What led to J.R. Smith winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award?

Consider the following stat:

When Smith shot 50 percent or better from the field this season, the Knicks went 22-3.

They won the last 13 regular-season games in which he made at least half his shots.

Not surprisingly, when Smith was cold, the Knicks didn't win as much. They went 12-11 when he shot below 35 percent from the field.

-ESPN

Fuggedabout the shooting.

Earl plays tenacious defense and rebounds.

gunsnewing wrote:Ok Bonn just went through the entire season. 41 efficient games. Thats half the season which is great coming from some one who would have one good game a week

Bittomline is JR is a key component of this 54win team

I honestly don't believe most athletes when they say things like this, but I do believe he will stay on this roster even if it means he takes a lesser deal.

StarksEwing1 wrote:We have his bird rights right?

Not yet, only Early Bird Rights.

nixluva wrote:

3G4G wrote:

misterearl wrote:Stats Don't Have Nothing To Do With Practice

3G4G wrote:
Stats suggest it had nothing to do with Woody and more so to do with Volume and Smith's natural progression to maturity. He's had better or say far more efficient yrs in Denver. I do feel he was more "timely for us and the stage on which he plays helps tremendously.

"Coach Woody and I talk so much, our communication is, not a day goes by where we don't have a conversation about the way I am playing or off the court or whatever it is. He's just such an influence as a coach, the most I've ever had."

- Earl Smith

There are a lot of things you can point to -- maturity, better shot selection, less late-night clubbing -- to explain J.R. Smith's renaissance in New York this season.

But, sometimes, an explanation is simpler than that. You might think NBA players are concerned solely about winning when they're on the court, or, more cynically, that they're worried mainly about their statistics.

As it turns out, in his five seasons with Denver, Smith sometimes had an agenda that was all his own (courtesy of Newsday):

"I just look at the game totally different," Smith said. "A lot of times, I was trying to score as many points as I could just because I knew that would [tick] George off and do certain things I knew would get him mad. But at the same time, I couldn't look at it that way because I wasn't winning that situation, anyway, which I didn't."

It all makes sense now!

The step-back 3-pointer over two defenders, the permanent green light he gave himself, regardless of the situation in the game ... he was just trolling George Karl!

In contrast, in the same article, Smith's dad called his son's relationship with Mike Woodson a "friend-father-player" one. Woodson has given Smith more slack when it comes to his decision-making on offense, while Smith has returned the favor by doing what the coaching staff wants and trying hard on defense.

As a result, Smith is having the best season of his career, with career highs in points, rebounds, assists and minutes played.

In his ninth season in the NBA, he's finally becoming the player everyone knew he could be. You might wonder, why did it take him so long to figure it out? Well, let's just ask him:

Smith takes some responsibility for what happened with his other coaches. He said he could have done things differently and been who they wanted him to be, but added, "That's just not me."

So in other words he grew up on "his terms" pretty much what I said earlier....

Why are you being obtuse? Since day one of this year Woody has been working on JR. We all just watched the entire season and I distinctly remember Woody being upset with JR not really playing smart and Woody really tore into him about attacking the basket and being smarter with his shot selection. Then we saw a change in JR where he started attacking the basket more often and more successfully with each and every drive. For some reason you must have missed this part of the season when the change happened. This wasn't just about JR wising up, but also about how he finally has figured out how to use his talent in the best way that leads to wins. Woody is the one who gave JR the late game opportunities to build his confidence. Until this year JR hadn't ever really hit any game winners. This was about a player and a coach believing in each other and finding success. JR deserves the award and the credit but with an assist from Woody his coach that set him on the path.

I don't know what your particular issue is, but at least try to be accurate in describing what went on with this player and the coach.

You're the one who's obtuse. Those game winners he hit were with an MIA Melo and other players down and out. Woody only has so many players he can go to. Kidd hit some game winners too and?

Woody was hands on with Josh Smith too and guess what it didn't work out. Woody also wasn't hands on with Teague part of the reason he was pushed out buy the Hawks organization.... but Drew has gotten through to Josh or has Josh grown up on his terms and been hands on with Teague.

Look different strokes for different folks but let's not go overboard with the Wooody Father Figure stuff. Amar'e saying this was the first time he's been taught defense his whole career by Woody saying he was hands on but fans laughing it off mocking it(I guess because it's en vogue to rail on Stat) but because Smith played some decent HERO ball a game or 5 this season then it's Earl's a Man and Woody is Abraham father of all Knicks