Craig Smith, with the short stints in the game, has proven he can score with his back to the basket. He needs more burn and play calls when Aldridge is off the floor. We need an inside out game bad, especially if the game gets "half court" like it has on the road. These are my ideas on key rotations. Starting line-up: Felton, Matthews, Batum, Wallace, Aldridge. Key second group: Crawford, Batum, Wallace, Smith, Thomas. But what I would really like to see is: Felton, Batum, Wallace, Smith and Thomas. Doubt this unit will ever see significant time on the floor. Regardless, our second unit needs an inside game. We can't have Aldridge be our only option inside. What if he has an off game? What if there are players tall enough to force him to shoot over him? We need a player that has the footwork to either get fouled, score at the rim or be in position to get an offensive board on a miss. I think that player is Craig Smith. <--- Nate needs to give him just as much burn as Batum, IMO.
Craig Smith playing as much as Batum isn't smart IMO. Batum is perhaps our best defender and just scored 29 the last game, I do think there's a problem with Nic becoming too important defensively, kinda like playing with a healthy Brandon Roy made us somewhat predictable offensively.
Yeah maybe let me rephrase that. I think incorporating Craig smith in the lineup is as important as starting Batum.
I noticed that once LMA and the Rhino were on the court as the same time, for like one play I noticed. LMA had the ball in the post against Dalembert and was having a hard time against him. However, that meant L. Scola was on Craig Smith, why not just reverse the ball around or make a inside pass? Instead the possession ended with nothing. I'd like to see more LMA + C. Smith, could be pretty good combo.
