From 1975-77 Phil Smith was one of the best 2 guards in the NBA. As a rookie in '75, Phil Smith didn't get big minutes on that championship team that was deep, but in his his second and third year, Smith did get well over 30 minutes a game and his scoring reflected that at about 20 points a game. Phil made two all-star games in his career and that was in '76 and '77 so at the start of his career, Phil Smith had one chip under his belt and those 2 all-star games. Phil Smith had become a star. Smith was an excellent scorer and after getting off the bench in year 2 and 3, he was a very capable, consistent scorer. Smith played big at the 2 and had a soft touch from the outside on his jumper yet he could also drive to the hoop in the half court off the triple threat position and finish with both hands at a high level in the paint. Phil also became a very good passer which fit in so well on those excellent Warrior teams. Phil Smith was the type of player that could back down any guard in the league and score over them as well as face up and drive by them after either giving the defender a pump fake of a jab step one direction then go the other way. Smith was also much quicker than he may have looked and he used that quickness in the half court as well as on the fast break. Phil Smith fit in well with players like Rick Barry and Butch Beard his rookie year and then became a star his second and third year. In his second year, Phil Smith used his offensive fire power when he averaged close to 30 points in the playoffs and it didn't get any better for Phil Smith in his career.
From 1975-77 Phil Smith was one of the best 2 guards in the NBA. As a rookie in '75, Phil Smith didn't get big minutes on that championship team that was deep, but in his his second and third year, Smith did get well over 30 minutes a game and his scoring reflected that at about 20 points a game. Phil made two all-star games in his career and that was in '76 and '77 so at the start of his career, Phil Smith had one chip under his belt and those 2 all-star games. Phil Smith had become a star.
Smith was an excellent scorer and after getting off the bench in year 2 and 3, he was a very capable, consistent scorer. Smith played big at the 2 and had a soft touch from the outside on his jumper yet he could also drive to the hoop in the half court off the triple threat position and finish with both hands at a high level in the paint. Phil also became a very good passer which fit in so well on those excellent Warrior teams. Phil Smith was the type of player that could back down any guard in the league and score over them as well as face up and drive by them after either giving the defender a pump fake of a jab step one direction then go the other way. Smith was also much quicker than he may have looked and he used that quickness in the half court as well as on the fast break. Phil Smith fit in well with players like Rick Barry and Butch Beard his rookie year and then became a star his second and third year. In his second year, Phil Smith used his offensive fire power when he averaged close to 30 points in the playoffs and it didn't get any better for Phil Smith in his career.
He was also very ambidextrous, going left and using his left with ease. Kinda rare for that era.
It's funny that a Thin Lizzy song is playing on a Phil Smith highlight video cuz their lead singer was Phil Lynott