Hollinger's East All-Stars

[conleyorbust]

Likes Josh Smith as reserve forward after James, KG, Pierce, and Butler.

Extra Reserve No. 1: Josh Smith, Hawks
This one is a little hairy. For one, Smith isn't generally perceived as the best player on the Hawks; Joe Johnson is. That's not just from opponents, that's from coaches and teammates too. So part of me wonders if I'm violating my own rule here.

But Johnson is mired in a horrible shooting slump and is at just 40.8 percent from the field, while Smith has taken another step forward in his fourth pro season. So the other part of me wonders if this situation will look a lot different in hindsight, and if Smith is taking over as Atlanta's top weapon. What's undeniable is that Smith has been Atlanta's most effective player in the first half of the season, and his improvement is a major reason the Hawks are no longer a laughingstock.

As far as Smith's own merits, let's weigh him against the competition. Besides Smith, there are only four players in the top 50 in PER who average at least 30 minutes that I haven't already nominated: Antawn Jamison, Michael Redd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson.

All but Redd take a back seat to Smith in PER, and Smith has more defensive value than all of them. Admittedly, PER already takes much of that into account since his East-leading 3.2 blocks per game are part of the equation, but he's also making fewer mistakes. And the emergence of a better supporting cast has allowed us to see what a factor he can be as a weak-side specialist, similar to the way Denver uses Marcus Camby. The Hawks are in the top half of the league in defensive efficiency for the first time in eons, and Smith's blocks have been a huge part.

Additionally, while Smith has never played this well before, it doesn't seem out of line to say that this is his current ability level. He's 22 and has improved his numbers every year, and his output this season isn't much different from what he did the final two months of last season. And while I joked above about his settling for jumpers, the truth is he's doing it a lot less than he used to, and averaging seven free throw attempts a game as a result -- that's one of the big reasons he's playing better. So it's Smith by a nose here.

I can live with that.

[JoshB914]

This is the kind of stuff that drives my opinion that Smoove is a better player than JJ. Or at least he has been this year.

[High 5]

This is the kind of stuff that drives my opinion that Smoove is a better player than JJ. Or at least he has been this year.

Weren't you the one that said I was wrong when I called Smith the better player a while back?

[conleyorbust]

-= original quote snipped =-



Weren't you the one that said I was wrong when I called Smith the better player a while back?

Smith wasn't a better player a while back. I am in the camp that Smith has been better this season and will be better in the future. I think that JJ could be the better player this season if he gets his ish together. On that note, we could be a really good team if JJ gets his ish together.

[JoshB914]

Well a while back I'd say you were wrong High 5. I changed my opinion on this around the Orlando game when Smoove had a terrible shooting night and then turned it on in the 4th quarter and won us the game. Nights like that show you who your true players are. There is no doubt in mind Smoove is our guy in the clutch at this point. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

[Skyhawk1]

He must not have watched the Hawks very often. OMG.

[conleyorbust]

He must not have watched the Hawks very often. OMG.

He lives in Atlanta and goes to every Hawks game. If you have a reason for disagreeing though, I'd love to hear an informed opinion.

[JoshB914]

Yeah I trust Hollinger more than most of these so called analysts. He looks at the raw numbers and watches the games and doesn't have personal relationships with any of the players that sway his judgement. He is one of the few guys out there that spits out reliable, objective information consistently.

[Skyhawk1]

I think he saw Smith playing the Bucks, the Magic, and the Nets this past saturday. How can he say Smith is the most efficient Hawks player in the first half of the season. Are you kidding me ? Don't get me wrong guys, I'd love to agree with you and see that Smith is a great player, the best we got. But any sane person who wathces the Hawks often, I DO, knows that the only thing he's very consistent at is his inconsistency. The guy can't shoot from anywhere, but loves to stand outside the paint ready to brick, he turns it over way too often, man, if J. Smith is our best player, I'm sorry to say we'll just have to wait much longer till we can think about playoffs.

