A Sekou Smith story about Salim

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By SEKOU SMITH

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 10/06/07

Salim Stoudamire is still smiling.

Four days into his third NBA training camp and he's still bouncing around the practice floor with the energy of a rookie.

Guard Salim Stoudamire looks to improve his 7.7-point scoring average and playing time from last season. 'I'm just trying to have fun this year,' Stoudamire said. 'With me having that positive outlook and having that fun, good things are going to happen.

Nothing's going to get in the way of Stoudamire's renewed outlook on life, both on and off the basketball court.

Not what is sure to be a nasty battle for backcourt minutes on a Hawks team suddenly loaded with options.

Not the fatigue that should accompany grueling three-hour-plus practice sessions.

And certainly not bigger teammates attempting to push Stoudamire around under the basket — his jaw-dropping block of a Josh Smith layup attempt in practice Friday serving as proof that Stoudamire's ready to make his case for a larger role with his actions and nothing else.

"I feel that it's going to happen," Stoudamire said of the increased role he seeks. "It might not happen at the beginning of the season, but I feel deep down that it will. All I can do is work as hard as I can and put the rest in the Most High's hands."

Stoudamire has been fabulous with the ball in his hands so far. He resembles the same Stoudamire that Hawks fans saw at the end of last season, when he averaged 16.2 points in the final nine games, making 52 percent of his shots from the floor and 49 percent of his 3-pointers when the Hawks' roster was decimated by injuries.

He finished his second season with a 7.7-point scoring average in 17 minutes per game, scoring in double figures 18 times, including four 20-point outings and one 30-point showing.

But his attitude and perceived defensive deficiencies led to his being left out of the regular playing rotation for much of the season.

With the Hawks set to play more up-tempo this season, and Stoudamire's meticulous attention to defensive detail so far, a repeat of his roller-coaster sophomore season doesn't seem possible.

"He's always come and given the effort when camp rolls around; nobody has ever questioned his effort," Hawks assistant coach Larry Drew said. "The big thing with Salim is how would he handle certain situations with his attitude. But he seems to be in a different place in his life right now. He seems to be more focused, and it doesn't seem he lets the small things bother him any more."

Hawks coach Mike Woodson has praised Stoudamire after each practice, and his teammates have noticed, too.

"It's hard to play with all that anger built up," Tyronn Lue said. "You can't do anything well when you're mad. Salim knows that, and you can see that he's made that change for himself. So now all you have to focus on is the fact that he's in great shape, playing great basketball and just playing the way he's capable of playing.

You still wonder, though, if any of this will translate into a bigger role for Stoudamire once the regular season starts? And if it doesn't, does he maintain the cool demeanor everyone sees now?

"I'm just trying to have fun this year," Stoudamire said. "With me having that positive outlook and having that fun, good things are going to happen. The knock on me has been my attitude and my defense. But I was voted the best defensive player on the team for three years. So I know it's just a matter of me sacrificing thinking about this stuff all the time and just focusing on the right things.

"And that's being patient, concentrating on the opportunities when they're presented and being efficient on both ends of the floor."

[TheNorthCydeRises]

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And certainly not bigger teammates attempting to push Stoudamire around under the basket —

his jaw-dropping block of a Josh Smith layup attempt in practice Friday

serving as proof that Stoudamire's ready to make his case for a larger role with his actions and nothing else.

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I can only imagine the comments that would've been thrown around, had Salim blocked Marvin's layup attempt.

[pimp]

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And certainly not bigger teammates attempting to push Stoudamire around under the basket —

his jaw-dropping block of a Josh Smith layup attempt in practice Friday

serving as proof that Stoudamire's ready to make his case for a larger role with his actions and nothing else.

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I can only imagine the comments that would've been thrown around, had Salim blocked Marvin's layup attempt.

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Marvin gets his shot blocked all the time.So no one would

been suprised.

[Swatguy]

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And certainly not bigger teammates attempting to push Stoudamire around under the basket —

his jaw-dropping block of a Josh Smith layup attempt in practice Friday

serving as proof that Stoudamire's ready to make his case for a larger role with his actions and nothing else.

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I can only imagine the comments that would've been thrown around, had Salim blocked Marvin's layup attempt.

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Marvin gets his shot blocked all the time.So no one would

been suprised.

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[dakast]

I've never been a big fan of Salim Stoudamire. I always thought of him as an undersized shooting guard....but if he can help us win some games i'll be happy.

[DrReality]

I'd like to see him succeed for his own sake. But if he does, he gives us more options on the court and in trades. He was knows at tempermental in college. Maybe he's grown up some and ready to take it to the next level. Have always thought he was more of a West coast type player though.

[Diesel]

Here's what I believe our depth chart should look like:

Speedy/Law/Lue*/Aj*

JJ/Salim

Smoove/JChillz/Marvin*

Horford/Solo

Zaza/Shelden/Lo*

I think that we have tradable assets with every starred player.

I also think that Salim would be a good BU for JJ simply because he brings a different pace to the game. Not that he's fast, but if we run Law/Salim/Chillz... I think we have part of a 2nd squad that could work together.

What should we do with the others... I Say we get a big.

I've heard Bynum.

However, I wonder what guys like Petro, Kaman, Hawes, and Kristic might be going for these days?

[Nicholasp27]

a) smoove is pf

b) we have smoove/horford/zaza/shelden/solo...we don't need a big

in fact, we don't need anyone...we need to get out there and play some games and see how the team is going and who fits and who doesn't and then make moves later on, when we have more info

no reason to make any moves right now

[Diesel]

Smoove does not play like a PF.

There's no need to rehash the argument, however, if you play Smoove as the PF, you will have NO inside presence offensively. We will become a team that is dependent on a 47% shooting Center for our inside game who only rebounds 6.9 rpg in about 28 minutes played. In other words, we will live and die by our ability to make the outside shot.

[lunar]

salim is a specialist right now but i always wanted him to earn his way into the rotation. that three point shot would be deadly in connection with a shot fake and drive. if he could spell joe for 8-10 mins a game and allow childress to be a SF (which he is alot better at), then he'll hae a place on this team.