Washington Wizards Mailbag Monday: Why 50 Wins Is More Important Than Resting Starters

Hey, Josh:

Unfortunately, our stepdad, Jason Smith, probably won’t see much time on the court come playoff time.

It’s a shame, too, because he’s been shooting lights-out. Percentage-wise, he’s been a top five shooter from mid-range in the NBA. He’s also become a real threat from deep, hitting almost 49 percent of his attempts from deep. The dude can flat out score.

But his game doesn’t translate well enough to the postseason to pass someone like Kelly Oubre in the rotation, for instance.

Oubre is a lock-down defender, rebounds well and scores in transition. The scrappy, hard-nosed defenders are incredibly useful during the playoffs, when the referees allow the players to get more physical.

Smith, for all that he brings to the court, doesn’t add much to that area of the game. He’s super efficient offensively, but lacks that “dog” on the defensive side.

There’s a distinct difference between how the game’s played in the regular season and the playoffs. Oubre’s energy and tenacity, ultimately, matters more than Smith’s shooting.

The great thing about Smith is, if Brooks really needs him, he’ll be ready to contribute. Smith could sit out three or four games, be thrust into the lineup and not miss a beat. Those sort of players – the ones that stay ready, maintain professionalism and are involved off the court – are rare. It took some time, but Smith has become a fan favorite in D.C.