[外電] Josh Smith: 'I've got a lot to prove'

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Josh Smith: 'I've got a lot to prove' Hawks player is gifted with huge potential that he burns to realize By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 10/01/06 往事歷歷在耳。當兩年前選秀會當晚，ESPN 的 NBA 評論員 Jay Bilas 認定Smith 將是所有球員中「最有可能打不出半點名堂」，Smith 從來沒有忘記。那依然是Smith 維持季後訓練、持續以微笑面對眾多質疑的動力來源。那不是單純孩子氣式地將負面評論轉化為正向提升的能量，而是一位被寄予厚望、持續成長的年輕人，發現自己離完美還有很長的一段路要走。 Smith 說到：「職業生涯的第三年，我必須證明許多東西，但不是證明給除了我以外的任何人。對我：一個不受尊重的高中跳級生而言，我所努力作的，是專注向前，戰勝不利的情況，朝腦袋中的目標奮鬥。而我正在這個過程中，我認為今年自己將會有突破的表現。」已經連續七個球季被屏除於季後賽門外的老鷹，於星期二正式展開訓練。他們將指望不斷成長的年輕新秀，Smith 就是其一。 JJ是這支球隊最貴的球星，極有可能入選未來的全明星，也在今年夏天代表美國隊出賽。他的表現將左右這支球隊的勝負。二年級生 Marvin 是去年的選秀榜眼，入選新秀第二隊，並於今年七月抱走了夏季聯盟的 MVP 大獎。他的巨大天賦，潛能與市場價值（呃..）也是這支球隊的重要支柱。但是沒有任何一位球員比亞特蘭大出身的Smith 更適合最為重建計畫的一環。這位喬治亞的超級新星，正踏上當年 Nique 站立的舞台。面對球隊 20歲的 Smith，代表了老鷹總管 BK 的選人哲學。毫無疑問，這位高中跳級生還不知道他的極限在哪裡，他甚至還沒有接近。 Smith 的父親 Pete 信心滿滿地說道：「Smith 成長的過程中，總會招來批評，但是某些人不論你做什麼都不會停止批評。你必須學著接受，不用浪費時間證明自己的能耐，證明自己不是他們批評的那個人。你必須向自己證明自己，接著讓其他人用他們的眼睛見證。」即將進入第三年球季的 Smith，雖仍未成為完全體，但已有成為聯盟精英級的年輕新秀之勢。他是一位能夠同時主宰攻守兩方的球員。如果去年Smith 球季尾聲的表現能夠代表什麼，那麼他的確成長了。上季最後 12 場比賽，Smith 平均 17.5 分 7.5 籃板 4 助攻與3.5 火鍋。而這全能的表現不過是他的起步而已。用他的話來形容，他花了一整個夏天讓自己接近極限。如此方能以更完美的狀態面對第三個球季更加困難的狀況。 BK說：「Smith 目前所顯露的才能不過是冰山一角。他非常獨特，能夠做許多NBA 球員連想都不敢想的動作。他有機會成為傑出且完全不一樣的球員，能夠以各種方式影響球賽。」偉大的球星，製造中。 For all the positive vibes generated by Smith's vast potential, the sobering reality is that he's still two months shy of his 21st birthday. He should be entering his rookie season and not his third. The NBA's age-limit rule wasn't instituted until after the heralded high school class of 2004, where a record eight high school players were drafted in the first round, led by fellow Atlantan Dwight Howard. "I don't regret anything," Smith said. "I can still get my [college] degree. But playing in the NBA was a dream for me, and it came true. And living on my own and paying rent and being responsible for my own business has taught me some things that college never could have. I'm growing more mature each day. I learn new things and gain wisdom by going through these experiences I have gone through." Smith has packed an extra 10 pounds of muscle on his 6-foot-9 frame and will check in for training camp at a rock-solid 240 pounds. He'll need it if he's going to split his time between power and small forward, the latter being his more natural position. Smith said he's ready for any role he'll be asked to play. With he and Marvin Williams and rookie power forward Shelden Williams all vying for most of the time at the forward slots, the competition should be fierce. Between the three, the club hopes to make up for losing veteran forward Al Harrington, traded back to Indiana for a 2007 first-round draft pick. "I think the competitive nature of camp will be good for everybody," Smith said. "All of us are hungry, but we know this is a family. I think Marvin and I showed last year after the All-Star break that we complement each other really well when we're on the floor together. So I don't think it's an issue of playing time. But it's up to the coaches to decide who goes where, and we all have to be ready to take it to the limit wherever we play." It's statements like that prove to Knight, as well as Hawks coach Mike Woodson and his staff, that Smith is coming into his own. "All these guys and their games are maturing," Knight said. "Josh is also maturing as a man. I've talked to both him and his dad about this, and I think we all realize that everyone has to take a step back and let him go, and not to the wolves and predators that prey on the NBA young. But he's been through this for two years now, and people have to take a step back from him and allow him the freedom and latitude to grow into the man he will be and can be. Because I can see leadership qualities in Josh now that I didn't see in his