<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Maurice Cheeks was not going to wait any longer, so the 76ers coach had a heart-to-heart talk with first-round draft choice Jason Smith after his first summer-league game. Smith, the 7-footer from Colorado State, simply had a debut to forget. In a 65-61 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the Las Vegas summer league, Smith collected just two points (on 1-for-6 shooting) and five rebounds in a little less than 25 minutes. So after the July 6 opener, Cheeks spared no feelings in talking to Smith, the 20th pick in the first round by Miami before he was traded to the Sixers, who selected at No. 21. "I told him that he was a spectator and not a participator," Cheeks said last week in Las Vegas before the team departed for Utah and the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league. Cheeks told Smith that he had to pick up his effort, and the constructive criticism was just what the player needed. "Coach Cheeks got on me, and I realized I might as well play as hard as I can and do as much as I can," Smith said. Unfortunately for Smith, his summer-league action ended early, in Tuesday's 98-86 Sixers win over the San Antonio Spurs. The rookie suffered a left-ankle sprain that sidelined him for the final game. "I was on a fastbreak and came down on the wrong foot," Smith said. He began treatment immediately. "The ankle is doing well," he said yesterday from Utah. "It was sore the first day or two after, but it is feeling better and the X-rays were negative and I will be back soon." ... After that first game in Las Vegas, Cheeks said he was pleased with Smith's development. "He has been very active, putting the ball on the floor, rebounding the ball, blocking shots, and doing things that could help us even in the upcoming season," Cheeks said. ... "One of the things I have to work on between now and training camp [in October] is my strength," Smith said. "I'll be spending time in the weight room."</div> Source: Philly Inquirer I like how Cheeks wasn't afraid to get on him right from the start, and I like that Smith can take criticsm, but the part that I don't get is the first part I put in bold. Is he saying that he thought he could get by in the NBA without playing hard?
