Smoove might not be a savior, but it's hard to argue with the results
James Harden put up another insane triple-double and Trevor Ariza splashed six 3-pointers on his way to 29 points. Neither was the biggest story in the Houston Rockets' win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. That distinction belongs to Josh Smith.
Smith, back with the Rockets after being traded by the Los Angeles Clippers and feeling very good about it, had 16 points, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 23 minutes against the Mavs. He had five rebounds and six assists in a win over Milwaukee on Friday, and just like that, the Rockets are 2-0 in Smith's return and back to two games over .500.
Smith destroyed Dallas inside and out with a series of drives, fakes, turnarounds and 3-pointers.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff is finding different ways to use the versatile power forward, including as a center in small-ball lineups. Before Smith's arrival, Houston's offensive efficiency rating -- points per 100 possessions -- was a very respectable 103.8. In two games with Smith (both played without Dwight Howard), that number has jumped to 110.6. It's a small sample size to be sure, but as Bickerstaff told reporters following Friday's win over the Bucks, Smith brings elements that the Rockets' offense dearly needs with Donatas Motiejunas out and the up and down season of Terrence Jones.
Smith didn't find a fit with the Clippers, and before he joined Houston during the 2014-15 season, he was sent packing by the Detroit Pistons, who simply couldn't deal with his maddening inconsistencies even though they were on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in salary.
When Smith was traded back to Houston last week he said he probably never should have left. After just two games, he looks as though he never did. Rockets teammates reportedly were asking management to bring him back. For whatever reasons, Smith smoothly fits with the Rockets, and suddenly there's an optimism in H-Town that the stagnating Rockets might finally be getting close to liftoff.
