frankthetank966 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 (edited) It's clear that Josh Smith has stepped up his game and is playing his best basketball since joining the NBA. He's asserted himself as a playmaker, defender, scorer and leader. He appears poised to carry this team on his shoulders. So what took so long? It was evident Josh Smith always had talent and potential to be an elite player in the league. This year he's proved he is one of the perinial players at his position. Did bringing in Al Horford slow down the growth of J Smoove? Perhaps it did. With Al, Josh wasn't exactly being pushed to perform at his peak. Having Horford on the court allowed J Smoove to go through the motions, act lackadasical on the court at times, and make ill-advised moves because Josh could lean on Horford. As much as I love Horford, he doesn't have a fit on this team. Horford isn't a true center and should be playing PF. That being said, Horford should be shopped and not Josh. Kind of interesting how the tides have turned... Edited February 11, 2012 by frankthetank966 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 No, but both do not really fit offensively. Defensively, Horford helps Smith and vice versa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Diesel Posted February 11, 2012 Premium Member Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 I would have to say... A little. Horf is a guy who doesn't demand much, but he took a lot. He is the self proclaimed lockerroom leader of the Hawks. He came in to fill the need we have at C. Then he says he's a PF. Josh on the other hand is not consistent. One year, he's a tweener. One year he's a PF. One year he shoots no three. One year he shoots a three every 4th shot. The point is, as undeveloped as we are as a team as it comes to classical roles, we hindered Smoove's growth into a classical role. It's WOODY'S fault. He never defined his players on offense. Therefore, he left them to their own devices and then you have Bibby running the offense with LD's help. Bibby never cared about Smoove. Woody never cared about Smoove on offense. Smoove didn't recieve any guidance. Horf came in and took some of Smoove's classical roles. So now Smoove is what he is... complicated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Smith would be a tweener everywhere just like Al is basically noted as a PF everywhere. But that's besides the point. Both players are small, do not operate on the block, and both have a tendency to roll to the perimeter. Smith is more of a wild card in what he's going to do on offense, Horford is a PnR PF. On defense, Smith is a jack of trades type while Horford is noted as a positional and team defender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duff_Man Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Most of his numbers are down from last year and not even close to his best. So, no. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 The only person holding Josh Smith back is Josh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaceCase Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Most of his numbers are down from last year and not even close to his best. So, no. Exactly, I liken Josh to a Kobe game winner, people remember the makes but never the misses and extrapolate them to every instance of performance. When you look at the overall, Josh really hasn't improved at all in any statistical area outside of defensive rebounding which.....yea....you could say Al held him back there because having another top rebounder will eat into your rebound totals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willthepureshooter Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 I agree, Horfords arrival did hold back Joshs development from a minutes and offensive play standpoint. Before ALs arrival to the team Josh pretty much did it all for us. He was forced play multiple roles based on his dominant athletics and freakish game changing ability. And yes, it has hurt him to this day because he still thinks he has to do those things. When Horford arrived, Josh didn't know how to adapt when it came to sharing those roles with him. I blame a ton on Woody and his minions. Now it seems as though he's comfortable filling those multiple responsibilities since Horford went out. It's playing back to what he's always been--- a blue collar player. Josh enjoys having those multiple roles. It's his DNA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EAambassador Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 The only person holding Josh Smith back is Josh. I agree 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawksFan87 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Offensively ? Yes Josh is better without Al. Defensively? Not really. Now josh has a chance to show what he can do offensively when he actually has plays called for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High5 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Josh is averaging 16 points on 45% shooting since Horford went down. He has done better than that every year with Horford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benhillboy Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Smith would be a tweener everywhere just like Al is basically noted as a PF everywhere. But that's besides the point. Both players are small, do not operate on the block, and both have a tendency to roll to the perimeter. Smith is more of a wild card in what he's going to do on offense, Horford is a PnR PF. On defense, Smith is a jack of trades type while Horford is noted as a positional and team defender. Couldn't have said it better. To answer the question, no. I would like to see, next year of course, optimum passing between the two in the interior. Early in Al's career, they and Zaza did a nice job. Lately, too often Josh and Zaza try to finish in too much traffic when a wrap-around, hand-off, or a bounce to the big beside you could result in a higher percentage shot. Josh and Al should be around their career highs in assists all the time around 3.5-4 if they were a little more aware and unselfish under the basket, especially after offensive rebounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Josh is averaging 16 points on 45% shooting since Horford went down. He has done better than that every year with Horford. Exactly. I question whether anyone claiming Al held Josh back actually watches these games. Especially from the statistics, there is no evidence of Al holding back Josh. If anything Al was making Josh better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawksFan87 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Its called an opinion, just because you don't agree doesn't make anyone who feels differently wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plainview1981 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Josh has been the same. Just as erratic as ever. Nobody is responsible for Josh's inconstant play but himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plainview1981 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Josh has been the same. Just as erratic as ever. Nobody is responsible for Josh's inconstant play but himself. *Inconsistent* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrReality Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 Josh holds Josh back more than anyone or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackB1 Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 Al going out just showed what Josh can do when he applies himself. He's very lazy and won't do the dirty work unless forced to.. Josh's block and rebound numbers have been going down these last few years when they should be going up. Same reason Josh would rather stay outside and shoot jumpers rather than mix it up down low...lazy,lazy, lazy! Josh is unpredictable and STILL cannot be trusted with the ball in his hands at crucial points in the game and in the playoffs. Josh was the reason the Orlando game went into overtime in the first place. Bad shot decisions in the last 5 minutes allowed Orlando to stay close when we should have put them away. Who would you trust more to make the right play at crunch time, Smith or Horford? Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHawks89 Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 Al going out just showed what Josh can do when he applies himself. He's very lazy and won't do the dirty work unless forced to.. Josh's block and rebound numbers have been going down these last few years when they should be going up. Same reason Josh would rather stay outside and shoot jumpers rather than mix it up down low...lazy,lazy, lazy! Josh is unpredictable and STILL cannot be trusted with the ball in his hands at crucial points in the game and in the playoffs. Josh was the reason the Orlando game went into overtime in the first place. Bad shot decisions in the last 5 minutes allowed Orlando to stay close when we should have put them away. Who would you trust more to make the right play at crunch time, Smith or Horford? Exactly. What does this have to do with the thread title? It didn't say 'Bash Josh Smith Thread'. Lmao! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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