Who the heck is Ish Smith? Awwww..Yesss. The casual NBA fan, or better yet, the casual Sixer fan, likely has no clue who this dude is. To be honest, I really didn’t know that much about him either, until he arrived in a Sixers uniform. I remember him sitting on the Memphis Grizzlies bench a few years back. That was pretty much the extent of my knowledge of him. So you might be asking yourself, why in the world would I write a short blog about Ish Smith? I don’t blame you. Seriously… I have a tendency of gravitating sometimes to the oddest players for no real rhyme or reason. Being a diehard Sixers fan, sometimes we look for the little things in life. Ish Smith is my little thing that I found. Hopefully, that came across the correct way.
Smith, 26, played his college ball at Wake Forest (2006-2010) and went undrafted. He actually left Wake Forest in second place all-time in assists in their school history. Good for him… His NBA journey began on August 23, 2010 when he was signed by the Houston Rockets. From there he bounced from the D-League, Memphis, Golden State, Orlando, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and back to Houston for about 3 months. Then to Oklahoma City and traded to and released by New Orleans.Then that magical day happen. February 22, 2015, when Sam Hinkie signed Smith. Gotta give Smith some credit. He has definitely payed his dues.
He played his first game with the Sixers on February 23 (loss to Miami). I sat there thinking to myself, Man, this guy is fast as hell. Also saying to myself, I’m not sure he knows where he’s running too and he may start knocking people over. Though over past few weeks, I have started to like watching him run around relentlessly. He attacks the paint with no regard. Not really caring if he makes the lay up or not. He just attacks. His handle is actually very good and sees the floor decently.
Since joining the Sixers his numbers are, per 36 minutes, 15.9 points, 8.8 assist, 4 rebounds and 3.3 turnovers. Over the past 8 games he is shooting 35% (7-20) from the 3 point-land. Yes, I know.. His numbers don’t jump out at you. I get it. Though if you have been watching, his play is impacting the Sixers some. In a good way too.
Hey, I just like seeing a guy like him get an opportunity finally. And just maybe, he can stick around for a little while longer. I did say I enjoy the little things. I just wrote about 400 some words on Ish Smith..
I forgot that the sixers were still playing… I thought the season was over..
sixers have been entertaining lately. and playing too good. they are now slotted at the 3 pick as they picked up a few mins and minny and the knicks keep losing. this is not good the way they are playing compared to the other tankers the sixers will likely end up with the 4 pick as they will likely out play minny, lakers, and knicks here on out.
they need to let noel sit the rest of the year he is playing too good
real easy schedule coming up for sixers isnt good either
celtics
pistons
knicks
lakers
kings
nuggets
not good for the tank
As long as they are top 3 they are just fine….even better NY or Minny arent threats to draft guards so 3 works out for them well.
Noel is playing good ball right now…in a wide open court he has flourished more than with ball dominant guards like Wroten and MCW.
MCW trade is looking better and better each game.
knicks and minny are threats to get russel. less minny than knicks. however knicks will get 1 and will go okafor or towns for sure… hopefully minny goes the other big then we get mundy or russel
Minny will not be taking Russell. They prefer Towns over Okafor. They are looking for low post help and between Lavine and Wiggins and Rubio they are fine on the perimeter. Right now they have Deng and a Euro kid that I forgetting his name but a good player.
NY is a threat possibly just for the fact that around the league their pick is for sale for another star. If they land no.1 they will be going Okafor in my opinion because he would fit the triangle better that Phil is adamant on using.
good points izzel! thanks. now i can actually root for sixers to keep playing good ball just not too good!
bad news for draft is we arent getting lakers pick
more bad news, miami is starting to flirt with the bottom 10 and we could lose that 1st rounder this year too
okc pick looks like its ours though
Fellas thanks for reading…I think the Sixers best bet is their pick and OKC..Miami looking iffy..banged up. I think the Lakers pick we can forget now..They’re just awful..Maybe a trading chip though for the Lakers pick.
R.J. Hunter…BOOM….told yall about this kid last year heading into this year….could be a sweet shooter in the mid teens of this upcoming draft. Didnt have as agreat of year shooting the ball this year…but year 1 he was lights out….has a sweet stroke for distance.
dude he sucked up until that last 3 mins he fades away in the game too mich to be a nba talent….i dont like him that much
Shooters shoot Z and his one shot makes up for a poor game…he’s the focal point of the team…and he stuck a dagger in Baylor.
And what you are saying about Hunter you could easily say about Lavine last year….
i dont see the athletic ability in hunter to match up in the nba….he will be a liability on defense and only a sharp shooter
i am interested in how deangelo russell performs in ncaa tournament…..10 points in 1 st half and he just got.going at the end he should be able to put up 25 tonite
dude izell russell is craftybas shit like harden
this stainbrook guy for xavier plays with fire man he looks big as shit he is abusing ole miss down low
staunbrook strikes again
So funny how the “talent experts” the self proclaimed “gm” cliff and dcar have nothing to say about Nerlins Noel since hes pretty much avg a double double every game
I thought he was Samuel Dalembert?!
