Josh Smith and his 3-point attempts continue to be the subject — often a sore one — of scrutiny involving the Hawks.
The forward already has taken a career-high 172 3-pointers this season. With 13 games remaining in the regular season he has surpassed his previous high by 18 (154 in 2010-11). A number of those attempts have admittedly been ill-advised, including two in the fourth quarter of Friday’s loss to the Trail Blazers.
When asked by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday if he expected to take that many 3-pointers this season, Smith deflected.
“I don’t know,” Smith said. “Ask me a different question. Ask me something that is going to stimulate my mind a little bit.”
Smith has made 53 of his 172 attempts, a 30.8 percent success rate that is the third-best of his nine-year career.
In October, at the start of training camp, he was adamant that the roster was full of capable long-range shooters.
“You haven’t seen the roster?” Smith turned around a reporter’s question about his long-range shooting plans on a rebuilt Hawks roster. “We’ve got Kyle Korver, Devin Harris, Louis Williams, Anthony Morrow, Anthony Tolliver. Am I missing anyone? Jeff Teague. … So there we go. That answers that question. I didn’t even say my name did I? Call me mid-range shawty.”
Yet 16.8 percent of Smith’s shot attempts this season have come from behind the 3-point line. He is sixth on the team in 3-point attempts. Only Korver (358), Teague (209), Williams (196 before season-ending injury), Harris (194) and DeShawn Stevenson (183) have more.
Coach Larry Drew said that shot selection has been a team-wide problem in games this season. The issue was compounded in Friday’s loss to the Trail Blazers by a poor defensive effort and late turnovers. The Hawks shot only 6-of-18 from the field in the fourth quarter as they were outscored 31-17. Smith missed all five of his shots, including the two 3-pointers.
“No,” Drew said when asked if he thought Smith would take so many 3-pointers in the new offense. “I thought when we put our offense in and looking at our personnel with Kyle Korver, DeShawn Stevenson, John Jenkins, Anthony Tolliver is a stretch-3. We’ve got a number of guys. …
“The 3, no, it’s not the first shot of choice I want him taking because he is such a dominate force down on the block. He causes a lot of problems when he posts up, particularly when I move him to (small forward). The thing about him is he is a willing passer, which makes it all the better because if you are open and the double-team comes down, he is going to get the basketball out to the open guy.
“I love that about his game. He has the versatility to move in and out. Seeking the early 3, no.”
Smith has made nine of 40 3-point attempts this month, a shooting percentage of 22.5 percent. That includes a season-high nine attempts against the Celtics on March 8.
Drew said he has conversations with Smith about shot selection. The forward acknowledges some of the attempts are ill-advised. It’s a point that player and coach continue to work through.
“He knows the shots I want him to take and when I want him to take them,” Drew said. “It’s got to be something within our offense. It’s not something where he just comes down and starts launching all over the place. That’s not how we play. That’s not how we want him to play.”
Drew said he does not believe Smith is trying to do too much because he will be an unrestricted free agent following the season and could seek a maximum contract from the Hawks or another team.
Smith has not abandoned his inside game. He has 660 points in the paint through 65 games this season. It’s the third-highest total of his career. By comparison, in 66 games last season Smith had 626 inside points. In Friday’s loss, Smith was 6-of-10 from the free-throw line, both season-highs.
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