J.R. Smith has made his return to the United States and he has now made his decision on where he will play in the NBA this season. The veteran swingman will be suiting up for the New York Knicks this year as they add another explosive player to their team.
Smith is an explosive playmaker who can go on a binge from the 3-point line. Smith could immediately upgrade a few things with the Knicks. D’Antoni‘s offense is largely a pick-n-roll offense that has shooters spot up and puts the onus on the point guard to make the correct call. With Lin penetrating defenses the way he has so far, the Knicks haven’t exactly had the best weapons to hit the three-pointer on the opposite side of the court. Fields, who has been hot of late, isn’t exactly a guy you can depend on with the long ball and Bill Walker is a feast-or-famine guy as well.
Smith would bring an immediate upgrade to the three-point shooting woes that the Knicks have had. And also, Smith is a shooter that you cannot leave, so he would help keep a defender occupied while Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e operate.
Smith also is a guy who can play multiple positions. Because of his versatility, I think he could be the backup point guard as well. Smith played the point guard position some while he was in Denver, so I don’t think he would be opposed to handling the ball. Smith would be lethal on the pick-n-roll with Amar’e because you can’t leave him. Also, the insertion of Smith would move Shumpert to the shooting guard position where he can slash and not worry about initiating the offense.
But for all the positives, there are some negative things he can bring. J.R. has been known as being a hotheaded person in his career. Smith can downright be a guy that is uncoachable at times. It should be interesting to see how he accepts the coach from D’Antoni. If he blows up, the Knicks are pretty much stuck with him. For all the Knicks fans, you all better hope he stays the course.
Another thing to watch is the shots that Smith will take. Smith can shoot the lights out, but he can also shoot you out of a game as well. He must get in the spirit of sharing the ball. If he becomes a ball-stopper on this team, then this team’s offense will become stagnant. And with that, the team will not be very good.
The whole city of New York is abuzz with the news of Smith, but this experiment will truly be successful if one person decides to be show up and be a part of this team: J.R. Smith. He could help make them serious contenders if he is the playmaker and shooter the Knicks think he can be. Only time will tell if his effect on the team is a great or a mixture of oil and vinegar.
Do you think the addition of J.R. Smith takes the Knicks to the next level? Please feel free to comment on your thoughts on the Knicks acquiring Smith and what that could mean to the Knicks title chances.
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There Are Currenty 4 Comments for this Post
The addition of Smith will certainly create match-up issues for opposing defenses. One as was stated in the article defenses will have to worry about the pick and roll and won’t be able to leave the wing man waiting for the kick out pass so that they can double the entry lob into the post for Chandler or Amare. It will also add a pick and pop into the equation with Lin and Smith playing a two man game. If the pop is covered Smith has enough ball handling skills to find an open man if the low post has more space.
Can’t wait to see Lin face guards such as Westbrook and Rondo.
I don’t think that Smith is enough of an impact player to take the Knicks to the next level. With their current lineup, either Fields or Shumpert would be yanked, which is not a move D’antoni would want to make right now, because Lin plays well with Fields and Shumpert.
J.R.Smith Gud Pickup but the Knicks Basketball team is Gud enough to keep the fans happy for now but the Knicks will need to learn how to use amare for points consistently if the want to get past the 1st or 2nd round
I believe that JR Smith will fit in just fine with the New York Knick system and will play a tremendous part of their success, Sure the Knicks have Iman Shumpert and Landry Fields as Sam stated but neither of those guys can spread the floor like JR. Smith also can create off the dribble and finish on the fast break, and at 6’6 he is not the smallest two guard, also he can hold his own on defense that’s were I would go with Iman Shumpert and possibly Landry Fields but all around JR is the guy, especially playing alongside Jeremy Lin who loves to find the open man and with Melo whom he is very familiar with from back in their days as Denver Nuggets, I feel JR Smith may have pushed this team into serious contention for the east crown, not saying they are coming out of the east but I’m saying don’t be surprised if they do. JR Smith does have a hot head and has been called “a risk” I think he is a hot head but you cnt take that away from what he does on the floor but team chemistry means a lot especially come playoff time so let’s hope JR doesn’t explode. Overall JR Smith was the best pickup for the knicks he will be that spark off the bench similar to Jamal Crawford, only downside is how many shots he takes. Know to be a high volume shooter that could take shots away frm Melo and STAT their 1st and 2nd options its going to be a crazy season just can’t wait. To see what unfolds