Wrong JR. The right one is in the draft. If you're willing to give a player a second chance, you're still better off with one who claims he has changed enough to deserve one.
http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97937
in 19.2 mpg !!!
Ranks #9 in the NBA in Field-Goal Attempts Per 48 Minutes(22.77)
Ranks #13 in the NBA in Field Goals Per 48 Minutes(10.51)
Ranks #1 in the NBA in Three-Point Field Goals Per 48 Minutes(5.3)
Ranks #7 in the NBA in Points Per 48 Minutes(30.6)
Ranks #27 in the NBA in Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage(0.403)
Ranks #16 in the NBA in Three-Point Field Goals Made(157.0)
Ranks #19 in the NBA in Three-Point Field Goal Attempts(390.0)
Amazing to think he was #9 in the nba in FG attempts per 48 min playing alongside Melo and Iverson! Maybe on that team you consider shooting every time you touch the ball for fear that you won't get to touch it again for quite a while...
Here are some comparisons with regard to his scoring ability:
JR: averaged 12.3 ppg, playing 19.2 mpg
Azubuike: 8.5 ppg/ 21.4 mpg
Pietrus: 7.2 ppg/ 19.9 mpg
Roger Mason: 9.1 ppg/ 21.4 mpg
Brent Barry: 7.1 ppg/ 17.9 mpg
Not to be too much of a downer, but in past seasons we've been fantasizing about landing a Kidd, a Webber, maybe J O'Neal or someone like that. Now the best scenario out there for SA is landing this kid? Sigh...
2nd-best scenario for SA: Manu stays home this summer and rests.
Good arguments on Smith's side!
I think I was focusing too much on the negatives of JR Smith. After some careful consideration of some of the arguments made in this thread and the positives a guy like Smith could bring I've changed my thinking somewhat.
Those numbers listed above are impressive offensive stats for JR I must admit and surprised me, seeing those. He is defenitely not shy about jacking up
the 3-ball. If he can hit em at a 40% clip in the Nuggets' helter skelter offense that's pretty damn decent, although I still think he thrives in that type of offense. Be interesting to see how he performs in a more halfcourt oriented offense.
Of course he would run the break with Parker just like he did with Iverson and get a fair # of easy buckets. And he gives TP a solid trailer for those times TP running full throttle gets himself into trouble and needs a bail.
As mentioned above he does address the scoring droughts the spurs experienced. And he helps give Manu some rest from having to carry so much burden of scoring. I'm sure Manu wouldn't mind that at all.
A defenite concern of mine...IF our major signing is JR Smith to solidify shooting guard, that leaves Bowen and Udoka splitting the time at small forward this year I hope its enough. Problem being Boris Diaw and soon to be "small" forward Lamar Odom. Those matchups will be trouble, given both their size advantage.
Everything I read about Smith has red flags all over it. If he pissed no rules Karl off that much, think how fast he'd wind up in Pop's doghouse.
The "wildcard" type of players seem to do pretty well in the Spurs system. Smith getting mentored by the veterans on this team could be good for him.
My guess is that Pop & Co. aren't going to want to risk too much $$$ on him so if he agrees to come here it will probably be for limited bank. Him simply agreeing to play for a guy like Pop for not a ton of cash would say a lot to me about his character, despite what Karl and others say about him.
It may help in the recruitment process that the Spurs tried to deal for him before.
I keep thinking that those people that are saying that Spurs will not want to deal with "a player like J.R." or that Pop will tire quickly of him need to remind themselves of this very thing. The Spurs have tried to get him (I believe twice already) in the past - and if anything J.R. Smith's behavior has improved since that time.
Yeah but that was back when the Spurs had like 16 million dollars of caproom to land those guys. The Spurs do not have that luxury this offseason.
We can't tell about Smith until he gets out of Denver & away from Thug, Melo and Camby and Martin. Two ball hogs and some Rucker League shot blockers. I would think Karl would gladly work out a sign and trade for an expiring contract. A Matt Bonner or Vaughn and a conditional future draft choice might make it happen. Karl needs stability---Smith needs an orderly environment to develop in.
Karl needs stability. Denver needs tax relief.
the major question is, is he a good defender?
he wasnt asked to do much defense in Denver but is he capable of playing good solid man to man defense?
can finley defend? think about it, for a large part of the season, finley couldn't score or defend. that's why we went through so many scoring droughts during games. i'll take a few defensive lapses here and there for a player that can score the ball. our defense will always be fine...we need help on offense in a major way.
i agree, but playing defense would be a big plus in the eyes of Pop. if he needs to take 12+ shots a game to score 15 points them im sure the Spurs wont go for it.if he can play solid defense im sure the spurs would be more than willing to invest in a decent defender who can score.
I can't imagine that a guy as gifted as him in terms of athletic ability wouldn't be able to play the athletic aspect of defense. It's whether he can play the mental part of it. Finley wasn't capable of either the mental or athletic, so J.R. should/would be an upgrade.
I'd vote for that...although as others have alluded to, that's not likely to happen.
Smith can score 20+ points every 4th or 5th game however he plays no D.
Couldn't agree more. I know there are a lot of fans who have love for Finley and he's been a good pro, but at this point in his career, he was unable to provide the contributions this team needed on a night-to-night basis. He brought so little else to the table, that if he wasn't hitting his outside shot, he was useless.
That said, I could live with Smith's development in other areas, because the one thing he can do is score...and in a variety of ways.
IMO, it is much easier to teach defense than offense. i'll take average d from a guy that can score the ball.
What was it exactly that killed the Smith for B. Barry deal? Did one team get cold feet, or was it some numbers/contract snag?
In a way, JR Smith's situation is similar to that of Josh Smith's a year or two ago-- athletic talent who seems to be a bit of a head case. Josh seems to have turned the corner and now it looks like Atlanta will definitely try to keep him. Josh likes to play defense, though. That could be the difference.
IIRC, the trade was agreed upon when the deadline just passed.
The Spurs and Hornets needed a 3rd team to be involved. The Hawks could've been, but responded too late.
IF we get J.R., does that mean Vaughn stays? With another scorer in J.R. Jacque uselessness on offense would not be as detrimental
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