Sean Elliot made a great point about Smoove

[mudderfudder77]

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How can a player block shots without consistent effort? You must think NBA players are pansies if Smith can block their shots so easily.

You must have him confused with Harrington, who lets guys shoot layups right in his face and doesn't even lift his arms up half the tiem.

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Smiths blocks are almost all the result of him leaving his man on the weak side and crossing the lane to sky for a block. Looks good on the box score and in the highlights - but does not make him a good defender. Like most guys making the jump from high school he has alot to learn about rotation and team defense. How many times has Smith left his man wide open so he can try to get a block only to watch his man get the pass and score easily?

Again, its not Smith's fault, but when you are as good as he was in high school he didn't have to worry about technique, he had his athleticism.

[dalamchops]

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So you are saying Smoove is consistent on a game to game basis?

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His effort on blocking shots is consistent

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Right. His effort on blocking shots is consistent.

I wonder if exodus would call the guys who are in the top 20 in steals, good defenders?

http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Steal...Exp=-1&splitDD=

My boy Trenton Hassell isn't on this list, nor is Bruce Bowen. Matter of fact, they're not even in the top 50 in steals. But those 2 guys are two of the best defenders in the league. But look at some of those steal leaders. Some of them are great defenders. Others are horrible, if they're not getting a steal.

While Smoove isn't a "horrible" overall defender, he is a one-dimensional defender, in that he can only block shots. He's not going to be the type that can hold his man to 13 points or less on most nights, if playing a decent offensive player.

[exodus]

Steals translate less towards defense than blocks do. almost all of the block leaders would be considered strong defenders, with a few DPOY's to their credit. Many of them are getting time specifially for defense and rebounding since they can't score. Many steals leaders do cheat a lot and can get burned.

Compare the two lists side by side and it is obvious which is the better indicator of defense.

It is a misconception that Smoove gets his blocks mainly on other peoples' man. Just last game Duncan got him posted up low and tried to dunk on him and got punk'd. Of course the refs bailed Duncan out. Josh can block anyone's shot whether he is guarding them or not.

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He's not going to be the type that can hold his man to 13 points or less on most nights, if playing a decent offensive player.

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I guess you didn't watch the first Clippers game, when he started against Brand and Brand scored a whopping 12 points, his low of the year.

When Harrington was hurt Josh was starting at the 4 and what I saw was a guy that 4s couldn't back down or beat off the dribble. The only way they could get the best of him was to pump fake him off his feet or get putbacks since he didn't consistently box out. No way could they shoot a jump hook over him consistently. boxing out and staying on the ground for fakes are correctible problems. In fact not long later against Memphis Josh blocked out well and got 10 defensive rebounds.

Now he is playing the 3 most of the time and that doesn't take advantage of his stregths. he isn't as quick as a lot of 3s.

when he blocked 10 shots against Dallas last year without a foul he did something that has only been done two other times IN NBA HISTORY. And he did it as a rookie. he has a gift. it is easy to take it for granted because we see it every game but a lot of teams would love to have someone like him.

And his shot blocking ability isn't just a result of his leaping ability. Lebron can jump and is almost as tall but doesn't block shots at all. Amare is a leaper and is taller than Josh. However he blocked fewer shots last year even though he played a lot more minutes and was playing center. Josh was playing the 2 or 3 all year.

[mudderfudder77]

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I guess you didn't watch the first Clippers game, when he started against Brand and Brand scored a whopping 12 points, his low of the year.

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Brand also didn't play in the fourth quarter and only played 26 minutes total as the Clippers were up on the Hawks by 26 points by the end of the third.

Brand only scored 15 the night before in Seattle, am I to believe that Reggie Evans and Nick Collison are defensive standouts?

Smith definitely has a gift as shotblocker, but great shot blocker /= great defender.