ok so i need a little more explanation of why this was a great game for him. I didnt realize we played so early today and I didnt dvr the game.
I checked the boxscore and noticed he had 11 points, but 9 out of 11 came off of three pointers. I got frustrated until i read this post, I was assuming he was just taking spot up 3's. I dont understand why he hasnt been trying to drive to basket more and get to the free throw line.
i too was a bit late, but watched the final 1.5 quarters. aside from stats i saw a player who healthy. his defense was classic (if such a thing is possible for a rookie) smart defense. fought over picks, bodied up, all the stuff we love.
on offense his shot was falling and his form was good. he tends to "lean back" when his shooting is off. today he looked good. and by the way, simply implying that 9 points do not "count" because they went in on three's doesnt seem very compelling. 
at this stage, i can wait for smart's aggressive drives to the basket. he has played in a total of 15 nba games in his life. i can be a tad more patient.
all in all, it is the sort of developmental game you hope smart will show at this stage of his career. good stuff!
oh, and lots of posters will also point to the dust up with cousins. prior to the throw down by cousins, smart put a great box out on him.
thanks for the info, TP.
I didnt mean to discount his 9 points by 3 pointer, it's just that Im looking for some promise that this guy can be a go to scorer down the road, not a 3 and D guard off the bench. It's not my intention to try and minimize him to that right away, its just that Ive heard his thing in college was driving to the basket. He hasnt been doing that here really at all, and Im wondering if someones telling him not to do it, or if he feels like he cant.
ok, thanks for explaining. it did seem odd since you are usually a really good poster.
anyway, while i can be patient for the drives to the basket by smart, it does surprise me he doesnt do it more since he was good at it in college. his strength makes him a virtual bowling ball hurtling towards the basket and woe to those who set themselves up as pins.
maybe he realizes he needs to open up space by developing his outside shot first? maybe CBS has told him to learn to shot? i dont know, but i have faith in him so far.