Dennis Smith Jr. believes he can carry the Knicks into the playoffs

LAS VEGAS — Dennis Smith Jr. isn’t concerned about the buzz across the Brooklyn Bridge and the talk about the Knicks struggling again.

Entering his third year in the NBA with mostly losing on his ledger, the point guard said his personal growth will catapult the Knicks into their first postseason since 2013.

“I think we can hit the playoffs. Everybody do a lot of talking and things like that,” he said, “I’ve never really been one to feed into it on social media and things like that. But I think we have a really good team, and especially with the way I’ve been working this summer, I think I’m going to take my game to the next level and it’s going to put us in the playoffs.”

DSJ thinks he can lead the Knicks to the postseason, and why not?

The Knicks’ prospects of attracting star free agents went belly up when Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Kawhi Leonard and others chose more stable situations. New York instead used its $70 million-plus in cap space on role players with short contracts.

It should be easy to improve on last season’s league-worst 17 wins, but Smith Jr. obviously expects a huge jump. The 21-year-old said he wasn’t surprised Irving, Durant and even DeAndre Jordan chose the Nets.

“I wasn’t surprised, to be honest with you. People in the league talk anyway. They just keep it private. People in the league talk,” Smith said. “They’re great players but I like what we have, to be honest with you. I know there are a lot of hecklers out there and talking this that and the third. But I like what we have and I’m not really concerned with what’s going on in Brooklyn.”

Smith is an explosive scorer and leaper but has largely failed to live up to expectations. He was traded to the Knicks in January as a add-on piece for Kristaps Porzingis. Smith’s 3-point shot — which he converted at just a 31 percent clip over his first two seasons — has been an impediment. He said Saturday that his mechanics were tweaked in the offseason.

“It’s a big difference. And I can feel it,” said Smith, who joined the Knicks at Summer League practice Saturday. “Everybody can see it, from my pops and my friends. So adding that into my game, getting consistent with it, is going to open up the floor not only for me but everybody else and make my reads a lot easier. So it’s major for me.”

Despite Smith’s confidence, there could be competition for the starting point guard job. The Knicks signed Elfrid Payton, who has a history with GM Scott Perry, to push Smith for a place in the lineup. Smith said he welcomes the competition and he’s eager to show why he was a top-rated high school prospect and the ninth overall pick in 2017.

“I honestly felt like I was supposed to be [the No. 1 overall pick]. Probably like everybody else in the class,” he said. “I feel like this is the perfect time to come out and prove why I feel that way.”

Honestly, I’m on the fence here.

I love the attitude and confidence, but until he shows it for an extended time, it’s like he said: talk.

His talent might be off the charts, but unless he shows it, it’s more of the same.

the big challenge for him will be staying healthy- because his trend has been to be available for 50 games. And that doesn't include his impeded performance from being nicked up and banged up.

And then I'm going to harp - but he needs to at least replace the performance we got out of Mudiay!

Knicksfan wrote:

Dennis Smith Jr. believes he can carry the Knicks into the playoffs

“I think we can hit the playoffs. Everybody do a lot of talking and things like that,” he said, “I’ve never really been one to feed into it on social media and things like that. But I think we have a really good team, and especially with the way I’ve been working this summer, I think I’m going to take my game to the next level and it’s going to put us in the playoffs.”

...

Despite Smith’s confidence, there could be competition for the starting point guard job. The Knicks signed Elfrid Payton, who has a history with GM Scott Perry, to push Smith for a place in the lineup. Smith said he welcomes the competition and he’s eager to show why he was a top-rated high school prospect and the ninth overall pick in 2017.

“I honestly felt like I was supposed to be [the No. 1 overall pick]. Probably like everybody else in the class,” he said. “I feel like this is the perfect time to come out and prove why I feel that way.”

Honestly, I’m on the fence here.

I love the attitude and confidence, but until he shows it for an extended time, it’s like he said: talk.

His talent might be off the charts, but unless he shows it, it’s more of the same.

The part the OP bolded was likely written by an editor, not the writer. Smith is confident, has to walk it like he talks it. Still has the right attitude about competition. Sounds fine about competiting with Payton for minutes..

https://nypost.com/2019/07/07/knicks-dennis-smith-jr-has-been-changing-his-shot-this-offseason/

The Payton-Smith-Frank Ntilikina point-guard battle will be the rage of training camp. Ntilikina’s future with the team looks unclear. The Knicks need to make a decision in late October on whether to exercise the fourth year on Ntilikina’s rookie pact.

“That’s up to coach,’’ Smith said of who will be starting. “I’m coming to practice with my hard hat on. Earn as many minutes as possible. I don’t want anything to be given to me anyway. I’m sure he’s like that. He’s super competitive. So he’s a great addition to the team. I’m excited. It’s more competition in practice.”

Jmpasq wrote:

TheGame wrote:If Smith can get his fg% to 45% and his 3pt% to 36-37% and start playing more consistent pick and roll defense, he would be the answer at PG. Those are all big ifs but those three issues are what is holding him back from being a star.

That would be a considerable jump in percentages. I'm not sure he is capable of it. This is the problem with the Knicks young "Talent" i'm not sure they are that talented. Most of these guys have signifigant flaws. Mitch looks great but everyone else the odds are stacked against them

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1147919193599168512

GustavBahler wrote:Found this on P&T. Looks like Fiz has been working with Smith jr.

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1147919193599168512

That’s encouraging