This is the problem with guys who think they know everything. They’re blinded by their own opinions and personal misguided feelings. They think theyre right about everything, like theyre the freakin law on talent and life in general
Hes a rookie, this is his 1st year in the nba. He ll be 21 on april 10th.
Instead of rushing to judgement, let him grow
I thought he was going to have durability issues because hes so skinny?!
Hahaha you guys seriously have not a clue to what you talk
Such nonsense
Now STFU and learn something
And look out for a POSSIBLE trade between OKC and the Sixers
Sixers send a slew of picks to OKC for Kevin Durant
OKC has been playing good as of late without injured Durant
This makes Durant expendable and his value plummeting by the day
His contract situation with OKC could get messy
Sixers COULD swoop in and trade for him and by the trade deadline of next year, could be immediate contenders
JH
i wouldnt dare trade for durant he is going to dc and and pull a lebron….he is going home
Nah zilents Stephen A said he heard from a source close to Durant that he doesn’t want to play for Washington.
They said he wanted a big market club. NY, LA in particular
But he may look at the Sixers next year and say “This team is one scorer away from contending”
I think by the deadline next year we ‘ll be a fringe playoff team in the Market for a big time scorer with a lot of money to spend
He’d fit right in at Small Forward
We’d have one of the best benches in the nba.
No doubt about it
2 rim protectors
WWe’re closer than many think
Nerlens Noel 23 14 3 5 tonight.. Hottest rookie in the NBA legit chance to take ROY from Wiggins….hahahahaha
samuel dalembeet my ass…….straight ballin
Man he’s even proving D League coaches wrong on top of first time draft king winners of 150k with 3 all american hs players sons….
Wait till next year… When Embiid is trash lmao
Oh yea, those idiots cliff and dcar called Noel “Hasheem Thabeet” as well
Just because he’s tall, black and a shot blocker doesn’t mean they’re on the same talent level
It’s not even close
Dude had a career game last night
This is why you’re patient with players like Noel
You don’t rush to judgment after a few games
Hes being developed by one of the best in the nba , Coach Brown and his staff
Hes developing a jump shot, inside game.. hes already very athletic
I’m looking forward to seeing him and Noel next year
They played the Knicks, hell Dalembert at his age could put up those numbers against those bums, come on fellas ya’ll can do better then that. Yes he is playing better since MCW was traded but just stop it.
big u stop it his improvement from where he was is really good….we know he will never be a offensive force but he is already being compared tyson chandeler joahkim noah and deandre jordan…..you dont have to play devils adovcate here big…..nerleans is not a superstar but hes a real diffrence maker…..and dude big hes a damn rookie….come on man
You can tell BigL hasn’t been watching. Sorry bruh hats a clueless statement to make.
Dalembert never played like this kid. Jesus Christ the basketball knowledge on here is terrible.
Izell you mean Dalrmbert never had a double double or strung together good games in his what 15 year career? Get off the Dalembert shit that was a name thrown out there, jeez MCW was rookie of the year where did that get him? And Z shit on being a devil’s advocate if I don’t like his game then I don’t period rookie or not. We are all never going to agree on everything. You like his potential I think his potential is limited.
Put those numbers up against someone other then the Knicks and maybe just maybe I’ll change my opinion, oh Sheved put up 25 should we bring him back?
Get off it BigL. It has nothing to do with pure numbers. It has everything to do with an upswing of play since day 1 he’s progressed all year and the team has gotten better around. What Noel is doing and what MCW did are so incomparable that it’s ridiculous to even mention. He’s top 5 in opponent fg in the paint he’s top 10 in blocks as a rookie and the team has an almost top 10 defensive rating with him on the floor. They led the league in steals for the sole reason defensively he erases mistakes.
You brought up Dalembert….its a lazy uninformed response.
What noel is doing with 1/4 of the usage rate that MCW had again shows people are just talking to talk and not watching basketball.
There’s a reason why he is being lauded by pundits all over the league…
And if he wins ROY with Andrew Wiggins in his race the excuse of there is no one his class can’t be used either.
Embrace the fact the kid can play… He’s missed only 4 games and he’s been impactful.
That’s what happens when people try to label something before he even got on the floor and look stupid now at the end of the season.
I didn’t bring up rookie of the year you did. I also pointed out he’s looked better since MCW has been traded, by the way didn’t you just call Nick Foles Derrick Anderson? Hmm I guess we all get lazy and seek comparisons.
And again I see the same unpolished offensive actions that Dalembert exhibited in Noel, but he’s a rookie so let’s see if he gets more seasoned with each year. Man you dudes think the only right opinion is your opinion.
Sorry bruh your basketball critique screams pure uniformed laziness.
Just saying he’s played better since MCW got traded shows you really haven’t watched his development one bit…even the numbers since January shoe that’s a lazy statement.
I love how offensively is the only lame attempt at critique… Because if you compare defensive play which was Dalemberts one and only skill your argument would get crushed.
Got nothing to do with opinion. That’s pure fact. Instinctively athletically and IQ its not even close.
