Josh Smith: Too Much Hype?

[walkingart]

I agree that it is possible for Smith to increase his range, but I just don't see it happening.

Parrish had very good years in GS (17ppg and 12rpg on 50FG%) before joining the Celts. He also was able put up good numbers after Bird's career fizzled out with injury (88/89 season; 18.6pts and 12.5rpg on 57FG%). His numbers did drop off when McHale retired, but McHale was not as effective his last two seasons in the league, seasons where Parrish still contributed at a high rate. He was able to score with a very efficient mid range jumper throughout his career as can Okafor. I think the two players skill sets are very similiar and comparing Okafor to a Hall of Famer is hardly a slap in the face.

Narcosis the greek root word of narcotics was defined as a numbing agent or an agent that would cause paralysis. It specificly refered to mandrake root and poppy juice, aka opium. Which is where its relation to opium, morphine, cocaine, and heroine comes from. If you lived in the times of Hippocrates and defined tea as having narcosis you would have laughed out of the room, despite the fact that it blunts the scenses. The human civilization has distorted its past far too many times to have faith in it. Everyone has their own perceptual set of experiences that define them and unfortunately those same sets defines their ignorance as well. The term narcotic has always refered to drugs or naturalally growing products that specifically attacked the nervous system, although it has grown to include other drugs, even alcohol outside of the United States.

That aside, if you are not in the United States, I understand you viewpoint. However, if you are in the US, your grasp to use a definition of a word outside of your own cultural is a fairly week attempt to prove your point.

[tsherkin]

I agree that it is possible for Smith to increase his range, but I just don't see it happening.

I don't know why, though; it doesn't take THAT much effort to improve your jumper, especially if you're not after really strong 3pt range. I'm not talking about him turning into a 40% 3pt shooter or anything, just a guy who can make set jumpers and shots around screens from like 17, 18 feet, about the range from where Amare fires away.

Parrish had very good years in GS (17ppg and 12rpg on 50FG%) before joining the Celts. He also was able put up good numbers after Bird's career fizzled out with injury (88/89 season; 18.6pts and 12.5rpg on 57FG%).

Yes, he did, and in no way did I mean to diminish him completely by saying what I did, I only wanted to point out that he had an easier time of it in Boston with Bird and McHale, since he was perennially the third option on that team, save for that '89 season... which was a fine piece of work on his part. Having said that, I do not think he's a good example for Okafor because as I mentioned before, Parish was a mid-range shooter who also cleaned up from dump passes and what-not.

I think the two players skill sets are very similiar and comparing Okafor to a Hall of Famer is hardly a slap in the face.

And I do not, because I do not see the same kind of jumper from Okafor that Parish possessed; it would be a very pleasant comparison, I agree, I just do not believe it to be accurate.

That aside, if you are not in the United States, I understand you viewpoint. However, if you are in the US, your grasp to use a definition of a word outside of your own cultural is a fairly week attempt to prove your point.

I do not live in the US, no, I'm up in Canada and here we use the term in something a lot less narrow a definition than that defined in the CSA.

[walkingart]

I am the same kid who bitched to an AAU coach for 30 minutes for adding Richard Jefferson to the team, cause he flat out sucked, all the coach talked about was his potential and I couldn't see it. Flashforward 14 years, and I am typing on RealGM, while he is counting his millions in Milwaukee.

What can I say, I am a glass half empty kinda guy, when it comes to players improving their games.

[tsherkin]

Well, you're entitled to your opinion. We'll see how it goes.

It certainly depends on his work ethic, his coaches and where his focus is at in the off-season. I don't honestly expect him to turn into a 25 ppg scorer because Atlanta sucks too hard, has a terrible HC and possibly the worst FO in the league, so it's difficult to imagine him being in the best context and environment to succeed and develop, but a mid-range J is not something I see him failing to add. I wish he'd take fewer threes, but that's somewhat understandable because a) there is no offensive structure in Atlanta and b) he doesn't have great handles.

If he's out of Atlanta (which I hope is the case), then it'll be different.

[microfib4thewin]

When Amare first came to the league he also didn't have a jumper either. Whether Josh can develop one remains to be seen, but offensively Amare is definitely not heads and shoulders above Josh, and he is much worse defensively on helping against dribble penetration or staying out of foul trouble.

[NashtyNas]

I just got back from vacation, and I don't have nearly enough time or patience to read all of your comments, so I'm not going to bother

[walkingart]

I just got back from vacation, and I don't have nearly enough time or patience to read all of your comments, so I'm not going to bother

Those are wise words! I should have heeded them days ago.