Should Dennis Smith Jr shut it down?

This is a completely serious question.

During the recent college football season, a few star college football players decided to skip playing in bowl games to protect their draft status. Certainly a devastating injury in your final college game could severely hurt those players that have solidifed their draft status. While other players still needing to play their way higher in the draft might see the bowl game as yet another opportunity to improve their draft stock. Leonard Fournette of LSU and Christian McCaffrey of Standford both decided to sit out their team’s respective bowl games. Both players are projected to go in the early rounds of the draft(1st), so why bother risking that status by playing 1 more meaningless bowl game…especially since both play running back which puts them at a higher risk of serious injury than some of the other positions on the field?

With Fournette, he now claims it wasn’t his decision. That’s right, he now claims that it was his coach who would not allow him to play because he had a lot on the line.

Which brings me to the amazing Dennis Smith Jr and the NC State basketball season that without a miraculous turnaround will end without an NCAA tournament appearance for the 2nd straight season. I have watched a lot of ACC basketball in my life. I can remember games and players going back to the late 1970s. Honestly, I can’t remember many players at any position as talented as DSJ. As far as point guards, there were Kenny Anderson, Steve Francis Jr, Jason(now Jay) Williams, and Chris Paul that I remember as some of the best. There have been a lot of others, but I am trying to focus on guys who projected as NBA all-star type of players. “Can’t miss” guys. Guys who had the athleticism, skills, range on their shot, and size that made them almost sure things at the next level.

How does DSJ compare to those guys? Obviously, he fits right into that group and in some ways may actually be the best overall combination of athleticism, size and basketball skills that has ever come out of ACC at the point guard position. He has handles, quickness, range on his shot, vision, a feel for the game, etc…In terms of explosiveness he is simply off the charts. He is projected as a top 5 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. He has nothing left to prove. There isn’t a snowball’s chance in Hell he is coming back for 1 more season. Why would he? He would have almost nothing to gain and everything to lose. We all have known he was a “1 and done” player coming in and he has even surpassed my wildest expectations. His talent and potential are so great that nobody should even allow him to return to NC State for a 2nd season even if he wanted to. He is a special talent that has to move on to the NBA.

So that brings me back to the question should Mark Gottfried, Dennis Smith, Jr or some other person involved in his future start seriously considering shutting him down for the rest of the year? If we were talking about a center that mostly plays with his feet on the floor and rarely attacks the rim at full speed in a game, then there is less risk of injury. But Dennis Smith Jr plays the game like no other point guard I have ever seen in the ACC. In the Miami game, when he got stuck with his dribble and threw it off the backboard to himself and almost pulled it off for a slam my jaw dropped. It would have been one of the most amazing plays I have ever seen in an ACC game. It was simply ridiculous and I have no doubt he will do that in his career in the future. Remember the dunk againt Duke? Or the many other dunks and finishes at the rim that he has pulled off this year displaying once in a generation athleticism and explosiveness? It is scary at times. So scary that it would be devastating to see him suffer a major injury at State in a season that seems already lost.

Obviously, we all know DSJ has suffered one ACL injury last year. We all know he has discussed several times this year that he feels he isn’t 100% yet. So with a season likely headed towards missing the NCAAs and maybe even missing the NIT, at what point as the losses mount do you have to protect Dennis Smith Jr’s future and sit him for the rest of the season? DSJ trusted Mark Gottfried with positioning him for the NBA draft. Does Mark Gottfried owe it to DSJ to protect him once the season reaches the point of no return(already has in my opinion) like Leonard Fournette’s head coach at LSU? There may even be benefits to the program as it would give Markell Johnson more minutes at PG as he is obviously DSJ’s replacement for next season. Not only for Johnson, but it would have a trickle down effect because there would be more opportunity for all of the other players on the roster to develop as well. Also, with 8 games remaining it gives Gottfried an excuse to return for year 7 in case of a total collapse down the stretch. Maybe sitting DSJ actually helps Gottfried keep his job and then return to the NCAA’s next season as his seat will be scorching hot in year 7.

What would you do if you were Gottfried or DSJ?

16-17 Basketball Basketball Recruiting College Basketball General Mark Gottfried NC State NCS Basketball

Home Forums Should Dennis Smith Jr shut it down?

Viewing 21 posts - 26 through 46 (of 46 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #116668
    PackofMac
    Participant

    There is no need to be offended as a state fan or supporter if Dennis Smith did “shut it down”. No need to stop your LTR purchases, no need to burn state apparel. Dennis CAME here, Dennis signed here when Bam and all the others went where they knew they’d get exposure. So, there is your Ra Ra speach, he gave us a chance.

    I agree with everyone about the potential developmental needs and what Dennis really needs to solidify his game. Difference between he and Cat is…Dennis had and has the mentality he is a top five NBA guard now. Dennis had and has the mentality that he’d go to college for a year to test and rehab his knee and gain the experience. Dennis is a great player, he would not be letting any of us down if he “shut it down”. Gott and the rest of the administration has already done that.

