5 Signs Josh Smith Is in for a Bounce-Back Season with the Atlanta Hawks
Josh Smith, power forward of the Atlanta Hawks, left the 2010-11 NBA playoffs a changed player.
He was tired of the boos emitting from the rafters of Phillips Arena, so he took the offseason to change his game.
He made a concerted effort at turning into the player that would fit head coach Larry Drew's scheme, while keeping the flashy style of play fans have grown to love.
Ahead are five reasons to be excited for Josh Smith's bounce-back season.
1. Smith Is Trimmer, Which Means He's Going To Dunk—Alot
1 of 5Atlanta Hawks power forward Josh Smith reportedly lost 25 pounds during the extended offseason.
As if Smith wasn't one of the most electric players in the NBA, a trimmer version of the athletic big man means more explosion off the floor and quicker feet.
He never has been expected to be the big body the Hawks need at the center position so extended time at the small forward position seems to be a logical conclusion.
Expect Smith to play a combo forward position with more time in the post and a stronger defensive effort against the league's top-tier forwards.
2. He's Willing To Play in the Post and Crash the Rim
2 of 5Josh Smith spent much of the 2009-10 NBA season inside but reverted back to old instincts in 2010-11 and settled for outside jump shots.
As fans, and his own head coach, grew tired of Rasheed Wallace-esque shots from outside, he decided to reinvent himself as more of a post player.
After the Hawks open scrimmage Friday night, Smith spoke with the Atlanta Journal Constitution about his new commitment to playing inside.
"Smith said he will have to change his approach to playing in the post: “I’m doing pretty good with that. I have just got to make sure I am low at all times and be able to create the contact and not wait for it. I’ve got to be ready for guys like Derrick Favors, Zach Randolph, Amar’e Stoudemire, all those guys who are strong down low.”
"
Smith's position on playing inside should bring a more physical interior presence to what has been a fairly weak area for this Atlanta squad.
3. Smith Worked on Shooting from 16 Feet, Not 23 Feet, in the Offseason
3 of 5Josh Smith hit a career-high percentage from three-point range in 2010-11 for the Atlanta Hawks.
The problem with that is his career-high is a measly 33 percent from beyond the arc.
Coach Larry Drew's criticism of Smith's shooting and his newfound team aspirations of putting the team first have forced him to work on his 16-foot jump shot, instead of settling for the easy three-point bucket.
It should be no surprise that the trimmer, faster Smith will attempt to create more of his own shots and bank on his athleticism to force mismatches inside.
4. He Has a Point Guard Who Will Spread the Ball Around
4 of 5Third-year point guard Jeff Teague will get his most significant minutes as a member of the Atlanta Hawks' organization after an exhilarating performance in the 2011 NBA playoffs against Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls.
Teague offers a more versatile style, after the Hawks settled for the aging Mike Bibby for the majority of the Josh Smith era, then Kirk Hinrich in his eighth year in the league.
As Teague develops throughout the season, this guard-forward pairing could be one of the most exciting run-and-gun duos in the NBA today.
5. Smith Wants To Win, Doesn't Care about Personal Aspirations
5 of 5It happened in last year's second-round loss to the Chicago Bulls, but Josh Smith seems finally ready to take the next step as a leader for what has become a balanced young team.
He's ready to allow his three-point shooting to take a back seat, while his inside game takes the spotlight. He's ready to move the ball around the perimeter and take open looks when they're there.
He's ready to make "The Leap."
"The Leap" refers to that point in time when specific players move from older, frustrating tendencies and into the career-defining point of their tenure in the league.
If Smith can make "The Leap," he will need to use everything he has learned in seven years with the Hawks and implement it toward getting Atlanta further into the playoffs than they have ever been.
With everything Smith seems to have learned in the offseason, it shouldn't be a surprise when he does.
