• Neil from www.Basketball-Reference.com/blog
As someone who played in The Finals twice, what kind of impact do you think the 2-3-2 formats has after playing 3 series under the 2-2-1-1-1 format? Does it make a difference from a mental standpoint to know that you'll have to play 3 straight in the same building, and which team do you think it favors in the big picture of a series -- the team that gets to play those 3 games at home, or the team that knows if it can survive those games it will have back-to-back opportunities to close out the series at home in Games 6 & 7?
Kenny Smith: It's difficult because I've been on both ends of the spectrum where we were the two and I've been on the spectrum where we were the three. If you win on the road, it doesn't matter [what] the format of the series is. Winning on the road seals the confidence."
• www.LayUpDrill.com
Of the four coaches remaining in the playoffs, who is under the most pressure to win it all this season?
Smith: Probably the Orlando Magic's Stan Van Gundy. If the Magic don't win it they have questions to answer that the other teams don't about if they make the right moves in the off-season. So their personnel and their coaches would be questioned more than the other teams if they don't win it. --
• Jordan from www.LibertyBallers.com
What would another ring and Finals MVP do for Kobe's legacy? Does it solidify his status as a top 5 player all-time?
Smith: Well, I think he's already kind of solidified that. It's hard to say it across eras, but in his era, he's a top five player. It's hard to compare Kobe Bryant to Oscar Robinson or Kobe Bryant to Magic Johnson or even a Michael Jordan who they never really played against or played at the same time. But, in his era he's solidified himself as a top 5 player already. This would just mean he's moving up from 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 in his own era.
• www.YouBeenBlinded.com
What advice would you give to fellow Tarheel Vince Carter about performing well in big games?
Smith: Vince has already performed well in big games, I think he's just at a stage in his career where his physical abilities don't match his mental abilities anymore. But, he's performed already in big games, so Vince knows how to do it. He just can't take over a game like he used to.
• John from www.ScoresReport.com
Is Amar'e Stoudemire playing himself out of a max contract against the Lakers?
Smith: Well I guess this was before he had 42 points and 12 rebounds so we might want to disregard that question.
• Regnard from www.BigLakersFan.net
Assuming the Los Angeles Lakers advance past the Phoenix Suns, how do you think Ron Artest will impact a match up against the Boston Celtics or Orlando Magic relative to how the Lakers fared against them in the past two Finals?
Smith: I think the first time they saw the Celtics, the physicality was just too much for them. That's what Ron Artest does, so I think he'd have a huge impact if they played the Celtics.
• Rashad from www.HoopsAddict.com
What makes a good point guard?
Smith: First, a point guard is defined by their ability to control the tempo of the game. Their second criteria are the ability to understand who should shoot and when they should shoot. The third is the ability to lead. So if you have all of those three qualities, and all the other things: scoring, a good shot, ball handling those are important but it's the other three that you have to be good at. --
• Chris from www.FanScribe.net
When I was a kid I attended your basketball camp in Houston. You put a lot of stress on shooting form and fundamentals. In your opinion, who is the best pure shooter in the NBA?
Smith: Draft Class? That's a hard one for me because I don't think I've seen enough guys that much. The best shooter in basketball is Ray Allen. If you look at him when he shoots the basketball, he's always off balance. Shooting is all about balance. You can appear to be off balance, but if you go straight up, straight down, even if you're leaning and you're controlling the lean, actually he's controlling it more than shooting off balance- he's the best shooter in basketball, no question.
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