Stan Van Gundy: "Rockets are using Josh Smith the right way"

[rmfc]

Did anyone in the media ask why SVG couldn't do the same thing?

because josh smith would have become a locker room problem and made everything that much worst. As soon as smith left here, his demand was "i want to be a starter".........he wasn't going to come off the bench and be happy on a 5-23 team. On a contending team like the rockets, its a lot easier to hide his mistakes and a lot easier to convince hiim to buy in

What about the usage rate when he was with the Pistons? Doesn't most of the blame for that lie with the coach?

[sc8581]

Did anyone in the media ask why SVG couldn't do the same thing?

because josh smith would have become a locker room problem and made everything that much worst. As soon as smith left here, his demand was "i want to be a starter".........he wasn't going to come off the bench and be happy on a 5-23 team. On a contending team like the rockets, its a lot easier to hide his mistakes and a lot easier to convince hiim to buy in

What about the usage rate when he was with the Pistons? Doesn't most of the blame for that lie with the coach?

Clearly SVG made Smith the focal point of the offense in an attempt to bump his stats and get somebody to bite on a trade.

[MotownMadness]

When you have to put a guy on a bench with his kind of talent because theres no way he can stop taking dumb shots is just flat out bad. That guy is just a embarrassing player.

Basically Stan is saying they found a way to use him where he doesnt hurt youre team as bad.

[Blkbrd671]

Did anyone in the media ask why SVG couldn't do the same thing?

because josh smith would have become a locker room problem and made everything that much worst. As soon as smith left here, his demand was "i want to be a starter".........he wasn't going to come off the bench and be happy on a 5-23 team. On a contending team like the rockets, its a lot easier to hide his mistakes and a lot easier to convince hiim to buy in

What about the usage rate when he was with the Pistons? Doesn't most of the blame for that lie with the coach?

I THINK SVG made up his mind that if we are going to pay smith 15 million, we are going to utilize him. and if smith really is worth it, we can win with him. What we found out was that is not the case, so whats svg other option, bench him? most certainly cause problems, and additionally , limiting his minutes wouldn't fix the problem, we are more so just shifting the problem to the bench. The fact that we looked to be a playoff team after smith before jennings, just goes to show that SVG saw the problem and reconciled it.

[Lucidity]

Yeah, good for him. I'm glad that he is fitting well into a good situation. Rockets are probably still a first round exit.

Probably the biggest pretender in the top 8 out west.

It's close, there's another team too

Yup, their name rhymes with Slippers lol

[313 Professor]

Josh was always great off of the bench. His lack of shooting literally brings everybody down in the halfcourt for the starting 5, but for a less talented bench group his ability to get his shot and make plays works. He's essentially a backup star player that you bring off the bench and surround with shooters, but when you put him with your real stars/best players he just hurts their game and efficiency. Detroit couldn't put him on the bench out of respect, investment, pride, losing, and a lack of proven talent, but in a winning environment like HOU he just has to accept it.

I said the same thing before the season in the thread below, but never thought we'd end up straight releasing him!
viewtopic.php?t=1335230
(ignore the Stuckey stuff)