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Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Mon Dec 8, 2008 1:05 am
by HMFFL
Josh Smith became the youngest player to reach the 800-block milestone with a second quarter swat of a Dirk Nowitzki shot Saturday night in Dallas.
His big moment came a day late. Smith celebrated his 23rd birthday Friday night with two blocks in a win over the Knicks.
He shattered the previous record-holder’s run to 800. Shaquille O’Neal reached the milestone at 24 years and nine days old. It’s the latest in a long line of blocks record Smith has shattered. He was the youngest to 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700.
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Re: Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Mon Dec 8, 2008 1:49 pm
by raleigh
Youngest, smoungest.
It's his fifth season, and there were several guys who had more blocks going into their fifth season. Don't like this stat.
(Mr. Party Pooper leaves...).
Re: Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Mon Dec 8, 2008 3:24 pm
by conleyorbust
mrhonline wrote:Youngest, smoungest.
It's his fifth season, and there were several guys who had more blocks going into their fifth season. Don't like this stat.
(Mr. Party Pooper leaves...).
True, of course, he literally was the youngest. The article didn't say it took him the least amount of time. The fewest games. The fewest minutes. Whatever. It said youngest and he is the youngest.
I'll agree that fewest games/minutes would be more impressive but hey, good for him.
Re: Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Mon Dec 8, 2008 5:23 pm
by JoshB914
Yeah those kind of stats are so flawed now with so many guys coming into the league at 19 or so now.
Either way, Josh has a very good chance to go down as one of the best shotblockers in NBA history.
Re: Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Mon Dec 8, 2008 6:38 pm
by Rip2137
I think he already is.
Outside of Russell and Olajuwon, I don't think there has been a shot blocker with his ability. Especially taking into account his his size. His pure ability is pretty unrivaled.
He doesn't have the length of the guys like Mutumbo and Eaton, and I am not discounting their abilities, but their length played into it. Josh just has obscene timing that I think few have ever had before.
Re: Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Tue Dec 9, 2008 1:23 am
by BMF Jet Jaguar
^ and i think he blocks shots in more ways then anyone ive ever heard of. He chases people down, helpside, on man, etc.
Re: Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Tue Dec 9, 2008 3:11 pm
by D21
mrhonline wrote:Youngest, smoungest.
It's his fifth season, and there were several guys who had more blocks going into their fifth season. Don't like this stat.
(Mr. Party Pooper leaves...).
But you can also said it for the players who played more seasons than other players, and so getting better total record, even if they did not get a better block/game career record... if he can stay on this average and beat Mutombo career record at the age of 35, nobody will say "hey, he started at 19 and Mutombo at 25". Olajuwon is the first, made 550 more blk than Mutombo but started at 21. So who is the better ?
IMO, this "youngest record" is only showing he's on his way to be one of the best shot blockers of all time if he can stay away from injuries, but it's already a great thing
Re: Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Tue Dec 9, 2008 5:09 pm
by raleigh
Hey, I use B-R.com all the time to look at per minute stats.
Those are the impressive ones to me...
Kudos to Smith, though. He is an exceptionable shotblocker, and one of the best non-center shotblockers in the history of the game.
Re: Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:19 am
by High 5
Being the youngest is still something to hang your hang on. I would like to see how his pace matches up with players his height. I imagine it would be a massacre.
Re: Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:42 am
by raleigh
High 5 wrote:Being the youngest is still something to hang your hang on. I would like to see how his pace matches up with players his height. I imagine it would be a massacre.
38th all-time in blocks per minutes for all players in their first five seasons:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/tiny.cgi?id=WhfZ64th all-time among players 6'9 or shorter:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/tiny.cgi?id=8HxLxAmong players who averaged 30+ minutes per game during their first five seasons, Smith's per minute block rate is 10th:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/tiny.cgi?id=u61VQ^^^Take a look at that list. Pretty darn impressive group:
Only Kirilenko has been a better per minute shotblocker among non-centers...
Re: Josh Smith youngest to 800 blocks
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:59 pm
by conleyorbust
Good stuff mrh. Take a look at how rarely AK fouled.