D Ferry says Smoove is going NOWHERE

[Jamaaliver]

“He’s a really good player,” Ferry said. “I love his ability to pass the ball. I love his ability to make game-changing plays defensively. I love his competitiveness. If I was out there playing, I would want Josh on my team.”

This makes me sad. Josh's trade value will never be higher than it is this year.

But hey, maybe Josh Smith wil be able to carry the offensive load and take us to the next level. He's only been at it for 7 years...

Also:

Ferry has a vision for the Hawks next season, and Smith is a part of that. They’ll run more. They’ll have to, given the lack of size.
“The ball will be in Devin Harris’ hands a lot and Jeff Teague’s hands a lot. We’ll have space for them to attack the rim. We’ll play through Josh a little more. We’ll use Josh and Al to pick-and-roll or post up. We’ll be fun to watch.”

Sounds like Ferry expects to take full advantage of having a guard like Devin on the roster. But, is it customary for a GM to be so hands on and dictate to the coach what style of play to utilize?

[dtown8]

man i really like Ferry, for years i have been saying that Smoove has one of the highest basketball IQs in the game, and his passing and vision is elite, ive been saying this for years. it is good to finally have a GM who knows what real basketball is and not just a novice fan.

those fans who talk about Smoove's jump shot just don't know basketball, it is good that we finally have Ferry who understands what real talent is, and it is more than jump shot, but ability to defend, pass, lead, and change games, like Josh is all about.

[azuresou1]

Yes, us fans who bitch that Josh takes terrible jump shots in bad situations which are close to wasted possessions are the ones who don't know basketball. Right.

[Jamaaliver]

“If I was out there playing, I would want Josh on my team.”

Does anyone else think this sounds like he's really kissing up to Josh?

This is something I tell my little one after she plays a terrible game and needs to get her confidence back up.

[Geaux_Hawks]

“If I was out there playing, I would want Josh on my team.”

Does anyone else think this sounds like he's really kissing up to Josh?

This is something I tell my little one after she plays a terrible game and needs to get her confidence back up.

Why would you not want him on your team in todays league? There aren't many forwards in the league with his natural ability and skills. Many people underestimate his ability to operate from the high post, and take advantage of size mismatches. Of course, he is a known defender around the league as well and is always in talks of All Star snubs. He takes ill advised jumpers from time to time, but I can live with those if he drops a few or make up for it.

[Jamaaliver]

Why would you not want him on your team in todays league? There aren't many forwards in the league with his natural ability and skills. Many people underestimate his ability to operate from the high post, and take advantage of size mismatches. Of course, he is a known defender around the league as well and is always in talks of All Star snubs. He takes ill advised jumpers from time to time, but I can live with those if he drops a few or make up for it.

Because he HAS been on my team for 7 years, and he's gotten us nowhere.

He's an undersized, inconsistent PF in a league full of undersized, inconsistent players.

There's a reason he's snubbed for All-Star teams, All NBA teams and All defensive teams every year.

I prefer guys who play hard every play, play smart every game, and have a history of being successful. Josh Smith is not one of those guys.

In a shortened season without Al Horford he averaged 18 ppg and 9 rpg. The three seasons before that he avg 16 ppg and 8 rpg. Not exactly irreplaceable.

If he proves he's able to carry our team this year, I'll gladly admit I was wrong. But I see a guy who makes bad decisions, shoots terrible shots and pouts all the time. Not my type of player.

[HMFFL]

those fans who talk about Smoove's jump shot just don't know basketball, it is good that we finally have Ferry who understands what real talent is, and it is more than jump shot, but ability to defend, pass, lead, and change games, like Josh is all about.

I'm not following.

[HMFFL]

Does anyone else think this sounds like he's really kissing up to Josh?

This is something I tell my little one after she plays a terrible game and needs to get her confidence back up.

There could be some damage control involved for what Sund possibly created, but I think Ferry is just being honest, and has high expectation for Josh. Now, my concern is how much money Ferry will be willing to offer Josh Smith after the upcoming season.

[GrimeyKidd]

His ability to pass the ball? You mean when he plays Sf and Al moves to PF? Alright.

