HE HAS A CASE
Joshua Smith is capitalizing on preseason playing time and may make the roster.
Joshua Smith never expected to get more preseason playing time than Josh Smith. That was not the Rockets’ plan either, and it is still a trend they would like to end.
The Rockets’ loss — Dwight Howard, Terrence Jones and Clint Capela are expected to be out again Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans — could be Smith’s gain as he competes for the final roster spot, getting enough court time to not only show what he can do but make strides with the experience.
Smith is expected to make his third consecutive start, and if he can avoid the foul trouble that forced him to the bench early in the previous two games, he will likely end the night with more playing time this preseason than the Rockets’ other big men — or the namesake veteran who signed a free-agent deal with the Clippers.
“You look at a guy in my position — just trying to make the team — any chance you get to start, you have to take advantage,” Smith said. “I’m humbled they’re giving me a lot of opportunities. I just have to keep trying to make the best out of them.”
This was not the plan. Though the Rockets planned to monitor Howard’s workload, he has been considered day-today for 11 days with a stiff lower back. Jones has continued to have horrible luck, going out for the second time in the preseason, this time with a concussion. Capela has been out with a sore right shoulder, a flare-up from a rotator cuff injury last season.
Minutes adding up
With Donatas Motiejunas still not cleared to practice after last season’s back surgery, the 6-10, 350-pound Smith has stepped into the void. In five games, he has averaged 8.4 points (on 58.1 percent shooting) and 6.8 rebounds in 18 minutes per game.
“Josh is learning our system,” coach Kevin McHale said. “He’s got a nice skill set. He’s got good hands. He’s got good feet. He’s got to get in better shape, but he’s working at it. Every time somebody is out, other people have a chance to play. Right now, Josh is getting a great opportunity to play a lot of minutes.”
More than that, McHale seemed to indicate Smith is the most likely candidate to take the final roster spot. When asked if Smith would be better served working on his conditioning with the Rockets or the D-League Vipers, McHale spoke of needing Smith around.
“Depending on where we’re at, he might be up here for a while,” McHale said. “We need big bodies. He’s got an opportunity. He has a pretty good feel. He has a pretty good sense of what he’s doing. He’s just got to get in better shape and keep improving.”
The first step in improving would be to cut back on the fouls. Smith fouled out in 11 minutes against the Heat and in 10 minutes against the Suns.
“It’s never good,” he said, “when your mom is telling you to stop hacking.”
Some of his issues might be with his fitness.
“I think he gets tired and holds and grabs,” McHale said. “Three or four of his fouls have been ‘I’m going to grab a guy so I don’t have to run back in transition defense.’ ”
Other issues, Smith said, can be eliminated.
“It’s easily corrected,” he said. “The last two games, I probably had five or six moving-screen calls. All I have to do is just stand there, and the other ones are just (about) moving my feet.”
The other obvious adjustment is having to pick up people in the neighborhood of his own size, especially with Smith posting up against starters. Against the Warriors, he took on Andrew Bogut. Against the Heat, he matched up with 7-footer Hassan Whiteside. With the Pelicans also shorthanded at center minus Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca, Smith will f ace 6-10, 270 Kendrick Perkins.
Professional reality
“It’s a lot different,” Smith said. “In college, a lot of times I was bigger and taller than people I go up against. I remember the Golden State game going against Andrew Bogut, the former first overall pick, All-Defensive team. For me, it’s about being confident, playing my game, and using my body to try to score.
“Kendrick will be the first guy in the preseason probably the same stature as I am. The first game, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph would have been, but I didn’t play that game. I’m looking forward to it.”
The Rockets had looked forward to getting their regular rotation back together. Failing that again, Smith has more of a chance than even he expected.
“I’ve been blessed with opportunities,” he said. “I’m trying to get better every day and try to help the team out.”