Sekou's article on Josh Smith (9/19/09)

[jerrywest]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/hawks-beat-wizards-166743.html

Josh Smith won't hide his ambitions this year.

He wants to be an All-Star. But he'd gladly settle for a spot on the All-Defensive team, an honor that's eluded him his first five seasons despite his shot-blocking prowess.

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The difference between the aspirations Smith had earlier in his career and now center on his understanding that the team's success comes first and the residual benefits usually follow in the form of individual honors.

"After all the goals we have as a team -- and we have lots of them -- those are definitely my goals," Smith said before the <a href="http://g.ajc.com/r/Cx/">Hawks' 113-95 preseason win over Washington Monday night at Philips Arena. "And I don't think they are too far fetched. I'm six years into my career and I've tasted some success. I want more of that, for my team and myself, in that order."

When told that Smith mentioned both the All-Star team and the All-Defensive team as goals for this season, Hawks coach Mike Woodson smiled.

"He beat me to it," Woodson said. "We haven't had a chance to have a sit down yet before the [regular season] starts. But those are the things I was going to lay out for him, as well. At this stage of career those are the kind of goals he's supposed to have. I would be disappointed if he didn't, because I think he's more than capable of accomplishing both of those things."

How Smith goes about making his case for those honors this season remains a bit of a mystery. He's always been a feared shot blocker and one of the league's most mercurial talents. Yet he's never sniffed the All-Defensive team.

"I've worked really hard on that part of my game in the past few years and especially this past summer," he said. "Honestly, I would appreciate making the All-Defensive team more than anything because I know I haven't been appreciated for it early on in my career. I've heard people say, ‘Well blocking shots doesn’t always mean someone's playing great defense.'

"I disagree. It's hard work, too. It's a game changer as well. If you do it right, you can change the game on any play. And if it was so easy to do, there would be a lot more guys blocking a lot of shots."

With Smith already on the same wavelength, Woodson won't have to do as much work convincing him to make his presence felt all over the floor this season.

"It's not always about scoring the ball," Woodson said. "Sometimes it's about leading the league in rebounding or being the best defensive player in the league that helps you make an All-Star team. I remember Ben Wallace making a few that way. Defending and rebounding win games. Anything you can do to help your team makes the difference.

"But I want Josh thinking big and aiming high with all his goals. I want him to shoot for all of it, so long as it helps this team win games."

Veterans make debut

Both Joe Smith and Jason Collins made their first appearances as Hawks in Monday's win. Smith was the first player off the bench and finished with four rebounds and two points in his 14 minutes. Collins had four points and four rebounds in just seven minutes.

Jamal Crawford returned to action after missing three straight games with a left calf strain and led the Hawks with nine assists off the bench.

[jerrywest]

"I want him to shoot for all of it, so long as it helps this team win games."

He meant " I want him to shoot for all of it, so long as its from inside the 3 point line."

[Buzzard]

He meant " I want him to shoot for all of it, so long as its from inside the 3 point line."

The only things keeping him from a all defensive team mention is his shot selection and rebounding. Dumb players are not even considered for a honor like that (you ever see Rodman, Big Ben, or Deke shooting threes) and his rebounding needs to get to around 9 a game.

He has the ability and the potential to easily do this. Now he just needs to set his mind to it.

Edited October 20, 2009 by Buzzard

[capstone21]

The only things keeping him from a all defensive team mention is his shot selection and rebounding. Dumb players are not even considered for a honor like that (you ever see Rodman, Big Ben, or Deke shooting threes) and his rebounding needs to get to around 9 a game.

He has the ability and the potential to easily do this. Now he just needs to set his mind to it.

He is intimidating, he gets stats but he is not even the best defensive player on the team. However, he is not a good one on one defender. I think that is what keeps him from being an all defensive player. He should study Bruce Bowen or Raja Bell and how they guard players. He has the talent and the physical ability but he does not use it.

[DrReality]

The only things keeping him from a all defensive team mention is his shot selection and rebounding. Dumb players are not even considered for a honor like that (you ever see Rodman, Big Ben, or Deke shooting threes) and his rebounding needs to get to around 9 a game.

He has the ability and the potential to easily do this. Now he just needs to set his mind to it.

Totally agree. Makes me think of of Sunds words last year: Be the best defensive player on the floor every night. He can do that. And it would make a huge impact.

[Buzzard]

He is intimidating, he gets stats but he is not even the best defensive player on the team. However, he is not a good one on one defender. I think that is what keeps him from being an all defensive player. He should study Bruce Bowen or Raja Bell and how they guard players. He has the talent and the physical ability but he does not use it.

Agree and if he studied film of Rodman he could not go wrong either. Rodman was the smallest PF on the floor just about every night; but he used that to his advantage by getting right under an opponent and harrasing the hell out of him.

I did not like Rodman, the Pistons, or the Bulls at all; but have to give Rodman his due. The way he got under Malones skin night in and night out should be required viewing for any young PF who wants to improve his defense.

[jerrywest]

Agree and if he studied film of Rodman he could not go wrong either. Rodman was the smallest PF on the floor just about every night; but he used that to his advantage by getting right under an opponent and harrasing the hell out of him.

