earthmansurfer wrote:Our only hope is that he plays great the rest of the year and someone offers him more than we are willing to pay. (Houston, please offer him a poison pill!)
I don't want him back, not unless we add some heady, high IQ guys to help him to play better in a system. But really, that should start with the coach...

Isn't that why we have Kidd?

BRIGGS wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:The only way he'll score 20 points is if he takes 19 shots a game.
So, yeah, you're probably right that he'd score 20 points if he started!

He avg 17 now with his porous shot selection. If that changed and he took good shots--hed avg 20-21. He has the nBA talent to do it. The talent to be 20 pt 43-45% player is there--the way to get there is mental--he has the physical. They give Rudy Gay 14mm a year and JR Smith might just be better if he just played smarter.

It's just weird to me because he has had 3 seasons shooting 43.5% and 39% or above. It is there but in NY he has been a shell of himself.

Caseloads wrote:

earthmansurfer wrote:Our only hope is that he plays great the rest of the year and someone offers him more than we are willing to pay. (Houston, please offer him a poison pill!)
I don't want him back, not unless we add some heady, high IQ guys to help him to play better in a system. But really, that should start with the coach...

Isn't that why we have Kidd?

I said "guys", meaning not just one. Maybe Chandler is also a heady guy, but I'd like to see more guys who handle the ball more that are heady.
I just get the feeling that guys like JR can really only succeed in a very structured and smart system. As Briggs said, if JR had more control (or if Woody did a better job) he would be an all star.

earthmansurfer wrote:

dk7th wrote:his problem is a lack of courage. he settles for jumpers when he should be taking it to the rim and drawing contact.

look at the pathetic number of free throw attempts he takes per game.

12-14 shots per game should be his limit and he should strive to get to the line 6 times a game.

that would make all the difference, that and playing smart defense. he is easily fooled.

I don't know if it's lack of courage or smarts, my bet is the 2nd one. JR is so athletic, he finishes well, has height at his position - if he just drove more his game would go up a notch and he wouldn't need to do so much juking to get open. (Same for Melo actually, at least quite often.)
I guess playing physical is taxing on guys, but JR seems like he would have a physical mentality and not shy away.

no question he overdribbles. i am not convinced he knows how to ballhandle properly because there is just so much east west with him. it's annoying because it looks like he should be able to get into the lane. it reinforces the impression of all sizzle and no steak. either pass the ball or look for a pick or get into the lane and draw contact. he could pick up a few things from ginobili and harden-- never mind that those guys are both left-handed.

JR and MELO both go ISO too often, but at the same time, it does help at times to have guys like that. A great coach will improve both of their games. Both of their FG %'s should be much higher with their talent.

knicks1248 wrote:You know what was crazy, he avg 16 ppg 42% shooting 38% from dt when melo is in the line up

22.5 ppg 49% shooting 40% from 3 when melo is not in the line up...

Statistically almost all of our perimeter players shoot poorly when melo is in the line up..they actually showed these statistics last night.
We score more points with melo, but anything but efficiently.

You do realize it is impossible to score more points shooting less efficiently unless you have more opportunities? Which means the Knicks are winning the turnover battle or grabbing more rebounds when melo is on the floor. Your whole point can be turned on its head. Besides I'd like to see the shooting numbers for others with and without melo on the court, the numbers for Jr Brick alone don't cut it.