Las Veagas: July 11th -20th NBA summer league

[is1531]

I hope Herbert Hill is ready to go by then. I need to see what Herb can do.

[SendEm]

Jason Smith will average 24 and 12.

[is1531]

Jason Smith will average 24 and 12.

What do you think the numbers will be for Smith for the 2008-2009 season? He needs to develop a post game. He seems off balance when he goes to the hoop.

[SendEm]

I don't have high hope for Jason Smith's NBA career. He has short arms, and a very slow release. The only reason he's in the NBA is because he is a young prospect that is a freak of an athlete with some decent professional basketball ability. His arm length and technique will keep him from being a real legitimate 3rd big off of the bench for a good team. But he should dominate the summer league or NBDL. I don't think that he's beyond averaging any amount in the summer league, 30 and 16...

[Ravi]

I disagree. I think that the can be a solid bench player in the league someday. I think that his athletic ability and "decent professional basketball ability will" offset his arm length.


Edit: Plus the guys a legitimate 7 foot tall and hes a PF. That also offsets his arm length

[SendEm]

I disagree. I think that the can be a solid bench player in the league someday. I think that his athletic ability and "decent professional basketball ability will" offset his arm length.


Edit: Plus the guys a legitimate 7 foot tall and hes a PF. That also offsets his arm length

Height is passe' because basketball is played with your hands. Smith ONLY has a standing reach of 8'10". Thad has a standing reach of 8'10
Brandan Wright 9'0.5"
Julian Wright 9'0"
Greg Oden 9'4"
Kevin Durant 9'2"
Andre Iguodala 8'9.5"
Luol Deng 9'0.5'
Josh Childress 8'9"
Al Jefferson 9'2"
Emeka Okafor 9'2.5"
Josh Smith 8'8"
JR Smith 8'8"
Trevor Ariza 8'11.5"
Carlos Boozer 9'1.5"
Mike Dunleavy 8'10"
Reggie Evans 8'11.5"
Udonis Haslem 8'10"
Drew Gooden 8'10"
Jared Jeffries 9'1"
Smush Parker 8'11.5"
John Salmons 8'8"
LeMarcus Alderidge 9'2"
Rudy Gay 8'11"
Paul Millsap 8'9.5"
Tyrus Thomas 9'0"

Once his 38 inch vertical leap begins to diminish he will be an absolutely worthless NBA player.

[tk76]

Once his 38 inch vertical leap begins to diminish he will be an absolutely worthless NBA player.

Not if he increases his skill level. He needs to improve his moves to free up his jum shot. He has the potential of becomeing an excellent/automatic jump shooter from 18 feet and in, and a decnt 3 pt shooter.

If those skills develop he will still be valuable as a relatively big body who can score and run. He is wide and quick enough to improve his rebounding through boxing out.

I don't have extremely high hopes for Smith, but I won't close the book on him until we see how he adapts to the NBA over the next few years. Not everyone can step right in to the NBA like Thad did.

[SendEm]

Smith's release on his jump shot is too slow and he doesn't elevate high or fast enough off of his feet when shooting it. There is really no improving that jump shot because NBA players have shown that they can pluck it out of the air from a considerable distance away and Smith throughout the season like Lou Williams developed a gun shy tendency hesitating to shoot the ball EVEN when already having left their feet. This was due to expectations of having it blocked, which proved to be very warranted. If he didn't have the arms of a point guard he would be a force in the NBA, but...

[is1531]

Smith's release on his jump shot is too slow and he doesn't elevate high or fast enough off of his feet when shooting it. There is really no improving that jump shot because NBA players have shown that they can pluck it out of the air from a considerable distance away and Smith throughout the season like Lou Williams developed a gun shy tendency hesitating to shoot the ball EVEN when already having left their feet. This was due to expectations of having it blocked, which proved to be very warranted. If he didn't have the arms of a point guard he would be a force in the NBA, but...

