I was waiting for your input as your opinion is based on medical expertise. Thank you!
Smith Injury
- Thread starter Moose
- Start date
I just wish we could get an honest diagnosis/ prognosis from someone in the program as to where they actually are with Smith instead of Pitino’s coach speak. This way we would at least know exactly what the deal is. Now, every game we expect that he might play and instead it’s another setback, or is it? We don’t know.
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Or girls softball team. Oh wait, that's windmill pitching
You have no idea about these shoulder injuries then. This is not a common basketball injury. Having had these throughout my football and wrestling career, there is no way he should have attempted to play. You can't even lift your arm without pain meds and it can linger for months if you don't let hit heal.
The kid couldn't even shoot. He changed his entire form on his jumper to compensate and that leaves you open to other injuries. I came back too early from one of these on my right shoulder and started hitting with my left shoulder to compensate. Ended up getting the same injury on my left but to a lesser degree. Came back too early from that and got a concussion for leading with my helmet because it was too painful to use just my shoulders.
Smith had his shooting arm lower and tucked to his side and was leaning to compensate. That leaves him open to a ton of injuries to his left knee and ankle. You need to save the athlete from themselves. A tough kid will always choose to play.
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Just going to point out that when McNeely went down U Conn went from something like #16 to (likely) unranked tomorrow.
When Smith went down SJU went from #26 to #20 and possibly higher tomorrow.
I am by no means saying that it's addition by subtraction and I want a healthy Smith, he helps us in a number of ways. But there are some benefits to him being out and that has been reflected on the floor.
You cannot compare a 6th man to the guy U Conn is built around this year, it's apples and oranges
That's fair but he is at worst tied with Scott as our fourth best player. We have a major drop-off in depth as well.
Not sure I would call smith a 6th guy but completely agree with the rest. This team is learning to win differently and it has helped Richmond.
To your point and Andrew's - I agree that in some systems Smith would be either the first or second option for a team.
In ours it's complicated by the Kadary/Smith equation. If you're giving Kadary the ball then Smith becomes the 4th option in most floor sets and IMHO is better coming in as a 6th man.
Edit to add one additional thought - in our system the benefit to bringing him as a 6th man is then he becomes the #1 option in that scenario. Which is hugely valuable.
It's no shade to Smith by any means it's just a function of the team he's on.
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Silly Donovan
Well-known member
I think that Smith’s value goes beyond individual stats/scoring. He creates the up tempo that allows for many more shots and scoring opportunities that makes up for the team’s poor shooting. Therefore his value may be as important as anyone’s and losing him changes the team’s M O.
Being that it is what it is best case scenario if he is out for an extended period is that the hastening of development of other kids makes us a deeper, more formidable late February thru March team.
I had shoulder issues and cortisone shots some years back. You can still swing a golf club too.
We are a better team with Deivon, but there are some huge opportunities for us with him out. Sim was happy to stay in the background just swinging the ball when Kadary and Deivon were in. This has forced him into the spotlight which is better for his development and better for us come March. We can’t see the second weekend if he’s not hitting jumpers.
It also allows us to get Prey and Glover a little extra time.
I’m not going to start arguing whether Smith is our 3rd, 4th or 5th best player; the point is he brings energy in the backcourt that no one else brings. We will miss him if he isn’t ready against PC. I really hope he plays in that game because it is the one game I will see in person and he is a guy I want to see play.I had shoulder issues and cortisone shots some years back. You can still swing a golf club too.
Boo Harvey
Well-known member
Appreciate the optimism and the spin, but there is little debate that the sooner Smith comes back and gets into game shape the better.
Not trying to spin anything. We need him.
Boo Harvey
Well-known member
I think we’re a good team without Smith. And it seems to me Kadary is much more comfortable playing without him. That said, I think our best chance to make some real noise is to have Smith fully healthy and fully integrated. From my perspective, the sooner that happens the better. There may be some growing pains as the team readjusts to smith coming back so I’d rather not have him out too long. I also think it’s critical that he comes back at full strength and is not diminished.
Boo Harvey
Well-known member
Apologies for my poor choice of words. I didn’t mean to suggest you were spinning. Just that while I recognize smith being out gives others a chance to grow as does any key injury, the sooner he comes back the better.
Silly Donovan
Well-known member
But was he able to toss his French Fries high enough to drop “smoothly” in his mouth??
