ATrain wrote:

earthmansurfer wrote:He sure seemed like a team guy out there tonight. It was nice to have him there when the offense wasn't working. He easily can create for himself, on drives and anything else. He played great defense as well, at least from what I saw.

Now, how do we find the free cap space to keep him? How much you think someone will offer him? If Stat continues this bad play (-18 tonight) we have to try to move him.

edit - Doesn't the new CBA have a restructuring provision? Maybe we can find some space...

Can we somehow get rid of TD?

We picked up Td's option for next year. Why I don't know. Waste of cap space

martin wrote:Why is no one bringing up JR's hairline thingy? LOL

I thought he had brain surgery back in China. Seems to have worked he didn't play out of control and made some nice passes!

Although Smith has had trouble over the years — including suspensions, traffic accidents and friction with coaches and teammates — he said his China experience changed him.

“I think I’ve evolved better as a person, more than as a basketball player, when I went over there,” Smith said.

He added: “It’s a clean slate for me. I’m not the same 18-year-old kid that I was eight years ago. I’m a grown man, 26 years old and ready to make big decisions for my life and make the best decisions for my teammates.”

Mray20 wrote:JR is Sprewell reincarnated and he even wears #8

This makes me want to cry. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Almost as bad as kissing archibundo's buttocks...

It's only one game, but dishing the ball to the Superook for threes? Playing D?

Please tell me he wasn't in the aftergame prayer huddle, or I'm going to throw up eating this much delicious crow.

jrodmc wrote:

Mray20 wrote:JR is Sprewell reincarnated and he even wears #8

This makes me want to cry. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Almost as bad as kissing archibundo's buttocks...

It's only one game, but dishing the ball to the Superook for threes? Playing D?

Please tell me he wasn't in the aftergame prayer huddle, or I'm going to throw up eating this much delicious crow.

Just glad he's doing it. Still took some ill advised shots. I forgot how fast Smith was. Between him and Shumpert we have a lot of quickness coming off the bench. This team is starting to have a real attitude.

loweyecue wrote:

Uptown wrote:

TheGame wrote:I will have to admit that Smith looked better than I thought. If he buys into team ball, he really upgrades out sg position. I think we really have the most talented roster in the league right now.

Imagine that. Wasn't too long ago when most was still crying about stripping our team to bring in Melo. Now, as we stand, not only are we way more talented than last years team, but we have just as much talent as the best in the league. Wow, what a difference a week makes....

You mean what a difference a Point Guard makes, right?

Week = coming out party for Lin...We are fun to watch again.

TheGame wrote:I will have to admit that Smith looked better than I thought. If he buys into team ball, he really upgrades out sg position. I think we really have the most talented roster in the league right now.

Indeed, I know it is only one game but talent was never the question. With Novak and Smith, spreading the floor on each side, they can really space the floor with Lin's penetration.
He looks far from the player he has been known to be in the past, maybe China + his maturity is kicking being drafted out of high school.
He can also penetrate, while he is a lethal shooter. He doesn't look like a player looking to be a "stat whore" and is willing to play team ball.
Again, I know its only one game, but if he is willing to play team basketball, he surely is pure steal for that money/contract. He is worth at least 5-8m with his talents and age.
If he plays with this mind set, he is a great addition, while he will certainly be capable of getting a better contract in the summer from a team.
Question is, if he would really not opt out of his player option, for the chance to get the early bird rights, in another year to stay long term in New York.
With Lin's production, the free advertisements, constant highlights, and media attention in New York are multiplied by 10.

Fields and Iman Shumpert both can contribute but neither has the ability to hit the wide open 3point shot that Smith has.
My worry was Smith would be immature and be talent vs chemistry, but it doesn't look to be the case with his play yesterday.
Fields and Iman both play team basketball, while they have both contributed in areas this year, they will both lose minutes to Smith.
This would probably be the end of Walker and Bibby's minutes, except for garbage time.

sealy wrote:I didn't want him, but he definitely made it a point to play team ball yesterday and he is a sick offensive player that adds another dynamic to this team. My favorite play was his PnR pass to Chandler for the dunk. Hope he keeps it up.

dude played some nice D too.