What would it take for you to play JS @ the 3?

[Guest]

It would literally take the death of every small forward and shooting guard that could be play small forward in the entire world for me to even consider putting him at small forward. In fact that would not even do it. There is no circumstance outside Jesus personally appearing and promising me that the Hawks will win every Finals for the next ten years if Smoove is put at small forward for me to agree to that decision. None of the above is hyperbole. Josh Smith can't shoot, at all, beyond fifteen feet nor can he defend any wing player we'd face. Putting him at small forward would be the same for me as the Hawks bringing back Tree Rollins and asking him to play point guard.

I was having lunch and nearly coked reading this...too funny. Forget shooting, on defense alone Josh would be eaten alive, he is too slow to close out on shooters, cannot navigate screens gets picked off, if he gets up close they blow by him, his reaction is just not good enough. When you talk about exquisitite footwork on offense that applies defensively, Josh has bad defensive posture and footwork there is no getting around it. He is a great help and weak side defender and inside defender, not on the perimeter. Spot minutes at the 3 is fine just not full time.

[ruhiel]

I think its interesting how many top SFs in the East have proven they struggle guarding Josh Smith over the years. Carmelo, Pierce, Deng, Granger.I think we should have have had at lease one ECF by now if we had a semi-decent PF/C to go with Al (PF/C) and Josh (SF/PF).http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBP9L6G5Sm0People are focused on who can guard whom. But sometimes the best way to "guard" somebody is to go right at them on offense, bang with them on the boards and physically wear them out.

[ruhiel]

Meant to post this as well.Is there any doubt that replacing Marvin with Zaza on the injured list last playoffs would have gotten us past Boston?Teague vs RondoJoe vs BradleyJosh vs PierceHorf vs BassZaza vs KG--Pargo vs DoolingHinrich + marv vs Allenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biEFVQoLmPYWhat it would take would be the right matchups. Slow SFs vs Josh.IE Boston or NY or Indiana. I also think Philly if he can post up Turner or Young and attack them into foul trouble then we're halfway home.Josh, has been proven time and again to have no problem guarding SFs (when he's actually given the task of playing the 3, but most Hawks fans only want to remember the times where he was guarding a 3 and he got beaten off the dribble and instead of Horf and Zaza to stay in the paint you had only 1 big + Hinrich or Marvin).

[jy23]

Granger would be nice.

Rudy is better than granger

[Watchman]

I would probably play Smith at SF as we don't have any real SFs at the moment, and Smith at SF is better than Korver or Morrow (as they are pretty much just jump shooters). By playing Smith at SF, it will enable us to play Horford at PF, and then play a (hopefully) bigger player at center. We were too small with Josh at PF and Horford at C.

[coachx]

All Frye does is jack up 3s. No thanks.

and that is the offensive style you need at center ifJosh were to play SF and suddenly learn proper shot selection...............unless you actually like the madness of Josh chucking up perimeter shots at a 29% clip. However, I do agree that Frye is not good enough to be a starting at any position.

Yawn. With say Hawes whose shot diagrams display enough outside to compliment JS still posting up (much smaller 3s), I think JS at the 3 would work in spades. http://vorped.com/bb...2-Spencer-Hawes He could play the high post setting up more cuts for JS by drawing up the opposing center. He could step out allowing for more post-ups for JS. JS is going to shoot 3s whether he's at the 3 or 4 unless a coach shuts it down. The position doesn't change that. Perhaps he does that because otherwise at the 4 he's posting up people 2" taller, a legit (not baby fat) 30 lbs heavier, who've been playing the post all their lives. ... If you don't like JS at the 3 that's OK. Still, there may not be a better means to step up this team by also moving Horford to the 4 or giving us more size at the 4, than by finding the right 4 or 5 to justify JS at the 3. W

Great in theory..............but in reality will Josh Smith change his perimeter shot selection ? Edited August 31, 2012 by coachx

[coachx]

It would literally take the death of every small forward and shooting guard that could be play small forward in the entire world for me to even consider putting him at small forward. In fact that would not even do it. There is no circumstance outside Jesus personally appearing and promising me that the Hawks will win every Finals for the next ten years if Smoove is put at small forward for me to agree to that decision. None of the above is hyperbole. Josh Smith can't shoot, at all, beyond fifteen feet nor can he defend any wing player we'd face. Putting him at small forward would be the same for me as the Hawks bringing back Tree Rollins and asking him to play point guard.

This ! and I don't think its funny.......sounded heart felt to me ;)

[Sothron]

This !

and I don't think its funny.......sounded heart felt to me

Thanks. And while I did try to be a little funny it is actually how I feel. I'd rather be covered in ticks than see Josh Smith play 3.

[Robdawg]

In a very sarcastic & lighthearted response to the question....

this an example of the bag of chips I personally received (jk lol) from friend and fellow user ATLscrub after Marvin was traded for Devin Harris. I wanted Marvin gone for one bag but lets just say for someone to convince me that Smoove is a viable option at the three you'd have to give me about 50.

[ruhiel]

Thanks. And while I did try to be a little funny it is actually how I feel. I'd rather be covered in ticks than see Josh Smith play 3.

Confucius say: you want to stay away from that girl you've been admiring from afar. But seriously? That's kind of a reckless statement. Not many Hawks fans can recall that Josh Smith played the 3 last year. And we won. Can any of the naysayers actually name the games he played the 3 last season? Because he lost some weight and showed some improvement this year at both positions. Or are you just still scarred by the early years. Edited September 1, 2012 by ruhiel