Josh Smith says some wonderful things...

[shortstuff5023]

in in AJC story.

“I wanted to work more on my decision-making than anything. I handle the ball so much on the fast break and in transition that I wanted to make sure I’m thinking the game the way I need to be. I also worked on my handles and knocking down that mid-range jumper. I’m really not worried about the 3-point ball right now. We have so many guys on this team that can make that shot.

“I don’t have any business being out there this season with Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Jamal Crawford, Marvin, Mo and [Jeff] Teague all doing work out there. I have to focus on working in the cracks and making sure that people respect my mid-range game. And if they don’t, we have to make them pay for not respecting it.”

[joeshmoe]

that's exactly what I want to hear from Josh

[azuresou1]

Link? Sounds great, but I need proof he actually said it.

[shortstuff5023]

my bad about the link...

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks ... 37185.html

[azuresou1]

The mental thing sounds great. However, losing 15 lbs kind of worries me, if it's muscle and not fat.

[johnny878]

josh smith being 230 lbs really worries me.

[MaceCase]

Damn....Even Chris Bosh is allegedly 250 pounds now. Well if Josh is wiry strong like Sheed was at 230 then I guess there's not much to worry about but you also tend to lose weight over the season from not hitting weights as heavily and all the cardio. I guess wait and see approach

[dpaulh]

I hated that he still thinks that he should be bringing the ball up on the break and handling it a bunch still with all these guys out there... With that being said, I absolutely love it that he knows he shouldn't be shooting 3s! Not many in the league can go up with him so if he develops that mid range game and gets a little more aggressive going to the hoop, he will become an excellent offensive weapon. I'm not worried about him at 230, it will probably make his help side defense a little better by adding about a half inch to an inch on his leaping ability.

[raleigh]

Honestly, I'd prefer the 3 ball to the longer mid-range shot. He's only marginally better at the 2pt shot, but it's worth only 2/3rds of that longer shot...

At least it will allow him to focus on one aspect.

[ATL DirtyBird]

He shouldnt bring the ball up at all. He needs to rn the break and finish it. Hes saying the right things but exeucting them is another hting. Well see but he has me beleivng

[Canomad]

if josh smith can be the player that he is truley capable of being you guys CAN potentially knock off one of the top 3 teams in the east. horford is going to improve a little, marivin is still young, joe johnson is lets face it joe johnson all star/most underrated player in the league, and bibby is still capable of running a team. also crawford,evans,murray,pachulia,joe smith, and maybe jeff teague are all decent players and give you guys some nice depth. Im a Cavs fan but will not sleep on the hawks cuz you guys are looking legit.

[BMF Jet Jaguar]

Marvin Williams continues to impress me with is work ethic. I think it might be the best on the team.

[MaceCase]

Alright, we know Teague got in early, we know Marvin is at it like a mad man, we know Josh is at it too, we know Horf was at the Americas games, we know Bibby has been in and out the practice facility, Mo has become Conan, RandMo has lost weight, the question is........WTF has Joe been doing besides tweeting? it's a contract year for him and I find it surprising that we haven't heard much about what regiments he's going through, if his foot has healed etc. etc. I know Joe is a low key kind of guy but the fact he's out there tweeting and popping up on ustream I would have hoped to hear more about what our Allstar is doing basketball wise.

[raleigh]

I hope Joe hasn't moved all summer. He's earned a little rest...

[MaceCase]

^^^^Yea, thus why I want to know at least how he feels. Marvin has talked about how he healed up his body and took it easy at first. I would stop my b****ing if I just heard the reassuring words "Body's well rested, jumper's still sweet, foot is good to go. Get ready to see explosive Joe again" as the only thing all summer.

Now that I searched, he apparently shut down his twitter account (or changed the name or something). I'm guessing he won't be giving Sekou any exclusives after he brought heat to him in the first place. At this point it wouldn't suprise me to have Joe come in to training camp sporting dreadlocks, we've heard so little outside of initial extension talks.

[JoshB914]

We hear the same thing every offseason. Hell, I even remember an entire article last preseason about how Solo was ready to turn a corner. Now we've got the stories about Teague impressing everyone, Mo Evans bulking up, and Josh becoming a complete player.

We'll see what happens when we tip off the season, until then this is just all talk and speculation. I'll believe it when I see it with Josh, saying the right things doesn't earn him a damn thing, it's about him backing up his talk on the court.

[HMFFL]

I just hope he has some self control on the court and can keep his cool. Great work ethic but we need him to mature and keep the passion he has for the game.