I did not like Rodman, the Pistons, or the Bulls at all; but have to give Rodman his due. The way he got under Malones skin night in and night out should be required viewing for any young PF who wants to improve his defense.

Rodman knew how to control other people's mind. Smoove first has to learn to control his own mind. He doesn't have the brain to be Rodmanesque. Few do.

[Wurider05]

I hate to sound negative but there is no way in hell he wins defensive player of the year. His man on man defense is horrible. It is so bad that he will need 2 seasons to get it right. Players that play good defensive usually have high BBIQ's. Smith has a long way to go. I don't think that he has the heart or the discipline to do it. I would love to see him do it. Whinning to the ref definitely doesn't help the cause..

Defensive Players of the Year

2008-09 Dwight Howard Orlando

2007-08 Kevin Garnett Boston

2006-07 Marcus Camby Denver

2005-06 Ben Wallace Detroit

2004-05 Ben Wallace Detroit

2003-04 Ron Artest Indiana

2002-03 Ben Wallace Detroit

2001-02 Ben Wallace Detroit

2000-01 Dikembe Mutombo Philadelphia-Atlanta

1999-00 Alonzo Mourning Miami

1998-99 Alonzo Mourning Miami

1997-98 Dikembe Mutombo Atlanta

1996-97 Dikembe Mutombo Atlanta

1995-96 Gary Payton Seattle

1994-95 Dikembe Mutombo Denver

1993-94 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston

1992-93 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston

1991-92 David Robinson San Antonio

1990-91 Dennis Rodman Detroit

1989-90 Dennis Rodman Detroit

1988-89 Mark Eaton Utah

1987-88 Michael Jordan Chicago

1986-87 Michael Cooper Los Angeles Lakers

1985-86 Alvin Robertson San Antonio

1984-85 Mark Eaton Utah

1983-84 Sidney Moncrief Milwaukee

1982-83 Sidney Moncrief Milwaukee

Where the hell is Shaq on this list???

Edited October 20, 2009 by Wurider05

[MaceCase]

That's a fine list until you see Camby thrown in there. He is and has always been a terrible man on man defender and did all his damage on help defense situations on a team that mostly just escorted players into the paint. His rebounding didn't hurt his cause though... *sigh* I guess Smoove's ceiling and best chance at a DPOY is actually emulating Camby as his closest comparison on that list.

Cambs barely beat out Smoove that year too in total blocks and blocks per game.

[niremetal]

Chris Paul and Eddie Gill also had virtually identical measurements. Just sayin'.

Edited October 20, 2009 by niremetal

[Buzzard]

I hate to sound negative but there is no way in hell he wins defensive player of the year. His man on man defense is horrible. It is so bad that he will need 2 seasons to get it right. Players that play good defensive usually have high BBIQ's. Smith has a long way to go. I don't think that he has the heart or the discipline to do it. I would love to see him do it. Whinning to the ref definitely doesn't help the cause..

Defensive Players of the Year

2008-09 Dwight Howard Orlando

2007-08 Kevin Garnett Boston

2006-07 Marcus Camby Denver

2005-06 Ben Wallace Detroit

2004-05 Ben Wallace Detroit

2003-04 Ron Artest Indiana

2002-03 Ben Wallace Detroit

2001-02 Ben Wallace Detroit

2000-01 Dikembe Mutombo Philadelphia-Atlanta

1999-00 Alonzo Mourning Miami

1998-99 Alonzo Mourning Miami

1997-98 Dikembe Mutombo Atlanta

1996-97 Dikembe Mutombo Atlanta

1995-96 Gary Payton Seattle

1994-95 Dikembe Mutombo Denver

1993-94 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston

1992-93 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston

1991-92 David Robinson San Antonio

1990-91 Dennis Rodman Detroit

1989-90 Dennis Rodman Detroit

1988-89 Mark Eaton Utah

1987-88 Michael Jordan Chicago

1986-87 Michael Cooper Los Angeles Lakers

1985-86 Alvin Robertson San Antonio

1984-85 Mark Eaton Utah

1983-84 Sidney Moncrief Milwaukee

1982-83 Sidney Moncrief Milwaukee

Where the hell is Shaq on this list???

Not defensive player of the year. Smoove wants to be on the all defensive team. Little goals 1st then maybe the big fish....

[AUhawksfan]

The only things keeping him from a all defensive team mention is his shot selection and rebounding. Dumb players are not even considered for a honor like that (you ever see Rodman, Big Ben, or Deke shooting threes) and his rebounding needs to get to around 9 a game.

He has the ability and the potential to easily do this. Now he just needs to set his mind to it.

Actually I do recall a game back in the day where Rodman drained some 3s on us with the Bulls. I get your point though, just sayin.....

[Buzzard]

Actually I do recall a game back in the day where Rodman drained some 3s on us with the Bulls. I get your point though, just sayin.....

Yes. For some reason Rodman shot 174 threes in his last two seasons at Detroit. After that he never took more than 27 3pt shots in a season.