Apr 6, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard(13) speaks with guard(1) during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports

The competition for the backup point guard position should be over. Despite Kevin McHale’s efforts to force Ishmael Smith into the backup point guard position, Isaiah Canaan has so severely out played him it would be a shame and an embarrassment if Smith starts the season as the back up to point guard Patrick Beverley.

Ish Smith has been given 141 minutes to 86 for Canaan in the preseason. Canaan has scored 69 points in less minutes, Smith has 38. Canaan has shot 74% from the line and 35% from 3 point range. Smith on the other hand has shot an astounding 14% (1 for 7) from the free throw line and a paltry 14% on his 3’s. Ish Smith’s shooting makes Dwight Howard’s free throw shooting and 3 pointers look like Ray Allen by comparison.

Mar 27, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Isaiah Canaan (1) shoots during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

So you say, “Smith is the better ball handler, passer and distributor”. Not hardly in this preseason. Smith has 16 turnovers to Canaan’s 5, doubling his turnover ratio per minutes played. Assists, Canaan beats Smith there as well with a 0.15 to Smith’s 0.11 assist per minute played. The steals numbers have been about even per minutes played.

To be totally honest this competition has not even been close in these games. We’ve heard talk that Smith has outplayed Canaan in practice. As Allen Iverson so poetically once said, “Practice???”. I’m sure all fans and hopefully the Rockets would prefer the better game players to be on the court.

In 4 years Ish Smith has failed to prove that he’s even an NBA player beyond a fringe 3rd string point guard. Isaiah Canaan at only the beginning of his 2nd year has at least proven that he can score at every opportunity he’s been given, in the D-League, in the Summer League and now in the preseason despite having a coach that doesn’t appear to want him to have the job.

We can only hope eyes have finally been opened after Canaan led the comeback win against the Magic last night with 14 point off the bench in the 4th quarter.

The Rockets open up the season on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 28th at 9:30 PM on TNT.