first two years. "From a basketball standpoint, I think that growth has been evident. The first year Josh was an athlete feeling his way around. Last year he proved he could make face-up jumpers and compete every night on a higher level. This year, I want him to take another step. I want him to get to that point where he plays hard every night, no exceptions, and add that next piece to his game. I'd like to see him add a post-up piece to his game. But that's what you have with young players. They evolve." Atlanta's own If the Hawks have their way, Smith will evolve into a homegrown sports icon. They've struggled to gain an identity in Atlanta because they haven't had an elite talent like Michael Vick or Chipper Jones to market. Smith's popularity exploded after he won the slam-dunk competition during All-Star Weekend his rookie season. And his meteoric rise after the All-Star break last season showed what could be in store this season. "Our team has several up-and-coming NBA stars whom we will continue to promote throughout the marketplace via media, advertising, and community development programs" said Lou DePaoli, the Hawks' executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "Josh, at only 20 years old, is arguably one of the league's most exciting players and has been a fan favorite since day one with his ability to create highlight-making plays. Much like his on-court ability, we feel the sky is the limit when it comes to his local and national marketability." Smith insists that representing his city is something that's always been important to him, even if he hasn't been afforded the hometown hero treatment. He's always an easy target when the Hawks struggle, mostly because the perception of him has been that he doesn't play to his potential, something that has shadowed him since he starred at McEachern High. It's often a burden on those players who have been blessed with extraordinary athletic gifts. "I don't think there's any question about it," Knight said. "There are always unfair expectations, in this whole day and age with everything that goes on in the media. Josh has certainly had unfair things said about him. I've heard things said about him that I think are utterly ridiculous. We don't pay attention to them because we know him. We know he's a great young man. And we know you can't pay attention to that kind of stuff these days." The Smiths can't help but pay attention to it. They're connected to the city in ways that the other players on the Hawks roster never will be. Whenever Josh Smith hits the streets in his hometown, he knows he's not only representing the Hawks organization but the hopes and dreams of long-time fans of a franchise whose glory days are faded memories. "There's no doubt that it's an awesome responsibility for Josh, especially at 20 years old," Pete Smith said. "But he's Atlanta born and Atlanta raised. Josh wants to be known as an Atlanta Hawk. When we're out there in the streets and around town people recognize him that way. And he wants this team to be in the playoffs and ultimately wants to lead them to a championship. A lot of that is not in our hands. But he's already made up his mind that he wants to be a part of the Hawks' resurgence in this city." So much so that he's willing to keep sweating through workouts with those voices in his head, urging him on with their negative words. "It's time for me to let it all hang out and not hold back," said Smith, who ranked fourth in the NBA last season in blocked shots with 2.6 per game. "That's what I did the second half of last year. I realized that the responsibility for my actions was on me. I love being responsible for the Hawks name in my hometown. And I'm as eager as anybody to see what we're going to do this year." 資料來源 http://0rz.tw/471WB -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.219.141.2