Josh Smith, Darius Miller and the search for a backup big

One of the last times Josh Smith played professional basketball, it was in a Sichuan Blue Whales jersey. A pretty fantastically named basketball organization but not where J-Smoov wanted to be.

One of the last times Darius Miller played professional basketball, it was in Europe where he played for Brose Bamberg.

Two players forced to take their immense talents outside of the U.S. because they weren’t quite good enough. Now, both are back and fighting for the same exact position. Miller has been slotted as a “stretch four” although he hasn’t elongated the court much.

Smith, although being a terrible three-point shooter, is also playing his minutes at the four position. Both players hoping to gain minutes at backup power forward. When Rajon Rondo returns from injury, it is very likely that one of them won’t be on the roster any longer.

In Josh Smith’s first game, he had the upper hand over Miller, who had done very little with his minutes early in the year.

The biggest advantage that comes with Smith is the offense can remain mostly the same and the ball movement even gets a little better with him on the court. He was a big reason the Pelicans had their best play of the year in their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He can run pick and rolls with the center that is on the court and can he even be slotted in as the roll man, possessing the ability to hit an open man along the perimeter.

Darius Miller, however, has stagnated the offense and despite being a good shooter in Europe is just 5/20 from three-point range this season. Meanwhile, and luckily, Josh Smith has not yet attempted a three.

Miller’s shot takes a lot of jump and he doesn’t yet know how high he needs to elevate from three-point land. At times he jumps a good foot inside the arc and others he simply dips his toes past it. Searching for the proper distance with his feet instead of his wrists.

A potentially misguided way to fix a shot and one that has proven unsuccessful thus far.

His lack of rebounds is also a big problem. He has played 84 more minutes than Smith and has secured just two more rebounds. Davis and Cousins gobble up most boards but they still need someone to help on the glass when the lineup around them features slightly less giant human beings.

Smith has a bigger body and is more used to going for boards than Miller.

He is, on the other hand, a risky defender to put on the floor. He is slower than Miller, not a rim protector, and has looked mostly lost on the defensive end in his 12 minutes on the court.

This may never be fixed as he has been a poor defender for a few years while Miller at least has the opportunity for growth. He is a full five years younger and is still getting acclimated to playing NBA basketball.

The only problem is, the Pelicans do not have the time to wait around for him to improve. Right now, he is not giving the team much production. Smith, as long as he doesn’t take threes and continues to move the ball and grab boards, is a useful asset.

The Pels need him to play just five to ten minutes per game depending on the match-up and they need him to be serviceable in that time on the court.

Next: Pels start crucial road trip with victory over Dallas 99-94

Josh Smith may be the punch line to many a joke but he still has the talent to deserve spot minutes on a fringe playoff team. Darius Miller, with his passing and rebounding ability being highly questionable, needs to start shooting well or he could again see himself playing professional basketball in a jersey that is not owned by the NBA.