I read on ajc he said the ball is gonna be in Devin harris hands alot and teagues hands alot. Maybe indicating Harris at sg

[Ruhiel]

His ability to pass the ball? You mean when he plays Sf and Al moves to PF? Alright.

I read on ajc he said the ball is gonna be in Devin harris hands alot and teagues hands alot. Maybe indicating Harris at sg

Yeah for small ball to really work he has to either shoot 3s (ie the stretch 4) or be able to slash and theres a chance for free throws (ala Lebron or even Blake)

but as he is a 6'8 guy taking long 2s and its just shooting himself in the foot for Josh to be the PF. The PF is the release valve for slashers.

Garnett, Pau Gasol or a Dirk its okay because they arent as athletic, or a Blake because he can jump and dunk from the dotted line but
For Josh he's so athletic its better to use him as a SF where he has a chance to at least offensive rebound. Let Horford or a taller PF be out at the top of the key. Slows the game down, but we get points off boards and if that happens youre able to score on the putback or defense is scrambling to matchup because they missed the rebound. Classic Lakers/Spurs basketball.

Josh as an uptempo 4 has not worked out and won't work out unless
A) you get Kevin Durant or a Stojacovic type at the SF
you can get a Chris Paul in here but the truth is Josh's value is lowered as a 4, because he becomes a stretch 4.
If you get a Chris Paul, Josh would not become a superstar. He'd get 3-4 dunks a game sure, but thats only 6-8 ppg. The rest would come from what? Pick and Pops and Taking Jumpers.

The Billy Knight experiment failed. Marvin was supposed to be that Durant Lebron and wasn't. Move Smith back to the 3, and if you get Dwight play Triple Posts with Horford, Josh, Dwight, the interior passing should be off the chain.

[parson]

1) Loving on Smith is just what a good GM should do to enhance team harmony. Smith needs to be loved. We want him to be happy and to stay. But, if he still wants out, then ...
2) Loving on Smith is just what a good GM should do to enhance Smith's trade value.

Either way, Ferry's doing the right thing.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Why would you not want him on your team in todays league? There aren't many forwards in the league with his natural ability and skills. Many people underestimate his ability to operate from the high post, and take advantage of size mismatches. Of course, he is a known defender around the league as well and is always in talks of All Star snubs. He takes ill advised jumpers from time to time, but I can live with those if he drops a few or make up for it.

Because he HAS been on my team for 7 years, and he's gotten us nowhere.

He's an undersized, inconsistent PF in a league full of undersized, inconsistent players.

There's a reason he's snubbed for All-Star teams, All NBA teams and All defensive teams every year.

I prefer guys who play hard every play, play smart every game, and have a history of being successful. Josh Smith is not one of those guys.

In a shortened season without Al Horford he averaged 18 ppg and 9 rpg. The three seasons before that he avg 16 ppg and 8 rpg. Not exactly irreplaceable.

If he proves he's able to carry our team this year, I'll gladly admit I was wrong. But I see a guy who makes bad decisions, shoots terrible shots and pouts all the time. Not my type of player.

Dude practically carried the team after Horford went down. Did you calculate the numbers AFTER Horford was out?! Smith averaged 21 ppg, 11 rpg, 4 apg, and 2 bpg almost. That's after 55 games of not having Horford and starting the season off 7-4 to finish with a 40 win season in a shorten 66 game season. He has his bad moments, but his good moments heavily outweigh those and the Hawks record proved that.

[Rip2137]

On top of that he averaged over 23 points and 11 rebounds 5 assist 2 steals and 3 blocks when Joe went down.

I honestly don't get what it would take to get people off Josh's back.

Also, I am tired of people saying this team has been "nowhere" as if the 2nd round of playoffs is mediocrity. 8-10th place in your conference is medicority. going to game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi's the last time you had your team at full strength, and had to get SCREWED to get put out in the first round this year (with your entire front line injured.).

[ATL Boy]

On top of that he averaged over 23 points and 11 rebounds 5 assist 2 steals and 3 blocks when Joe went down.

I honestly don't get what it would take to get people off Josh's back.

Also, I am tired of people saying this team has been "nowhere" as if the 2nd round of playoffs is mediocrity. 8-10th place in your conference is medicority. going to game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi's the last time you had your team at full strength, and had to get SCREWED to get put out in the first round this year (with your entire front line injured.).

