[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

Has as much talent as anyone at the 2 guard spot, if he wasn’t such a headcase and whatever else he does that holds him back he’d for sure be a top SG in the L.

[BenchWarmerParticipant]

I have thought that for years. I swear this guy could be an allstar and all-nba teamer. He can shoot drive has showed he can pass and defend but seems like he doesn’t care enough. It really pisses me off

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

Yea….I’ve always thought he for sure has as much talent as anyone playing the 2 spot, but it’s other things that factor in besides talent.

[festar35Participant]

I hope that DeMarcus Cousins doesn’t end up doing the same thing with his talent.

[frogmanParticipant]

Even moreso than JR Smith, Jamal Crawford had every tool to be one of the best 2 guards in the NBA. Great athleticism, excellent shooter, amazing handles and he has never even made an all-star game I think.

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

JR has really cleaned up his act. Give him credit, hes having a great season. All that other stuff is in the past

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

IDK I think JR Smith is better than Jamal Crawford, Jamaal Crawford is a straight scorer, JR Smith has a more all around game than Crawford, Crawford at times has been a starter in the league playing 37,38,39 mins per game and still has never averaged more than 3 boards a game, this year JR Smith is averaging 5 boards a game in 33 mins per game, and back in 10-11 he averaged 4 boards in 24 mins.

Far as assist go, Crawford wins but I think only because for a number of years in CHI and NYC he was the primarily ball handler and averaged 5.1 APG for his highest number if assist total for a year, while JR Smith averaged 2.8 in only 27 mins per game while not being the primary ballhandler(Iverson,Billups, and Atkins was on that team) so who knows how high his assist total could have been.

JR Smith is more athletic and is the better 3pt shooter and FG shooter during their careers, I would pick JR over Crawford from a soley talent standpoint.

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

Had he gone to college for atleast a year to learn basic fundamentals with Roy Williams, this guy would have been an All-Star caliber SG.

[frogmanParticipant]

Yeah imagine if Lebron went to college and to learn the basics..

[PyronParticipant]

i think it really shows what vets can do to a player like smith. when you have guys like kidd, wallace (even though he’s injured), camby and of course guys like melo and amare… vets and players who play at the highest levels have earned their respect and learning from those types of players is priceless.

also.. it helps that he’s on a winning team. too much frustration gets built up on losing teams..

[BasketBalAllanParticipant]

I have a hard time complementing players like J.R. Smith, I have just never liked his game. I do not think he could ever be considered an elite SG when he has one of the highest guard usage rates in the NBA while putting up some of the lowest shooting percentages across the board. A great SG should at least put up some efficient scoring.

[omphalosParticipant]

To be fair, JR is called upon to be a 6th man and has been for most of his career; that generally means he can’t afford to pick his spots and take efficient shots in the flow of a structured offense, it means he needs to come in and get buckets, keep the score ticking over until the starters are ready to come back in.

It also means that he’s getting the bulk of the defensive attention from the second unit which can hurt shooting percentages as well. I think JR is limited by his talent if that makes sense; like Rudy Gay he can do almost anything he wants on a basketball court, and this freedom leads to erratic shooting numbers, because he’s yet to identify his go-to moves and where he can be most effective, so he does a little bit of everything over the course of the game, instead of reading what the D is giving him and exploiting those weaknesses until they are forced to guard him differently.

It’s the lack of mental focus and a tendency to be too creative which hold back these guys who are so talented and make them less efficient than their more limited counterparts.

Just my humble opinion.

[BasketBalAllanParticipant]

I am not really sure if being a sixth man really applies that well to explaining his scoring inefficiency. Some 6th man candidates do exhibit similar low shooting % but some also excell in that area. Look at guys like Harden (before the trade) and Manu, these players elivated their games to the elite SG level while or directly after filling their teams sixth man roles by maintaining great shooting percentages.

I think you are correct in saying his play holds him back and his mental focus causes him to try to do too much.

[TyroberParticipant]

Watching him last night was really something. When he is on he is ON. He can literally make a shot from anywhere on the court when he is in the zone.

[sheltwon3Participant]

JR Smith has a lot of talent but Crawford has always been better than him. Crawford has shot the ball more consistent and also Crawford can actually pass on a level close to a point guard. Smith is more athletic but Crawford is more effective and clutch.

I still believe that Smith could ultimately be better based on raw talent but we will see.

[ASAP HenryParticipant]

JR is a perfect example of why it takes more than just talent to be great in the NBA. I agree, JR could have easily been a top 3 shooting guard in the NBA. He has all the tools. What holds him back is his shot selection, immaturity, and the fact that he doesn’t play defense on a consistent level. He’s also been a 6th man for so long that almost every coach is going to believe that that is where he is best at. I still wish the Bulls had held on to him back when we traded for him from new orleans and them instantly shipped him off to Denver.

With all that being said, he’s one of the best “heat check” guys in the NBA and is having a great season. When he has it going he is easily one of the most dangerous players int he NBA

[kingofbumsParticipant]

i love JR but i think whats holding him back is his tendency to settle for tough jumpshots instead of using his athleticism to get to the line…as jeff van gundy put it “he’s a good bad shot maker”…o.O

[MkadozaParticipant]

One really big similarity between Crawford and JR is how good they are with there feet set. When they are square to the basket its automatic. The problem with JR is because hes as athletic as he is, he settle for off balance shot attempts regularly.

However from a pure talent stand point, JR has is all. He can man up on taller players, he reads the passing lanes excellently, he’s a very good rebounder, can handle the ball deftly with both hands, has the first step to get by almost anyone, and is a very underrated passer based on ability and vision alone. With an average basketball IQ he’s Ricky Davis, above average IQ he’s Vince Carter, elite IQ, and we probably have a hall of famer. 6’6 220 pounds, ran a 4.45 when he was a top WR prospect in HS, endless range, elite athleticism, quickness and body control… Most frustrating talent I’ve seen since he was drafted, up until Cousins entered the league.

[Author]

Posts