Re: Around the NBA - 23-24 Other playoff series
Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2024 8:12 pm
Clippers better without Kawhi as Suns would have done better against Mavs in '22 without CP3 after Gm2.
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sunsbg wrote:Mavs almost pulled a win after being down 31 in first half. That series is living up to the expectations.
Qwigglez wrote:Pelicans got swept, and Lakers are out after Jamal Murray hits another game winner. Makes me feel slightly better.
Revived wrote:Tyrese Maxey was drafted 21st in the 2020 NBA draft….same draft where James Jones selected Jalen Smith over Tyrese Haliburton also.
Is first-round pick Jalen Smith best suited to play for Phoenix Suns?
Duane Rankin
Arizona Republic
Drafting Jalen Smith wasn't on a whim for the Phoenix Suns.
"We don't go into it just drafting their talent, we go into it drafting what we believe fits what we do," Suns coach Monty Williams said.
Bleacher Report seems to think it wasn't the right pick for Smith, though.
Jonathan Wasserman wrote the Maryland big man is one of five first-round picks with the wrong team with the other four being Kentucky's Immanuel Quickley (25th overall, New York Knicks), Auburn's Isaac Okoro (5th overall, Cleveland Cavaliers), Florida State's Patrick Williams (4th overall, Chicago Bulls) and Kansas' Udoka Azubuike (27th overall, Utah Jazz).
"What's the plan for Jalen Smith in Phoenix?," Wasserman wrote. "The Suns must believe he's suited to play the 4 next to Deandre Ayton. Or they were fine drafting a backup center at No. 10 overall."
Smith doesn't see sharing the court with Ayton or Dario Saric being a problem.
Maryland forward Jalen Smith (25) stands on the court during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan, Sunday, March 8, 2020, in College Park, Md. Maryland won 83-70. (AP Photo/Nick Wass).
"I feel as though I'll fit well," Smith said Saturday after Phoenix's first full practice. "I've always played with a dominant big next to me at every level and I was able to adjust accordingly. Be able to just feed off of that."
As a freshman at Maryland, Smith played with Bruno Fernando, who is entering his second NBA season with the Atlanta Hawks. He acknowledged the challenge of now playing in the NBA with all new teammates and coaches, but sounds up for it.
"Pretty much just going onto the court, it's not playing that position, but just doing what your team needs you to do to get that win," Smith added.
Wasserman believes Smith being drafted as a "stretch 5" by Washington (9th overall pick), San Antonio (11th overall pick) or Sacramento (12th overall pick) could've led to an eventual starting role.
With Phoenix, Wasserman says Smith will play out of position or "have a limited bench role."
This is the latest of bad draft evaluations for the Suns as USA TODAY gave Phoenix an F grade. It's the only failing grade USA TODAY gave to an NBA team.
"What were the Suns doing in this draft?" wrote Scott Gleeson. "After making a big move to acquire Chris Paul, there were plenty of roster voids. The frontcourt wasn’t necessarily one of those holes, however, so drafting forward Jalen Smith at No. 10 —when there were several more talented pieces out there — makes little sense."
FILE - In this march 3, 2020, file photo, Maryland's Jalen Smith (25) dunks as Rutgers' Myles Johnson (15) watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Piscataway, N.J. Jalen Smith was selected to the Associated Press All-Big Ten team selected Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File).
This was before Phoenix added perimeter free agents Jae Crowder, E'Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway and re-signed guard Jevon Carter, but Wasserman, like Gleeson, isn't buying the drafting of Smith.
Smith is in his first full week of practicing in Phoenix as the Suns had their first full practice Saturday after having individual workouts earlier in the week.
"It was exciting," Smith said. "Coming into it, calming yourself down for your first practice. That's probably the first time I've played with so many people in months, but overall, it was good. I got to get some run in. Got to learn some things from the guys. Pretty much, it was just a learning day."
He's certainly in a learning and adjustment phase right now.
Smith hasn't played in a format like that since March when the 2019-20 college basketball season abruptly ended with the COVID-19 pandemic.
He's not using that extended time gap as an excuse.
"I'm a competitive person," Smith said. "I take pride in my effort and my intensity and pretty much, it was getting right back to it. It didn't take a while to adjust. I got the hang of everything and I got the flow of everything. I was just moving from there."
MORE:Disciplined, driven Jalen Smith ready to make impact for Phoenix Suns
Feb 18, 2020; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Jalen Smith (25) dribbles as Northwestern Wildcats center Ryan Young (15) defends during the second half at XFINITY Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Wasserman contends Smith "makes more sense at the 5 than power forward," especially if playing alongside Ayton. He said neither Ayton or Smith make plays off the bounce, noting that Smith totaled 54 assists in 64 career games in college.
Ayton is averaging 1.8 assists in his two NBA seasons. That number will likely drop with the addition of All-Star veteran point guard Chris Paul. Suns General Manager James Jones has said he wants to see Ayton and Smith on the floor together "for stints."
So expect Ayton and Smith to do that at some point. The re-signing of Dario Saric gives Phoenix flexibility there. Saric showed in Phoenix's 8-0 bubble run he can play the five.