Let’s not even talk about high post efficiency and passng
But again let’s use that lazy comparison and critique you threw out there.
His closest comparison as a player is Joakim Noah. A difference making big man who can run high post fill the line play great weak side defense defend the perimeter on the pick and roll on the switch….
But yeah let’s base an argument and comparison on Samuel Dalemberts offensive move set….
I also gotta give props to Ish Smith whose playing the PG position better than any PG I’ve seen here in a long time
Waaay better than how MCW played it
He just never had “IT”
He didn’t think like a PG
I’d keep Ish as a backup, and draft one early in the draft
But Ish has starter talent and keeps growing game by game
Now all he needs to do is develop a jump shot and he could be the starter moving forward
Ishe Mathis is not a starter but definitely is a quality backup. Canaan is a nice 3pt shooter low ball IQ though and I wouldn’t keep him.
MCW was forced into a scorers role to early in his career and it stunted his growth. His usage rate last year in hind sight hurt his progression.
What he was being asked to do here didn’t mesh for both him and the club. Shame kid has talent but Hinkie played that one well in retrospect.
It’s not a coincidence that Noel has flourished in an open court game with spacing and ball movement….I would be getting rid of Tony Wrote next as well. Don’t want him anywhere near the floor when Embiid plays next year.
Good stuff Izzell
But I disagree with you to a degree
I agree MCW wasn’t used properly here but he had more than enough time to prove himself
1.He turned the ball over way too much
2.Took ill-advised shots
3.Lacked the speed needed to play the pg position
4.Durability concerns
5.Low FT percentage
That’s just 5 reasons but another one is his on and off good relationship with Brett Brown
I mentioned on here a year ago that MCW was a trade peice
They ended up with a 1st
I don’t miss the kid, has talent but just not a fit for what we need in a pg here..
His turnovers were a product of him being forced to score and learning to about in the NBA game. He struggled in traffic with his decision making. IMO it was a lack of development that was his downfall…I still think he will have a good career. However his fit will need to be on a team with scorers and he facilitates etc.
But the first round possibilities for him definitely was worth the trade…and although at first I was bummed we didn’t end up with Knight…if we would have Knight this team would be pushing 25wins right now IMO.
Good PGs set their teammates up
They put their teammates in a place where they know they’ll be successful
I don’t wanna hear MCW didnt have a chance or was developed wrong
Their can’t be anymore excuses
He couldn’t run the pg position the right way
Maybe he was asked to score a little more but that’s exactly what I want from my pg, to have the ability to score in a variety of ways
He was a turnover machine that couldn’t shoot the ball to save his life, even free throws
C’mon man
He had a fair shake he just wasn’t a fit here
MCW was simply was not that good..
Take his first 2 Months of his Rookie Season which were fantastic out and he was simply an Average to Below Average Guard and was not improving or making any of his Teammates better to go along with nagging injuries.. A dime a dozen Player with Size was about it
good point out jon……ish has elite speed for a pg…..his shot will get better….coach brown is already comparing kawii leanard to jerami grant the kid has improved so much….we are witnessing greatness in this team….once emblid proves hes a superstar and we pick mudiay…..we will bevlegit for avlong time….im glad to see wins but id rather have a top 3 pick….also last thing we barely get blown out….even the losses dont look as bad
sorry “jerami grant to kawii”
It may be a bit premature for me to say this but you know who Ish Smith reminds me of?!
Rajon Rondo
Very similar games
Shot is suspect but both have very high basketball IQs, can pass very well and have elite speed
That comparison isn’t a stretch at all
The Sixers may groom him into a starter
Who saw this coming??
No no no there games are not comparable at all…Ish can be a serviceable PG his decision making is nowhere near Rondo…and Rondo can not shoot the ball anywhere near Smith.
Smith has a chance to be a nice spot starter great 2nd line sub…
Doesn’t really have a comparison since he’s not dynamic in any skill set.
He is a pure PG though and that work wonders with this group.
Rondo and Ish have very similar games
I actually think Ish is faster and has a better shot
When Rondo first started out I’m sure we’d all agree that we didn’t expect him to be this good
It was unexpected
He developed into the player he is today
Same thing could happen with Ish Smith with more playing time
26 yrs old
Good PGs last a long time in this league
Ronda fuckin sucks
Rondo single handily destroying the mavs
Rondo’s a Cancer
Rondos also a champion…and carried those teams in the last years of the Big Three.
ish is too small…he’s a nice little backup
he’s not Rondo…
The Liberty Ballers blog had a great point last night about the MCW trade…it either opened up the floor for Noel etc or put a sense of urgency in players in not to waste opportunity.
Seeing Kj McDaniels go from 20+mins a game to 9mins and DNPs definitely to ring with some of these young guys.
Everyone needs to root for the Thunder down the stretch…..
1. Mudiay
2. Russell
3. Winslow(and rising)
Okc is toast we aren’t getting that pick
Sixers need to tank 1 more time imo. They need to get Ben Simmons next year no matter the price.