    #116669
    PackofMac
    Participant

    Oh, and it does need to be repeated. Dennis Smith Jr. will not spend one second on any developmental teams roster. Not a day, not a minute, not a second.

    #116675
    StateRed44
    Participant

    No, but he should really stop giving so much effort on defense. He really might pull a muscle or something. Dial it down a notch kiddo.

    #116677
    Khan
    Participant

    He’s a basketball player on a basketball team. His job is to play basketball to the best of his ability. Period.

    #116679
    NCSU84
    Participant

    In a way, I agree with Kahn. I mean really, we have a ‘one and done’ rule. Are we now down to a ‘1/2 and done’ rule? That being said, here is where I disagree with mr Kahn – it is NOT a job for DSJ. He is NOT being compensated monetarily for his unique skill set. For selfish reasons I would enjoy seeing him play and finish strong. But I clearly understand the risk involved and would understand the rationale for limiting his play at this juncture.

    #116680
    NCSU84
    Participant

    I can remember games and players going back to the late 1970s. Honestly, I can’t remember many players at any position as talented as DSJ”

    Alas, I really pity those who never saw DT play. He was and still is the most incredible college player I have ever witnessed.

    #116684
    freshmanin83
    Participant

    For years, college basketball fans and March Madness enthusiasts have been saying that college basketball players should get paid for what they do. But yesterday, USA Today revealed that they already do. In fact, college basketball players are making roughly $120,000 a year.

    http://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/usa-today-reports-ncaa-basketball-players-earn-120k

    #116685
    freshmanin83
    Participant

    Imo if you sign to play then play. If you do not want to play then don’t sign.

    #116687
    Khan
    Participant

    @NCSU84…we’ll go to the bench and sub in Task (or some equivalent) for Job. Probably was a poor choice of wording. πŸ™‚

    #116688
    StateRed44
    Participant

    If you want to keep it real then heck no. He looks like he’s playing in a darn all-star game, literally taking plays off at whim. If he quits on the team IMO his stock would drop a few notches because that is literally the bitch way out of a bad season. My .02

    #116693
    mak4dpak
    Participant

    DSJ is certainly a talented player, but not perfect, and still lots of room to improve defense, clock management, and remember when game is on the line, to not play hero ball. And certainly needs to work on FT ability, as well as others, on that one. Maybe a W, is in our near future. Just gotta play team ball, defense, and rebound.

    #116695
    SeaWolf72
    Participant

    ’84, I know it was a different time and a different game, but David T is still the best player I ever saw at the college level…if he could have played as a freshman, been allowed to dunk and had the 3 pt. shot, there may be records that wouldn’t be broken….and he would have never quit on his team, crap it almost killed him and he still walked back in the coliseum after being released from the hospital..DSJ won’t quit either, and should not be ‘allowed’ to quit his team. It would set back the one and done concept in a big way. (not all a bad idea). If college basketball is just a developmental league for the NBA then it doesn’t matter, but if it is a sport played at the university level with education as the goal then it should not happen…if you let it happen then let UNCheat walk and forget all the other rules…

    #116696
    NCSU84
    Participant

    Well stated Seawolf. And to put things in perspective for those who did not witness DT’s greatness, not only was there no 3 pt line, there was also no shot clock. He still AVERAGED almost 30 points per game – let that sink in for a minute. DSJ averages 19 with a 3 pt line and a shot clock. He is no DT, but I still enjoy seeing him perform.

    #116697
    bill.onthebeach
    Participant

    Well I might well jump the hell on in to this…

    As most of you know I’m Class of ’76… so….

    30pts a game… that’s right…
    No shot clock, that’s right…
    No three point shot, that right too..

    plus
    Dean and other coaqhes, including Lefty, playing slow ball every chance the had…

    plus
    the TEAM Averaged 90 plus a game every season 72-75…..
    Which means as great as David was… the rest of guys busted their a##es every night and did their part…

    Which also means that the 3pt shot and shot clock would NOT have made any statistically significant difference in David’s career numbers, especially in conference games… which is NOT TO SAY that his damn highlight film wouldn’t have been out of this world with the dunks… Truth is, he wasn’t a three point shooter only ’cause he never learned it… 18-20 was his realistic limit @ 40% FGM or better …

    NEVERTHELESS ya’ll may be overlooking three of the biggest things of all that might impact how to look back 40plus years at “30 pts a game – the old school way…

    So, if I may…

    1. David was 6’4” and maybe a half inch… and played Forward…
    today that’s called a Wing man… and it ain’t the same thing…

    Back in the day… FORWARD meant 50% jumpshot from 15-18ft….
    and 50% in the Paint on Offense…. ain’t no Wings today doing that…

    And I’m leaving out the differences on Defense, ’cause I ain’t intending to write ya’ll a book…

    Let that sink in…

    2. The Competition…
    as in Who’d you play against….

    David faced 2-3-4 times each season…

    Elmore
    McMilliam
    Lucas
    McAdoo
    B.Jones
    O’Koren
    Davis
    Karl the HotDog
    Tree Rollins
    Sampson
    … and I know I left some out, but I’m making my point, not a damn list…

    All NBA CAREER guys…

    Look around the ACC today and WHO do you see especially outside where the guards and wings hang out?