Then Cam Johnson started at the four in the bubble. The Suns have options, but Wasserman can't see playing Smith and Ayton playing inside at the same time in pat because Ayton is "one of the most-used post players in the NBA."
The Suns are looking at Smith's ability to play pick-and-pop and knock down the 3. Smith hit 36.8% of his 3s last season.
Feb 18, 2020; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Jalen Smith (25) celebrates with Maryland Terrapins guard Anthony Cowan Jr. (1) aftertastes making a three point shot during the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at XFINITY Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Smith hasn't shown the ability to create plays off the dribble, but with Paul and Devin Booker, he won't have to do that and can simply set a screen and step back for a 3.
Ayton spoke so confidently Thursday about the additions and changes he's made to his game, it makes one wonder how the Suns will utilize him. He started shooting the 3 in the bubble. So that's going to continue, but how Ayton plays will help determine where Smith will fit.
Wasserman still has doubts.
"If the Suns plan to use both bigs together, Smith will operate almost exclusively as a catch-and-shoot player, but one who won't be a big threat to make plays attacking closeouts," he wrote. "He recorded one field goal all season off a drive from spot-up position, per Synergy Sports."
Wasserman questions how Smith and Ayton will defend "smaller, faster lineups" considering Smith is more a shot blocked than a perimeter defender. Smith averaged 2.4 blocks last season, but if any of the two would guard a perimeter player, it's Ayton.
Jan 26, 2020; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) guards Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
The Suns starting center has shown early in his career the ability to stay in front of guards on switches. Ayton also averaged 1.5 blocks last season.
So Ayton can protect the rim, but it'd be interesting to see him guarding a smaller, quicker player for more than just a play or two in the half court or keep up with one in transition.
While small ball will remain in the league, Jones sees how the Los Angeles Lakers played two bigs together with Anthony Davis at the four and Dwight Howard or JaVale McGee at the 5 and won the 2020 NBA title in the bubble.
Having LeBron James plays a major role in that functioning, but having two big men sharing the court, especially if one is as skilled and versatile as Davis, can work.
Phoenix may see Smith and Ayton bringing that same dynamic.
Enough people have questioned the selection of Smith to make one believe Phoenix may have better off selecting someone else.
The draft isn't an exact science, but if Smith's approach of doing whatever the team needs him to do to win holds true, he has the mental approach and physical talents to make it work.
Revived wrote:Tyrese Maxey was drafted 21st in the 2020 NBA draft….same draft where James Jones selected Jalen Smith over Tyrese Haliburton also.
garrick wrote:Maxey putting on a clinic.
If only JJ weren't such an idiot to pass on two star point guards in the draft....
Ghost of Kleine wrote:garrick wrote:Maxey putting on a clinic.
If only JJ weren't such an idiot to pass on two star point guards in the draft....
Remember, he himself said he doesn't value the draft and would've passed on Booker because the draft is basically a gamble that you might miss on! Well guess what!! ....................................... You miss out on 100%n of the opportunities that you don't pursue. Surrendering that value to others who actually cared or at least tried somewhat. One of the many reasons he has to go! And it's egregious how he coasts by doing the absolute minimum and getting pass after pass from some fans (to our detriment) while getting to keep staying on.
garrick wrote:Ghost of Kleine wrote:garrick wrote:Maxey putting on a clinic.
If only JJ weren't such an idiot to pass on two star point guards in the draft....
Remember, he himself said he doesn't value the draft and would've passed on Booker because the draft is basically a gamble that you might miss on! Well guess what!! ....................................... You miss out on 100%n of the opportunities that you don't pursue. Surrendering that value to others who actually cared or at least tried somewhat. One of the many reasons he has to go! And it's egregious how he coasts by doing the absolute minimum and getting pass after pass from some fans (to our detriment) while getting to keep staying on.
Yeah he's pretty horrible but it looks like he has Ishbia's ear so his position is safe!
As bad as JJ has been I think pairing him with Ishbia is worse because it doesn't look like he counters any of Ishbia's bad ideas and he just doesn't care enough to quit when he sees the bad basketball decisions being made.
He's just happy to be cashing in a fat paycheck and continue to just mail it in year after year.
garrick wrote:Ghost of Kleine wrote:garrick wrote:Maxey putting on a clinic.
If only JJ weren't such an idiot to pass on two star point guards in the draft....
Remember, he himself said he doesn't value the draft and would've passed on Booker because the draft is basically a gamble that you might miss on! Well guess what!! ....................................... You miss out on 100%n of the opportunities that you don't pursue. Surrendering that value to others who actually cared or at least tried somewhat. One of the many reasons he has to go! And it's egregious how he coasts by doing the absolute minimum and getting pass after pass from some fans (to our detriment) while getting to keep staying on.
Yeah he's pretty horrible but it looks like he has Ishbia's ear so his position is safe!
As bad as JJ has been I think pairing him with Ishbia is worse because it doesn't look like he counters any of Ishbia's bad ideas and he just doesn't care enough to quit when he sees the bad basketball decisions being made.
He's just happy to be cashing in a fat paycheck and continue to just mail it in year after year.