Addressing the Problem

by axhfan on Jan 7, 2012 6:45 PM EST

Hello, my name is Axhfan. I'm a recovering Josh Smith fan.

At first I was caught up in the excitement of it all. The blocked shots, the stat stuffing, it all seemed so glamorous. Then I saw the flip side. The unenergetic lows, arguments with coaches and refs, and then... jump shots.

At first I ignored it, made excuses. People told me I should trade him away and I never listened. I knew he would mature. I knew he would grow into a consistent 20-10 combo forward. They didn't understand that he's still getting better.

Every time I was ready to give up hope Josh would do something spectacular, erasing any doubt. People told me he shouldn't take 3-pointers, then he took it out of his game completely. When he started shooting them again the following season, I said he had improved his J and now he was a deep threat.

Then the 3s stopped falling.

The 3s stopped falling, the long 2s stopped falling, and the post game dried up.

I'm finally ready to call it quits. I'm ready to give up on "Smoove". No longer will I suffer the hectic nature of a Josh Smith season. I'll leave that for the fantasy owners. It's time to trade him in for a better man. It's time for the steady relationship an Emeka Okafor would bring. Sure, he's not flashy, but he'd be enough for me.

But it has become clear. It's time to trade Josh Smith.

Poll

Should the Hawks trade Josh Smith?

Yes

24 votes

No

48 votes

72 votes | Poll has closed

A FanPost expresses the opinion of the community member who wrote it and not that of the blog management.

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Comments

Trade Josh Smith but Keep J Smoove

We’ve dealt with this his entire career. I don’t know, as a Hawks fan, you have to realize that we will not be getting anything around the same return value in a trade. Josh Smith is the ultimate second option. He can compliment great players so well it will appear that he himself is All-NBA worthy.

He has something that he hasn’t had in his entire career as an Atlanta Hawk: A point guard in Jeff Teague who can produce and create off the dribble and adequately pass and create for his teammates. Bibby and Hinrich did this to an extent but Teague adds another dimension with his speed and penetration. So because of this reason Why not wait till the seasons done to evaluate Josh Smith? You never know how a good point guard makes other people look.

Ron Artest = Ron (sm)Artest - He Is The Most Interesting Man In The World

by JoshChildressAfroIsCure4Cancer on Jan 8, 2012 11:43 AM EST reply actions

I think Jeff Teague could do a lot for this team

But no matter what, I think we’re always going to be subject to Josh Smith’s mood swings. I’m jst looking for a player I can count on. These last two games are just further evidence. He plays amazing after getting embarrassed for 6 games? I don’t want shame to be Smith’s only motivating factor.

by axhfan on Jan 8, 2012 12:29 PM EST up reply actions

Teague is definiately the difference this year

His speed and quickness and change games and changes how the hawks are able to play, then between Teague and Smoove’s natural athleticism compement each other. Having said this Teague has only been starting for 7 games his impact on the game could still grow. And not the make more excuses, it was a shortened pre-season perhaps Smoove is taking more time to get into the groove of things (As we have seen with Lion and JJ). I personally like Smoove and it shows but I believe he is our best option for defense and the best second option player we can possibly have

by Angelus on Jan 8, 2012 1:42 PM EST reply actions

Josh is a problem, but he's not the only problem

We all know what Good Josh brings to the table. And we all know what Bad Josh brings to the table.
The real problem has typically been a) bad coaching that allows him to continue doing some of the things he does and b) lack of a reliable back up to insert into the game when Bad Josh rears his ugly head.
Going back to last season……I’d say Bibby and Jamal’s lack of defense, Marvin’s disappearing acts, and the fact that the only back up power forward was Josh Powell all rank as bigger problems than Josh.
This season is a bit different know though.
Bibby, Jamal, and Josh Powell are all gone, and Marvin has been playing well(so far). Add that to the fact that the Hawks now have Vlad Rad and Ivan Johnson on the bench and we may no longer need to fear Bad Josh showing up as much as we used to.

We just have to accept the fact that Josh IS NOT going to become the consistent force we want so he needs to be surrounded with players that can pick up their level of play on his off nights.

Think about Lamar Odom when he was with the Lakers…….when he was firing on all cylinders the Lakers usually would win easily. But some nights he went missing and everyone else had to step up.
Since we finally have some decent players playing behind Josh, Larry Drew is going to have to be firm and quick to use the bench when Bad Josh shows up.
If he takes a long jumper early in the shot clock, then he needs to be benched.
If he tries to lead the break rather than giving the ball to a guard and running the floor, then he needs to be benched.
If he just looks completely disinterested, then he needs to be benched.
If he displays any Bad Josh characteristics, he needs to be benched.
Players respond when they realize their playing time is being affected.