Sendem, You sound like a guy talking who is 100 miles from me up in NYC. I have been to NY, which is the way they quick talk up there.

Listen, give the man a chance. He has a ways to go. I sure you had to see the Portland game last year where Smith and Lou Williams engineered that comeback against the Blazers. He needs to play with more talented players on the 2nd team. The 2nd unit needs more scoring.

John Salley had a nice carer with the 2 time champion Pistons. This is a player who had one of the worst shots you ever saw, but played tough defense. I will give Smith 2 more years to develop. Remember, he is a bench player. Bench players can play a major roles, especially when the starting team gives the the 2nd stringers the lead before they leave the court. Second string players play a big role if they can score.

[ChuckS]

I was surprised to find out that, in that class, sixteen players, with a reach of one to five inches more than Smith were not drafted. This leads me to suspect that, although reach is an important consideration, it is just one factor in determining potential.

And yet I think only I, who believes almost every rookie is too puny, has complained about anything but Jason's playing length. We want Thad Young, with the same 8'10" reach to play inside, but assume Smith, although stronger and with an even better vertical, cannot. And how long before I have to worry about that vertical lessening? You think it is imminent?

He has such a deadly perimeter shot, and yet we worry that because of length/technique he might be blocked. But are there really enough outside shots blocked to make much of a freakin' difference?

Every time I read the disdain some have for our players, usually for one facet of their game, I am reminded of my favorite quote: "I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man with no feet." (anonymous)

I'm going to try to enjoy the teamwork, effort, skill, and accomplishments, of this team even if we never obtain those fifteen perfect specimens. I reserve the right, and respect that of others, however, to critique any player or manager at any time. But doesn't anyone else sometimes get overwhelmed by what seems a constant repetitive negativity on these boards? In my day we used to hate the other team.

[SendEm]

I'm not of those that want Thad to play inside. Sure I want him to be a post up SF, but that is of course against other SF's, SG's, and PG's. Smith is a PF/C that's always guarded by a player with a higher standing reach or more agility. Smith might be able to overpower most SF's and SG's one day but his standing reach is equivalent to many of them and weakside shotblockers are indeed looming. Personally I would move Smith and replace him with another developmental player. I initially liked Smith after having no expectations for him, but after seeing him for an entire year he is just wasted developmental resources. The time spent developing him could be used more wisely on another player. Smith, Iggy, and Lou Williams are all flawed players that are built to look decent-great during the regular season but in the post season they will always come up much shorter with Lou Williams having potentially the least drop off.

[mrtaz2u]

I was surprised to find out that, in that class, sixteen players, with a reach of one to five inches more than Smith were not drafted. This leads me to suspect that, although reach is an important consideration, it is just one factor in determining potential.

And yet I think only I, who believes almost every rookie is too puny, has complained about anything but Jason's playing length. We want Thad Young, with the same 8'10" reach to play inside, but assume Smith, although stronger and with an even better vertical, cannot. And how long before I have to worry about that vertical lessening? You think it is imminent?

He has such a deadly perimeter shot, and yet we worry that because of length/technique he might be blocked. But are there really enough outside shots blocked to make much of a freakin' difference?




Every time I read the disdain some have for our players, usually for one facet of their game, I am reminded of my favorite quote: "I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man with no feet." (anonymous)

I'm going to try to enjoy the teamwork, effort, skill, and accomplishments, of this team even if we never obtain those fifteen perfect specimens. I reserve the right, and respect that of others, however, to critique any player or manager at any time. But doesn't anyone else sometimes get overwhelmed by what seems a constant repetitive negativity on these boards? In my day we used to hate the other team.

there's only one guy that comes on here talking negative about the sixer players and managers on here. everyone knows who he is.

[wow444]

-= original quote snipped =-



there's only one guy that comes on here talking negative about the sixer players and managers on here. everyone knows who he is.

I often shake my head when others try to reason with him. I recommend blocking him. Only wish he was quoted less often.