Why isn't Josh Smith the franchiese player in Atlanta?

[_BBIB_]

He's certainly the face of the franchise. He was there when we were a 13 win ball club, to now where we stand on the verge of potentially making the post-season for the first time this century.

If we don't re-sign him, I will no longer be a fan.


Today he was one steal away from a cinco. (5 points,rebounds,blocks,steals, and assists) Ironically it's only been done 5 times.

In fact if he didn't get benched by our boneheaded head coach, he may have had a quadruple-double


He has potential to be one of the most efficient players in the entire league. That is franchise worthy.

[NDaATL]

Because he has a brain the size of a walnut and has a short fuse. He's extremely talented and really good but he doesn't have the attitude of a franchise player. Hell of a player though.

Wow, nice observation. Learn before you speak.

[BlueLancerEvo]

i bet you phoenix would trade Marion for him.
then you'd get your 'franchise' player?

[streetp0et]

all i know is, his outburst tonight did damage to my fantasy game.

[atlsun]

Because he has a brain the size of a walnut and has a short fuse. He's extremely talented and really good but he doesn't have the attitude of a franchise player. Hell of a player though.

"Because he has a brain the size of a walnut"

nah, thats you man.

[dontel]

he kinda reminds me of a rich man's AK 47

[lunarblues]

I don't know if this makes him a "franchise" player but he is playing much better than JJ this year....

you have to remember that most teams gear their entire defense around stopping joe johnson. most nights he sees double teams as soon as he touches the ball. some of joshes points come off of johnson assists when he's able to move around. to me that's what makes a franchise player. teams don't set up gameplans for josh smith. they used to just let him take jumpers, but now he goes inside anyway or shoots the mid range (which is starting to come in) however in terms of value to the team, from a marketing standpoint, yeah josh would have to be it. but the coaches around the league know better and that's why joe got the nod over somebody like ray allen.

[conleyorbust]

Joe went to the all-star game because he was great last season. If you watch Hawks games this season, you can see that he has not been our best player.

Last night was a pretty good example of why Smith is often the most important player on our team. When the team comes out flat, Johnson isn't the guy that ignites the team with his play, neither is Williams or Horford. Smith is the only guy on our team that seems to really hate losing which led to him doing something stupid last season (yelling at the coach) but also means that when we are losing to Philly by 20 in the first quarter at home he will come out and single handidly stop the other team from scoring in the second.

Its true that he isn't consistent enough on offense to be a "franchise player" but he has improved a whooole lot and has become a decent post player and a really dangerous slasher against PFs.

If you think that Josh Smith isn't among the most effective defenders in the league, you haven't seen a Hawks game, which makes sense because we haven't been on national TV since Reagan was president.

[thamadkant]

He isnt good enough as an offensive player. He doesnt have a complete offensive repertoire, isnt a play maker, isnt a big enough player to impact the defense... although he is a heck of a shot blocker.


Yes, I'd trade Marion for him. Marion is a capable 20 ppg off finishing plays, hustling and slashing.

[raleigh]

He isnt good enough as an offensive player. He doesnt have a complete offensive repertoire, isnt a play maker, isnt a big enough player to impact the defense... although he is a heck of a shot blocker.

I think that's a fair assessment.

He's a difference maker, though. And certainly not a "stupid" player.

[conleyorbust]

He isnt good enough as an offensive player. He doesnt have a complete offensive repertoire, isnt a play maker, isnt a big enough player to impact the defense... although he is a heck of a shot blocker.


Yes, I'd trade Marion for him. Marion is a capable 20 ppg off finishing plays, hustling and slashing.

Again, I'll agree that he doesn't have the offensive game of a "star" yet. He only scores 18 at around 51% TS%. He also turns it over way too much. He is a playmaker though, the only other top 25 (PER) PFs that have an assist ratio over 15 are Garnett and Dirk. He also is more than big enough to impact the defense, people have the strange impression that he is small but he is 6'9 240. He doesn't get abused in the post either, I'm not sure if I've seen a game where he got consistently beat by a bigger player in the post.

[conleyorbust]

double post

[BossTweed]

Joe went to the all-star game because he was great last season. If you watch Hawks games this season, you can see that he has not been our best player.

Last night was a pretty good example of why Smith is often the most important player on our team. When the team comes out flat, Johnson isn't the guy that ignites the team with his play, neither is Williams or Horford. Smith is the only guy on our team that seems to really hate losing which led to him doing something stupid last season (yelling at the coach) but also means that when we are losing to Philly by 20 in the first quarter at home he will come out and single handidly stop the other team from scoring in the second.

Great post conleyorbust. I totally agree with you about how Josh Smith is the most important player a lot of nights. When the Hawks push the ball and have energy, a lot of that comes from Josh Smith and his attitude. He makes plays no one else can make and it energizes the rest of the team.

[carrottop12]

I have to say, in a lot of Atlanta games I have seen, the Hawks are far more effective when Smith is on the bench.

[High 5]

He isnt good enough as an offensive player. He doesnt have a complete offensive repertoire, isnt a play maker, isnt a big enough player to impact the defense... although he is a heck of a shot blocker.

You were right when you said he isn't good enough on the offensive end, but you couldn't be more wrong on the last two points. If Josh Smith is anything he's a playmaker. On both ends of the floor. Last night was a perfect example of not only his playmaking ability (with the sick dimes and blocks), but his impact on defense.

The Sixers were getting to the rim at will in the first quarter and grabbed a 20 point lead, Smith goes off for 6 blocks in the 2nd quarter, the Sixers avoid hm pretty much the entire 2nd half, Hawks win. As far as his size, he can hold his own in the post.

I have to say, in a lot of Atlanta games I have seen, the Hawks are far more effective when Smith is on the bench.

Then you have only seen 4 or 5 games tops.

[lukeridenour]

[quote="streetp0et"]all i know is, his outburst tonight did damage to my fantasy game.[/quote]

+1

[HoopsGuru25]

I have to say, in a lot of Atlanta games I have seen, the Hawks are far more effective when Smith is on the bench.

You're telling me the Hawks play better with Shelden Williams/Zaza Pachulia than Josh Smith!? The Hawks interior defense is god awful whenever he's in foul trouble or when he doesn't play. We are 2-9 since the start of last season when he doesn't play. Part of the reason Philly went up by 20 in the 1st quarter is because Smith picked up 2 early fouls in the 1st quarter and they scored 32 points on only 3 midrange jumpshots.

[Hood President]

I have to say, in a lot of Atlanta games I have seen, the Hawks are far more effective when Smith is on the bench.

what games have you seen? maybe against detriot and san antonio

[conleyorbust]

Its tough to really get a grasp on players like Josh, I don't know if he's ever been on national TV so most people just have the dunk contest and a stat sheet to go off.