Smith gives Bulls more than expected

Most NBA players look great shooting alone in a gym. But when Joe Smith gets going after a practice at the Berto Center, it's like watching a video game.

The guy just doesn't miss. He will go to different spots at the top of the key, around 18 feet from the basket, and usually knock down 19 of every 20 attempts.

"I just don't like to miss three in a row," Smith said with humility. "If I miss three in a row, I start all over. It's just repetition for me. That's why I try to get good quality game shots every day. Once game time comes, I feel confident in my shot."

That has been obvious in recent weeks. While the Bulls have sputtered and struggled to meet expectations this season, there has been one glaring positive note: They're getting far more than they imagined from Smith.

The No. 1 pick of the 1996 draft has been a role player in recent years as he bounced from team to team. He was traded from Milwaukee to Denver to Philadelphia in the 14 months before signing with the Bulls as a free agent in July.

Now Smith, 32, is back to playing like a lottery prize. In the past 10 games, he has averaged 16.7 points and 7.3 rebounds, while shooting 51.4 percent.

Those are pretty solid numbers, especially compared to power forwards such as Pau Gasol (18.9 points, 8.3 rebounds), Jermaine O'Neal (15.6, 7.3), Lamar Odom (13.6, 9.1), Rasheed Wallace (13.1, 7.4) and Mehmet Okur (12.3, 5.4).

"It has been awhile," Smith said. "It's been fun. It just shows that not only the coaches but my teammates have confidence in what I can do out there on the floor. That makes me feel great."

The popular notion that Smith evolved into strictly a role player may have to change. He already has heard suggestions that his career has been resurrected with the Bulls.

"That's what (teammate) Adrian Griffin says," Smith said. "Throughout my career, I had to play different roles. I always had confidence in what I could do offensively and rebounding the ball. But my role didn't allow that on certain teams."

The Maury, Va., native is the third in a line of veteran power forwards who have spent time with the Bulls in recent years, following Antonio Davis and P.J. Brown.

Davis and Brown were similar in that both could dispense fatherly advice to younger teammates. They also were physical specimens capable of putting most anyone in an inescapable headlock.

Smith brings a different kind of personality to the Bulls' locker room. He's serious, but he carries a constant smile.

With more of an easygoing demeanor, Smith seems less likely than his predecessors to lecture his teammates about professionalism or launch a halftime tirade. Also, the thought of being caught in a Joe Smith headlock doesn't seem as dangerous.

Smith's method of delivery may be different, but coach Jim Boylan went out of his way to praise the veteran's leadership skills prior to Friday's 100-97 victory at Philadelphia.

"Joe can put his arm around a guy, too, and tell him the proper way to do something," Boylan said. "And he leads by example. He comes to practice every day ready to go and gives you whatever you need.

"That, combined with the way he's playing out on the floor, is a great example for the young guys. You need to take care of yourself, you need to work hard, you need to prepare yourself, and he's a great example of that."

Of course, many will wonder how long Smith can keep up this pace. He has had a history of knee issues and missed time in preseason when his right knee became swollen.

So far, though, he has missed just one game this season, even while averaging nearly 30 minutes in the past 10 contests.

"I'm doing work almost every day on my legs to not allow that to happen," Smith said. "My legs feel good. Coach gives me time off in practice so I can rest them. Hopefully I can just continue playing the way I've been playing."