Hardwood Paroxysm Presents The Replacements: Bench players we’re most excited to watch in the NBA Playoffs
Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) is most excited to watch… Josh Smith
Josh Smith’s disastrous year-and-a-half-long tenure with the Detroit Pistons turned him into an NBA punch line. It didn’t help that the Pistons suddenly roared back to life after waiving him, while he stumbled in his early days with the Houston Rockets. Three months later, however, J-Smoove will be getting the last laugh, as he’s set to have a major role on a Western Conference contender while the Pistons’ season ended Wednesday.
With Donatas Motiejunas now done for the year and Dwight Howard currently on a minutes limit, the Rockets need Smith to shoulder a heavier load in the playoffs. Though he’s unlikely to play more than 25 minutes a night, he’ll need to get back to his stat-stuffing ways for Houston to avoid a first-round demise. He might not replicate his per-game averages from his final year in Atlanta — 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals — but seeing whether he can replicate even 70 percent of that production will go a long way toward determining how long the Rockets’ playoff run lasts.
Further adding to the intrigue: Smith is in a contract year. This postseason might be his last chance to prove he’s capable of making a major positive impact on a winning team, which will force him to be on his best behavior. (Translation: Only two pull-up threes in the first eight seconds of the shot clock per game.) If contract-year J-Smoove in the playoffs doesn’t get you excited, check your pulse. You might actually be dead.