But he was leading the Hawks before Al Hoford went down for the season with a torn pectoral muscle and, along with Joe Johnson, (who received his sixth All-Star nod last night) has kept them among the Eastern Conference elite since then. Even his most ardent critics have come around this season, recognizing the maturation in his game and that he’s been the Hawks’ catalyst this season.
Five-time All-Star and NBA TV and TNT analyst Chris Webber wasn’t shy in voicing his opinion, via Twitter, after the reserves were announced:
Josh smith. Call 911.You got robbed. No mask no gloves- its fingerprints- all over the place call first 48-no call Atlanta CSI- Call the FBI
“What can you say?” said Brian Dyke, also one of Smith’s agents. “It’s just difficult to watch. We’re taking about a dude that doesn’t chase stats. He just wants to win. Instead of going with your preconceived notions of this man, focus on how hard he works on his game and the things he does on and off the court. This is a hard-working player who busts his [expletive] on his game and they see fit to smack him in his face every year. You say he’s got bad attitude, but he shouldn’t be upset with this? Everybody talks about what he doesn’t do, but why don’t they start talking about what he does, and then show me somebody that does it better on both ends at that [power forward] four position.”
Here is the article in full:
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/02/1 ... rd-stinks/
