Rockets’ Expectations & Mavericks Potential: Live from Media Day in Macao

SmithHow do you feel about that? I think it's just a testament to how good the NBA is, honestly. I mean, you can't really predict what's going to happen, you know what I'm saying? But you just can't really look at it. You've got to keep your head down and work. We know we have the talent.

SmithWe know we have the pieces to get it done. You know, it's just on us to be selfless, put all our egos aside and just put it together and make it work. You know, we have the roster. You know what I'm saying? You can look at it on paper. It looks good, but it's just on us to put it together, honestly.

SmithYou know, I think there's a couple things, a few things you guys really missed with Fred last year. One, just that steady organizer, especially late in close games. And I just felt like you missed his voice and his soul almost as much as you missed his game. Definitely. We definitely feel it immediately in training camp, just with him being back, just the structure, the ball security and stuff like that.

SmithIt's just things you really think don't matter. But him taking care of the ball and him getting guys in spots and him just organizing us is very big. And training camp has been great. He looks very good. He looks very healthy. So it's going to be good to have him back. He's definitely going to help us a lot.

SmithAnd I think just all the young players being a little bit more older than us and him encouraging us to use our voice a little bit more and us just being a little bit more connected I think will help a lot too.

SmithWhen you say connected, I think that's a good word.

How do you see connectivity improve?