    Some good kids, but not like those named above…

    Let that sink in….

    3. NOT all points are equal…

    Nobody kept stats back in the day, like you can keep now…
    for you kids… they USED pencil and paper…

    Yeah, David had some big numbers in December, when Norm wanted to do him “playallthelittleschoolsinNorthCarolinaaway” thing….
    BUT… in the conference, especially the top half which was the Big Four + Twerps & Hoos…

    David scored more of his points in close games when it counted… Garbage baskets was a thing that had not yet been thought of…

    Lemme put that another way….
    but first… It’s been a while and I don’t have the data, so I’m using my OLD memory…

    I can’t remember any game we lost between 1972-1975 because David missed a shot…
    now if someone else can, no problem… I’ll yield the floor on this point, as long as one of you math & stat guys posts a winning game shot/losing game shot ratio or a FGM% for the 5 minutes of every game… no matter the number, I’m damn sure that will still make my point…

    Let that sink in…

    ———————-

    Mr. Smith is talented — probably the best we’ve seen in years in his first year in Red & White — yes, since David and a very few others… that kid ain’t nothing but potential….

    But as one Old Wolf…
    I’ll need to see three seasons of Mr. Smith in West Rawlee before I start comparing him to anybody else who played had three seasons…

    ———————

    Just for fun, since I’m obviously on a roll here and you’re still reading…
    You heard it here first…

    50%/%0%
    Vinnie Del Negro will have a LONGER NBA career than Dennis Smith, Jr…..

    Holler Back on that one in 10 years or so…

    #NCSU-North Carolina's #1 FOOTBALL school!
    #116719
    PapaJohn
    Participant

    Fascinating topic.
    Just think how that would impact the NCAAT if that became a common practice.

    “Hey, I proved myself during the regular season, not going to risk injury against these better teams playing with higher stakes.”

    My guess is, it would influence how NBA folks saw you and might make some teams think you aren’t a team player. And that does matter to some of them.

    But on the flip side, if most of the best players did it, then it wouldn’t have any impact at all on the NBA’s perception.

    PS – As for David Thompson, I saw him play many nights too. Clearly the best player on the court every night. But, and I think it an important but, the quality of the players now is so much better than 40 years ago that it is really impossible to compare. Would DT of the 70s be a star in 2017, no doubt about it. He had the skills and the athleticism to excel in any era. Would he equal his stats from the 70s, I think that is harder to answer.

    #116768
    Mike
    Participant

    OK, just my two cents – NO WAY he quits or packs it in.

    What would an NBA scout say to this? IF he is set to be picked 4 or 5, what kind of team is he going to? An 82 game schedule plus preseason 10+ games, where they might win 25 of them. Do I want that on my team? Not a chance!

    If anything, he needs to elevate his game (his TEAM game) to show the scouts what he is capable of. No more 1 on 5, no more dribbling through double and triple teams. No more forced drives or bad jump shots. And certainly learning to play D.

    One of the big differences between college and the “league” is D. Everyone is good in the league and everyone can score. While the NBA has had a rep for years as a no D league, actually the D is very good and very tough. Defense will be the catalyst if DSJ has a successful pro career.

    #116776
    TheAliasTroll
    Participant

    He still AVERAGED almost 30 points per game – let that sink in for a minute. DSJ averages 19 with a 3 pt line and a shot clock. He is no DT, but I still enjoy seeing him perform.

    The 3 pt line & shot clock are great points, however to be fair you’re comparing the points/game of a freshman compared to that of DT’s junior year. A more accurate comparison would be DT’s freshman year when he averaged 24.7, which of course is still 5 points more than DSJ. I’m sure DSJ’s points/game average would be higher if he were he a couple more years.

    #116929
    TNWolf
    Participant

    Well, looks like this whole article is a moot point now as it appears the entire team and coaching staff have already “shut it down”.

    #116930
    TNWolf
    Participant

    It’s Ok though, I have too. Apathy has set in like never before.

    #116949
    Packzingo
    Participant

    Just watched the FSU game and with the exception of Mav and Henderson, looks like it’s a complete Shut Down!

    #116985
    Tau837
    Participant

    IMO it is absurd to even pose the question and warrants a Herm Edwards style rant. Absolutely not, for many reasons already posted.

Viewing 21 posts - 26 through 46 (of 46 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.