It’s easy to get mad at Bad Josh and want him gone, but we can’t get equal trade value for what Good Josh brings to this team.
If any problem needs to be addressed it has to be the poor coaching that has allowed Josh to become what he has become.

by Ennis W on Jan 8, 2012 6:24 PM EST reply actions

Marvin is the biggest problem.... WHAT does he bring. We're obligated to play him because of his contract.

Josh Childress was better than him. Seriously, people do not realize how open Marvin is sometimes. I know Smith can play the 3 and fast break double down and get blocks and crash boards as a 3.

What is Marvin’s specialty? That can’t be replaced. Vladimir Radmanovic was a Lakers 3rd string PF iirc. Ivan Johnson got booted from Korea.

Good Smith Bad Smith. Whatever.

Tired of the small ball. When’s the last time there was Good Marvin? When’s the last time you said, I wish we had 2 Marvin Williams?

Because you can say that for ANY good player. 2 Josh Smith’s keep both or trade 1. Or trade both for something big.

What if we had 2 Marvin Williams?

* Hawks trade {Al Horford + protected 2nd rounder} for {Perimeter F Jon Leuer and C Andrew Bogut}

* Jeff Teague * Joe Johnson* Jon Leuer * Josh Smith * Andrew Bogut *

by PointGuardSlim on Jan 8, 2012 10:06 PM EST up reply actions

I get mad at him too but we need to trade Marvin not Josh...not yet

by Cmart34 on Jan 8, 2012 8:30 PM EST reply actions

No Keep Marvin

he only gets outperformed by tweeners like 31yo Vladimir Radmanovic rookies like Ivan Johnson and in the playoffs it was going big with Jason Collins.

With so many alternatives replacing him year in year out…Seriously he does more to hurt this team than people realize.

* Hawks trade {Al Horford + protected 2nd rounder} for {Perimeter F Jon Leuer and C Andrew Bogut}

* Jeff Teague * Joe Johnson* Jon Leuer * Josh Smith * Andrew Bogut *

by PointGuardSlim on Jan 8, 2012 10:01 PM EST up reply actions

Josh Smith for DeMarcus Cousins. One talented problem child for another could be a bonanza for either or both teams.

by D4 on Jan 9, 2012 12:53 PM EST reply actions

Except one is a proven high caliber producer and near All Star

and the other is Cousins. Sacramento would have to give more.

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by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 9, 2012 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

I would do this deal in a heartbeat. Cousins is as legit of a 7’0 as a 6’11 man ever will be. Consistent 20-10 center would be unbeliveable for this team.

I feel like SWAT right now..Colin Farrell GET AT ME! GET AT ME! LL Cool J GET AT ME!

by bwellnjonesco on Jan 11, 2012 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

We would need a veteran voice to calm Cousins down

Who would do that? Horford? Stackhouse? Would Larry Drew be the coach that can get Cousins under control? I wish I knew the answers to these questions

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Jan 11, 2012 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

Barkley said it the other night, we are a team with too many nice guys.

I feel like SWAT right now..Colin Farrell GET AT ME! GET AT ME! LL Cool J GET AT ME!

by bwellnjonesco on Jan 12, 2012 8:28 AM EST up reply actions

He's not a consistent 20-10 center, at least not yet if he ever will become one

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 11, 2012 9:35 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I may have exagerrated on that a tad. However, he’s probably one of the safest bets to become a 20-10 guy in the NBA (not saying THE safest bet). He will become more consistent when he gets his fouls under control and can play more minutes. Only in his second year and a 21 pt, 19 reb game last night. Averaging a double-double. He’s the guy that everyone wants DeAndre Jordan to be.

I feel like SWAT right now..Colin Farrell GET AT ME! GET AT ME! LL Cool J GET AT ME!

by bwellnjonesco on Jan 12, 2012 8:27 AM EST up reply actions

He also has the potential to be a huge problem attitude wise

and the devil you know (Josh) may be better than the devil you don’t (Cousins) attitude wise. Josh pouts and has his moody ways, but I get the impressions Cousins attitude problems are much more deviant than Josh’s.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 12, 2012 10:06 AM EST up reply actions

I’ll agree with that. He’s had a major issue at one point each of the past three years. I know Cousins isn’t coming here…the Kings fired their coach to keep him. I just like the idea of having a legit “tough” center on this team.

I feel like SWAT right now..Colin Farrell GET AT ME! GET AT ME! LL Cool J GET AT ME!

by bwellnjonesco on Jan 12, 2012 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

Warriors fan here (living in Atlanta, though)

I can tell you the grass is always greener on the other side. I’d say that Josh Smith is one of the most longed after players in the league by Warriors fans. I have endured countless “Trade Player X for Josh Smith” over the past couple of seasons. I don’t think we have anything you guys want, though.

Anyway, be happy. You’re off to a good start even with Smith and Johnson not shooting well. When they come around, you might be competing for the 3/4/5 spot in the East. That would look pretty good to me.

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by Evanz on Jan 9, 2012 1:44 PM EST reply actions