Swing Shift For Number 8
“He’s not stopping the ball, that’s for sure,” Coach Mike D’Antoni said with a nervous chuckle.
In D’Antoni’s system, “stopping” the ball or stalling the offense is a major sin. But chucking 3-pointers without letting the offense create a quality shot first is also a punishable offense.
Fortunately for Smith, he hits those shots at a steady rate. He has converted 37.1 percent of his 3-pointers, including a 39 percent rate last season, when he averaged 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Denver Nuggets. The Knicks were shooting only 30.3 percent from the arc as of Friday, ranking them 26th in the league. Clearly, Smith fills a need.
Smith is also a fantastic athlete, a skilled ball handler and a lethal slasher who can break down defenses and get to the rim. His versatility and scoring prowess make him an ideal sixth man. - Howard Beck
Whatever skill set JR brings to the court, one thing is certain - the second half will not be dull.
March shapes up as the most intriguing month of basketball our beloved franchised has seen in a decade.
2/17/2012 2:25 PM
