Craig Smith needs more minutes. We get much more productivity out of the PF/C positions with him sopping up 18-20mpg at PF, allowing Aldridge to play some C while still only logging around 34-35mpg. With this condensed schedule we just can't keep LA fresh enough when he's playing 40 minutes a night. If there's an award for "Surprise Player of the Season," it's Craig Smith. His bruising tenacity around the rim reminds me a little of Zach Randolph (without the outside shot or deft interior touch). In extremely limited minutes, he's (statistically) easily out-playing (17.9 PER) both Camby (11.3 PER) and Thomas (10.9 PER). Those two clearly are better defenders, so I'm not trying to sell them short. But he's presenting a pretty solid argument to be the first big off the bench.
Yuck man! Take that damn avatar off! I agree about rhino. I've been riding his jock after the 5th game of the season. He needs more burn. And like the old saying goes; he's actually forcing Nate to give it to him. Good for the team and him for his desire to earn more burn!
Here is whats funny about The Rhino ... when he was with another team he was one of those players that I used to get pissed off that he was killing our team and now he is that player for our team and I love it! But he is definitely more skilled than I thought he was and brilliant pick up for the Blazers. Well done Chad!
I'm hoping we can bring him back for a decent price after this season (or is it next?), because he is a perfect backup PF for us.
I don't think he should necessarily take minutes away from Thomas or Camby. They're our Cs - both of them are much better at playing center on D than Smith. However, I do approve of him taking minutes away from Aldridge, if we can get away with it, because Aldridge needs to rest a lot more. Smith is WIDE, but he's also quite short. Commentators speculate he may be about 6'6". And it's not like he makes up for it with his explosive leaping ability. He's more of a Danny Fortson/Big Nasty type.
Dude has some extremely quick hands and good rebounding instincts. What he lacks from height and leaping ability; he gains in quickness, footwork and mass. I agree with a lot on here that he should be our answer as a starter; but the kid can ball! I just love watching him play.
He is like chuck hayes but bigger and stronger. His hands are insanely quick for his size. I would like to see some time with him at pf and lma at c when thomas or camby is out for a game. I gotta agree with bill simmons about how by the end of the season he will be a fan favorite Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk
Well, except that Chuck Hayes is one of the premier post defenders in the NBA. Smith is the type of guy that will get minutes, but with heavy minutes, can be exposed on the defensive side of the court. Love what the guy is bringing every night, though. A very nice role player with a great motor. Perfect for injecting energy in 5-minute chunks.
Easily the best minimum contract signing the Blazers have had in years (or ever maybe?) but can we tone down the hyperbole a bit? He's a really nice backup 4 who plays with physicality and can actually put the damn ball in the hoop from 5 feet, but I think he's being used pretty much exactly as he should be. If he can help get LA some more rest I'm all for it, but anything more than 15-20 minutes a night is going to have diminishing returns.
Gotta love the Rhino. I'd be happy with him at 12-16 min. a game, giving LaMarcus a little more rest. I want this guy coming in off the bench in the playoffs for strategic muscle.
6'6.5" in shoes, with an 8.7.5" standing reach. As I mentioned in another thread, there were multiple guards in his draft class that are taller with a greater standing reach (Adam Morrison: 6'7.5" in shoes, 8'9" standing reach). BNM
I'm a couple of feet shorter than Rhino, but I got bigger muscles. Nothing worse than a rhino tooting his own horn.
I am a big fan of The Rhino too. But I agree that we're using him just about perfectly right now. He'll get more burn when we need it due to injuries or fatigue. Great signing!
How tall was Barkley? Rodman? And no I'm not comparing their games, but you don't need to be extremely tall (by NBA standards) to be a force on the boards/block. I just wish we coulda signed him to 3 years at this price
Being tall for your position has it's advantages but obviously so does being shorter. His height isn't really in issue for his role.
Unseld, Barkley, and Rodman were leapers. Rhino isn't. This board is in love with him because we're used to inexperience like Cunningham, Pendergraph, Frye, and Outlaw at Rhino's position. He's in his 6th year. In the many years since Ruben Patterson, our best sub PFs have been Juwan Howard, then Rhino in 2nd place.