He also had the highest PER on the team at at 21.31

[Jamaaliver]

Dude practically carried the team after Horford went down. Did you calculate the numbers AFTER Horford was out?! Smith averaged 21 ppg, 11 rpg, 4 apg, and 2 bpg almost. That's after 55 games of not having Horford and starting the season off 7-4 to finish with a 40 win season in a shorten 66 game season. He has his bad moments, but his good moments heavily outweigh those and the Hawks record proved that.

I don't want to beat a dead horse here regarding Josh Smith.

I think I've made my opinions of him clear. My biggest conerns being: His shot selection, moodiness, inconsistency, lack of effort.

In a seven year career, he had a FANTASTIC 2 month stretch.

The other 6 years & 10 months have been...pretty mediocre. Again, he averaged 16 ppg & 8 rpg for the 3 years before that.

I just need to see the production over a longer period of time. And less pouting.

[Jamaaliver]

Also, I am tired of people saying this team has been "nowhere" as if the 2nd round of playoffs is mediocrity. 8-10th place in your conference is medicority. going to game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi's the last time you had your team at full strength, and had to get SCREWED to get put out in the first round this year (with your entire front line injured.).

In 44 years of Atlanta Hawks basketball, we've never made it out of the 2nd round.

In the last 13 years of Atlanta Hawks basketball, we've won two (2) 2nd round games. We have 0 division titles.

In the late 1990's our Hawks made the 2nd round all the time. But we were always the 4th or 5th best team in the East and always got beat by the Bulls or Knicks or Heat in the 2nd round. So we blew the roster up. And in 13 years since, we managed to once win two (2) games in the second round.

44 years and we've never once been an elite team that the entire league had to take notice of. No one outside of Atlanta cares about our team. Players, media, opposing fans. NO ONE cares or takes us seriously. Dwight Howard was willing to go to a last place New Jersey team before considering playing in his hometown. Because 2nd round playoff exits are...unimpressive.

I understand we can't dominate the league every single year, but winning two (2) 2nd round games is a pretty underwhelming stat.

[Rip2137]

This Hawks team hasn't been around 44 years. you have to admit, blaming them for the entire history of the franchise is a little unfair.

The team got better every single year until this one, when injuries and refs played a role. They went from pushing a first round series to 7 games, to getting to the second round, then getting destroyed in the second round (they never should have brought Woodson back anyway) to pushing a 2nd round series to 6 games.

I don't see how people can get mad at CONSTANT improving from every player on the team except Joe and Marvin(and I blame Joe and Woodson for the stopping of Marvins obvious strides his first few years).

[Jamaaliver]

There...are no words.

[Rip2137]

Dude:

13 wins.
26 wins
30 wins(injury plagued year where every player in the rotation missed at least 10 games)
37 wins(8 seed), game 7 of first round against eventual champs Celtics. Blown out in EVERY loss and didn't win on the road(wasn't even competitive)
47 wins 2nd round of the playoffs, actually won a road game but still blown out in every loss.
53 wins 2nd round of the playoffs, (Woodson Shouldn't have been brought back) finally competitve in a loss, won a cluctch game on the road in game 6 against Milwalkee, DESTROYED by Orlando in the 2nd round.

wins, beat up Orlando in first round, competitive in one of their 2 losses, won clutch games, and won on the road. Went to second round, won on the road, went to 6 games before falling.

You know my feelings on this year.

But what are you arguing? The team didn't get better? That it's Josh Smiths fault some how who has improved more than any player on this team since coming in the league?

I am wondering what you would have said about Michael Jordan in 1988(3 straight first round losses and a second round loss). CLEARLY it didn't work.

[djjob23]

Jordan in his prime... Joe out of his prime... No comparison.

The bulls got where they were not with Jordan, but the combo Jordan/Pippen. Bulls had coach Phil Jackson... While Hawks had Mike Woodson. Bulls actually had a team surrounded around Jordan (and rightfully so). Hawks had a cluster f**k of PF that played 3 positions!!

Can't go off playoff wins or losses. Go off of the style and tools... an ISO Joe team is a first round knockout, but with our defense we are a 2nd round knockout.

Hawks are better off without Joe and his handcuffed contract. We are not better... But have more options.