[JoshB914]

Skyhawk look at Smoove's game log. He has been extremely consistent after the poor start. He is also one of the better defensive players in the league, gives us energy every night, is a solid rebounder, and will get to the line. And as I said, go look at his gamelog and you will see has been extremely consistent offensively for the last 17 games as well.

[ATLfan]

Joe has been our best player for the past two years and we haven't been close to the playoffs, so what does that say about Joe? Josh Smith has been our best player this year.

[conleyorbust]

I think he saw Smith playing the Bucks, the Magic, and the Nets this past saturday. How can he say Smith is the most efficient Hawks player in the first half of the season. Are you kidding me ? Don't get me wrong guys, I'd love to agree with you and see that Smith is a great player, the best we got. But any sane person who wathces the Hawks often, I DO, knows that the only thing he's very consistent at is his inconsistency. The guy can't shoot from anywhere, but loves to stand outside the paint ready to brick, he turns it over way too often, man, if J. Smith is our best player, I'm sorry to say we'll just have to wait much longer till we can think about playoffs.

Oh, I see what you are saying. He said effective and you saw efficient. There is actually a fairly big difference. Effectiveness would be both sides of the ball, Smith is easily our best defender and this isn't even close. On offense he is definitely inconsistent but he has improved over the course of the season. He shoots too low a % at 43% but he also gets a lot of FTs and has a lot of assists for a power forward. At this point we have a decent record and Smith has been our best player this season. Like I said, I think JJ is our best player if he is right, but he hasn't been right this season. In fact he is shooting a markedly lower % and his role on the team should be go-to scorer. Marv has potential to be great but for now he and Chil live off what other people give them on offense and they are solid defenders, Horford is a solid defender and rebounder down low but he certainly isn't in the convo about the Hawk's best player. I think that means, by process of elimination, Smith has been our best player this season and by comparison to the other forwards in the east, an all-star.

[HoopsGuru25]

Josh Smith has no chance of going to the all-star game..neither does Calderon.

[JoshB914]

^^^ Agreed, Hoops. But that is not hte point of the article. These are the guys Hollnger believes will go, not who he thinks will go. He brings up great points with Calderon, JC deserves to go and so does Smoove.

Also, Smoove is shooting 43% right now but remember that number was around 38 or 39% a little over a month ago.

[ATLfan]

Jose Calderon is having a really good year. If it weren't for Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups he would be an all-star. Josh Smith has a pretty good shot at the all-star game too because he is playing good defense, rebounding the ball very well, and scoring.

[JoshB914]

I actually agree with Hollinger that JC deserves it over Kidd. But obviously there is a valid argument for Kidd too.

[High 5]

Well a while back I'd say you were wrong High 5. I changed my opinion on this around the Orlando game when Smoove had a terrible shooting night and then turned it on in the 4th quarter and won us the game. Nights like that show you who your true players are. There is no doubt in mind Smoove is our guy in the clutch at this point. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

By a while back I meant earlier this season. I forget which game it was, but someone said Smith can't be the best player because he can't be the #1 option on offense.

[JoshB914]

I still say he can't be our #1 option on offense, I've been saying that from day one. That doesn't mean he isn't our best player.

[tontoz]

Smith's 37% shooting in November most likely killed his chances to make the All-Star team. Plus he has been pretty turnover prone.

If he had shot say 45% in November then i would think he has a legit shot at being picked. Maybe it's just as well he didn't because if he made the All-Star team he could be even more expensive this summer.

His newfound patience when he gets inside has really changed his game. Looking at his hotzones

http://www.nba.com/hotspots/

over the last 10 games he has scored 53 baskets in the area around the basket shooting 66%. For comparison purposes Boozer has scored 43 fgs in the basket area shooting 54%.

[High 5]

I still say he can't be our #1 option on offense, I've been saying that from day one. That doesn't mean he isn't our best player.

Which was/is my point.