Crazy to add an athlete like this in the middle of the year.
I'm impressed with Smoove thus far. Played in a good system in ATL, went to DET where he was forced out onto the perimeter to play SF, developed bad habits as a result. Now he's in Houston and he's adjusting very well. Give him another month or so, and he'll be playing like a 6th man of the year.
I think josh smith can do what josh smith was made for. He's not the main opition anymore as he's never been around star caliber players, role players and staff and coaches. Josh smith doesn't have to be the way out he just has to choose his shots wisley, play defense and rebound. Personally the reason I think josh smith is shooting 3s still is because I think the rockets are encouraging him to. I think they want to try and devolp it and I beleive he's prolly been practicing. Rockets want a stretch 4 and smith has shown highlights of it but has to get consistent. I think there letting him take 2-4 3s a game to try and get more comfortable. That's what I've heard though.
Not going to comment on how every quote from that article refuted your narrative that he is a locker room cancer?
Watching the game tonight, they showed Josh Smiths dad. I like the fact that they said his old man was telling Josh something along the lines of how their are no more excuses and that he really needs to make it work in Houston. Plus that it was a blessing to be here in Houston.
Smith can make it work by helping us win a ring and then all his ghosts will be gone. Years of outsider's criticism (many warranted) can do a number on a person's psych.
The fact that HOU is allowing him room to play through mistakes is huge for his confidence. Coaches did not tell him which shots to avoid, only which shots they think he'll do well in--going down hill, playmaking, using his athleticism at the rim. DMo and he are practising those 3s together. 1-3 attempts per game to keep defense honest is fine by me.
If he plays within himself, sticks to his strengths he could put this team over the top. I don't mind if he shots an open 3, but if he misses stop shooting to ****ing thing. Get a head of steam, drive hard into the paint. I also love the idea of being able to throw Ariza, Brewer and Smith at guys like Durant.
Josh smith is Jeremy Lin. There are times where he is a big help and then other times he's a major negative.. As for that good game last night, again had really bad turnovers and Mchale had to pull him one time because of his turnovers
I like Smith coming off the bench. If he can play that role similar to Corless Williamson banging down low for loose balls, running the fast break, and doing high pick and rolls that would be perfect. Having him be active is the key, and not just standing there off the ball thinking he's open to take the shot.
It's makes games like Orlando all the more frustrating when he plays games like this. The only 3's he should ever shoot are open corner 3's, or when the clock is going down, and he should never take those f**king long 2's, that's the one thing he absolutely has to stop. Since coming off the bench he's averaging 17.4 and 8.3 per 36 on 47% shooting.(53% from 2). His passing is very high risk, but he does make plays. Before him our bench had absolutely zero in the way of playmaking. He's so effective when he does what he's good at, but it's like he's physically incapable of not taking 2-3 bad jump shots every game. You can see that he's aware of his problem, but like any addict he can't help himself. He's still helps the team, but he can be better. For a low paid role player he is very productive, and he's getting more and more comfortable.
He's also averaging 4.1 turnovers per 36 minutes which is worse than Jeremy Lin ever was. Those turnovers also tend to be the bad kind that lead to fast breaks for the opposing team. He's got to cut that out.
That to me has much more to do with comfort. At no point in his entire career has he proven to be this turnover prone.
That is not my narrative at all, I don't consider him a locker room cancer, I consider his inability to play within himself a detriment to winning basketball. If he would take a lessor role and play to his strengths, then it would be fine. He has shown signs of that, which would be awesome, but I don't trust his body of work.... Hopeful though, for sure. DD
