Atlanta Hawk To Play With USA National Team

The USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo annouced today that the Hawks´, Josh Smith, is one of 25 players given invitations to participate in this year´s USA Basketball Men´s National Team mini-camp.

As a Hawks fan this excites because Smith could use the work. He had a decline this year in both points and blocks per game. His rebounding stayed about the same as did his assists. He improved on his turnovers and stayed out foul trouble.

Smith is a guy who can energize his team and the crowd at the snap of a finger, but the extra minutes he got on the court this season did not help his shooting.

His field-goal percentage was the best of his career at .492 (.457 in 07-08) but, after making strides from the free throw line in 2007-2008, he took a giant leap backwards by finishing the season at an atrocious .588.

In this year´s playoffs, his field-goal shooting went down from his regular season numbers and his free-throw shooting was much better.

However, if the Hawks want to continue to get to at least the second round, he needs to prove that he can be more than just a dunking-specialist, and energy guy threat.

When he participates with the USA Team, I want to see him try and develop a post move or off the ball, dribble and pull-up Smith. He rarely plays with his back to the basket, yet he is used in the power forward position at times. When is the power forward, he does make a good effort on the offensive glass, and helps give the Hawks second chance points.

His ball-handling skills need to improve also. I think that is another reason why his shooting is not always consistent from the outside.

Smith does not have a very smooth dribble and shoot motion, like Joe Johnson does. Most of the time, he shoots off of the pass. He needs to develop a move than he can do, create space, and then get the shot off.

Also, I think Smith should be used in pick-and-roll more. Give someone the ball you knows how to attack the defense on the pick-and-roll. All Smith needs just a little room in front and then he can takeoff to the moon. I mean, he is as fast as lightning and makes good decisions when he has some space ahead of him.

The Mini camp will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 22-25.

The head coach for the team will be the Toronto Raptors head coach Jay Triano, Utah Jazz assistant coach Tyrone Corbin, Detroit Pistons assistant Dave Cowens, and former New Orleans Hornets assistant Kenny Gattison.

Twenty-one of the 25 participants have prior USA Basketball team experience, not including Smith.

Smith has now had five full seasons in the NBA. I know he is only 23 years old, but his window of opportunity is getting smaller and smaller.

I like that he is taking advantage of a terrific opportunity to compete against high-level of competition, get some recognition, and work on his skills.

Also, another thing to think about, if Smith did excel at the mini-camp, his stock could go up, giving the Hawks could an opportunity to move Smith for a solid return.

Good luck Josh, I know you will make Atlanta proud.