Smith ‘faking’ injury for TNT to outwit SMB?

IS Joshua Smith really injured?

Or, is he playing with an injury?

Could be that he is faking injury?

But by faking injury, what will he gain?

I ask questions because I got questions similar to my questions above.

We have seen Smith, the giant TNT Katropa import, limp a lot of times while a game is in progress.

He limped a lot in the semifinals between TNT and Meralco.

Yet, he would proceed to score key points that helped propel TNT to the Finals.

Yes, we’ve even seen him limp into the locker room not once but twice already, ostensibly to check on his apparently aching ankle.

But after a little while, he’d be back on the court—limping. And, seconds later, he’d be dispatched for action.

He’d limp back into the court, lumbering almost. Playing a bit favoring one leg.

But, lo and behold, he’d be much bolder grabbing rebounds—his bread and butter from Day One.

He’d be late coming back in offense. However, once he’s positioned himself at the paint, he becomes Hercules personified.

Besides battering the boards almost at will, he could sink baskets virtually unopposed—his wide-body jet almost crushing anyone who got in the way.

He can even bury the marginal shot via hook shot, as he did in Game 1 of the ongoing best-of-seven PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

I wrote this in advance, when Game 2 set last night was hours away from its first jump ball.

Now, if Smith limped his way into herolandia once more as to be able to turn TNT into a 2-0 leader, San Miguel Beer could be in dire straits.

I think Smith “playing” injured has sort of put SMB’s offense a bit in disarray.

Are the Beermen confused, not decisive enough on whether to take Smith “seriously” or not?

Because Smith continuously limps(?), shouldn’t it be just right for the Beermen to employ a run-and-gun attack?

But the trouble is, most of SMB’s starting core are spring chicken no more.

Since Smith’s “acting” seems to reap results, TNT might yet stick to its man-mountain all throughout the Finals.

After all, a team advancing to the Finals has up to Game 7 to replace its import.

SMB coach Leo Austria had better start re-mapping his strategy—fast.