Stan Van Gundy: Josh Smith Won’t Be Shooting Many Threes
Since becoming the new president of basketball operations and head coach of the Detroit Pistons, Stan Van Gundy has made a particular point to connect with his most versatile forward, Josh Smith. Trade rumors involving Smith and the Sacramento Kings surfaced briefly, but Van Gundy has consciously kept together his front court trio of Smith, Greg Monroe, and Andre Drummond.
Smith has never been known to be a great outside shooter. Stan Van Gundy says that Smith is prepared to embrace his natural role and shoot less perimeter shots, via Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press:
I think Josh has a very good understanding of the shots he needs to shoot that are not only best for him, but best for our team. He’s one of the elite guys in the league around the basket. Last year, stuff inside, right at the rim, in two straight years, he has been 71% and 77%. There’s very few guys at that level. So he needs to get more of those. He knows that. He also understands he really doesn’t need to shoot threes for this team.
Will he get some? The other night, late in the shot clock, throw it back … you have to take that shot. He’s going to shoot some. It’s not a matter of number, one a game, less than one a game. It’s when are you shooting them? There might a game where he might take three.
Timely shot selection is the underlying theme, and for Smith, it’s simply knowing what his team requires of him.
He has an understanding of how he needs to play for our team; it’s the discipline to do it. He’s a smart guy. He knows and he’s not trying to fight you about anything. We need to put him around the basket and at the elbow area, where he can use his strength.
Van Gundy touched on Smith’s versatile strengths:
Willing passer, which he definitely is. He’s got the vision to see the floor and get the ball to people. He’s one of the best playmaking forwards in this league. There aren’t very many better, particularly at the four spot. But even at the three, you have very few guys who would be there with him.
Josh Smith has raw and unique ability which was most displayed in his time with the Atlanta Hawks. He and the Pistons can benefit greatly from the experience, acumen and structure provided by Van Gundy this season. If Detroit can embrace a true sense of togetherness and discipline, it will be reasonable to at least consider them as a playoff contender.
