Josh Smith’s debut is a success in Rockets win
The Houston Rockets’ decision to add Josh Smith earlier this week earned mixed reviews. While Smith has had an impressive career as a whole, his tendency to take ill-advised three-pointers and eschew his strengths in the paint — a particular problem prior to his release from the Detroit Pistons — has made him significantly less valuable than the player who should have made at least one All-Star team as an Atlanta Hawk. The Rockets could use a high-quality power forward, but they also don’t need one who is going to shoot 39.1 percent from the field and 24.3 percent from deep.
A single game can’t alleviate all doubt, but Smith’s Rockets debut on Friday night vs. the Memphis Grizzlies should help ease some minds. Coming off the bench for 32 minutes in a 117-111 overtime win, Smith didn’t shoot especially well (9-of-21 FG, 0-of-2 3FG). However, he attacked the basket with regularity and helped give the offense another interior option on a night when big men Dwight Howard and Donatas Motiejunas managed just eight field goal attempts against the vaunted Memphis defense. Smith finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, but the highlights help explain his activity and presence more fully:
It’s entirely possible that Smith will fall deeper into his worst habits on a team that encourages its players to take three-pointers. At his best, though, he’s an ideal offensive x-factor with defensive versatility that any team would crave. The Rockets might not know which version of the player they’ll get from night to night, but the potential is there for big-time success.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
