Josh at USA basketball minicamp

azuresou1 · Post #1 » by **azuresou1** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:41 pm

Apparently some guy over at General Discussion is covering the USA minicamp for some paper, and is taking questions, so I just asked about how Smoove was doing in general. His reply:

"Smith had some good blocks, but settled for perimeter shots most of the time with no success. I don't see him play that much but does he always give the refs sh*t? Every time I look the guy is complaining."

Doesn't sound like much improvement to me. We really need to get a true professional to teach Josh how to shoot and act like a pro basketball player, and not a immature baby. You're 23, Smoove, get it together.

Ray Allen comes off the books next year. Maybe we could sign him? I can't imagine he'd be asking for a ton of money.

ATL DirtyBird · Post #2 » by **ATL DirtyBird** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:46 am

WOW, unless hes knokcing down jumpshots like Ray Allen now he needs to stop. Im gonna hang myself if i have to be put through another season of him hoisting up j's. I really doubt he will ever learn. That guy covering the guy same was right when smoove went for the through the legs dunk, he said something along the lines of "i question if this kid will ever learn".

DAMN YOU SMOOVE!

evildallas · Post #3 » by **evildallas** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:36 am

The complaining thing bothers me. I harped on that a lot last year. I'm not sure he complains that much more than other major players, but he's so obvious and animated in it that it very apparent and annoying. The complaining doesn't help either as I swear he gets less calls because of it and it often leads to disrupting his own game. He hasn't master the when and how of complaining and he could definitely use coaching in that.

I don't like him shooting 3s so often in game situations, but one of my hopes is that he gets reliable on the 3 this summer. I'm talking taking a thousand a day. I want him either shooting it above 35% or not shooting it all. Last year he only attempted 1.3 3 pointers a game. If he stays around 1 as his average attempts, then it really won't hurt the team even if he's ineffective.

My real hope is that he spends all summer improving his handle. He's too prominent in our offense to be as shaky with ball as he was last year. I can live with the occasional ill-conceived pass, but watching him dribble into trouble praying for a good outcome was really hard on me. I know he's tall and it makes it tougher, but if he's going to dribble that much then he needs to get better at it.

azuresou1 · Post #4 » by **azuresou1** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:21 am

I'd prefer that he work on his mid-range shooting and handles so he can work out of triple threat better rather than his 3 point shooting. Too often defenders would give him loads of space for the mid-range shots, which he'd take, and brick.

I think he actually shoots 3s better than he does with midrange jumpers. I saw some stat that supported this, but I'm too lazy to look ATM.

Harry10 · Post #5 » by **Harry10** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:12 am

i really don't mind in a player working the refs. it is not the best part of the game, but it really does work, espeically as the game goes on, it does effect the refs.

i would actually rather have a player that talks then a player that doesn't talk. that is why i really find Joe annoying because he doesn't work the refs. as much as Joe gets fouled and as little as he gets the line, it really just hurts Joe and the Hawks in the long run. Joe needs to take a lesson from Josh and learn how to stand up for himself against the refs in games.

actually if you pay attention, Tim Duncan is really one of the worst offenders at complaining to the refers. he really does talk to them alot, people really just excuse TD for it, but they love to get all over Josh for it.

azuresou1 · Post #6 » by **azuresou1** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:01 am

TD talks though, Josh looks very noticeably pissed, which I think backfires and hurts him. He should save it for the worst cases, and then he'll probably actually get more calls.

Him and Joe should average out their talking.

Harry10 · Post #7 » by **Harry10** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:20 pm

^ Joe averaged about 4.6 FT attempts. Josh averaged about 5.2 FT attempts.

as much as Joe dominates the ball, and as little as Josh touches the ball, Joe should really have double the FT attempts than Josh, but he doesn't

in addition, Josh only averaged about 2.7 fouls a game, which places him about 80th in the NBA in fouls per game. you would think a defensive force such as Smoove would get more fouls, but he doesn't... Horford, Gerald Wallace, Kaman, Okafor, Dalembert, Chandler, Dwight, Boozer, Nene, Millsap all average more fouls per game than Josh. i'm not sure if that is because Josh works the refs throughout the game, but it could be alot worst.

i really don't mind Josh working the refs, for one, because it seems to help him late in the game, and him working the refs doesn't affect him husseling, getting back on defense, and making plays on the defensive end

evildallas · Post #8 » by **evildallas** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:46 pm

Harry10 wrote:i really don't mind Josh working the refs, for one, because it seems to help him late in the game, and him working the refs doesn't affect him husseling, getting back on defense, and making plays on the defensive end

I wish that were the case, but I've observed a lot a plays where Josh complaining about not getting a call meant he didn't get back on defense and gave up an easy shot to the other team. Furthermore it creates a lot of strife on the team when other players are forced to try to compensate for a Josh tantrum.

evildallas · Post #9 » by **evildallas** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:57 pm

I read quite a few blog entries and some paid columnists talk about Josh Smith's poor performance at the camp, but no one comment on what feedback he's received from Coach K and the rest on the Team USA coaching staff. My hope is that a collection of elite coaches who have the respect of the best players in the world might be able to reach Josh and convince him of what he really needs to work on. Not to disparage Woodson, but he learned on the job with Josh Smith as witness. That familiarity probably undercuts Josh's willingness to listen. Maybe a different voice will get Josh headed in the right direction. To me it isn't about Josh making a Team USA squad, it is about Josh becoming as good as he can as a player for the Hawks and for himself. If he listens and can do that then someday he might be a welcome addition to Team USA. If he doesn't, then he probably won't get many more camp invites.